2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2017 Audi S3 Recall: In a lower-speed crash situation, the air bag control unit software may…
NHTSA campaign 17V196000 · Air Bags · filed Mar 22, 2017 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi A3 and S3 Sedan vehicles. In a lower-speed crash situation, the air bag control unit software may deploy the passenger frontal air bag improperly if the front seat passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or is laying in the seat with the seat reclined. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
If the air bag deploys with more force than intended, it can increase the risk of injury.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what to do
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q3.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Affected vehicles
Related recalls
More Audi A3 Cabriolet recalls
- 2015–2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet and 3 other models — An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger…
- 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet and 1 other model — Latching pins for the center rear seat head restraint may…
- 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet and 1 other model — Fuel hose quick connector may detach from the fuel supply…
- 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet and 3 other models — Rear seat frame head restraint guide sleeves may be…
- 2017–2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet — Engine Control Unit (ECU) software may misinterpret the…
Other campaigns involving Audi vehicles
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 17V196000 (manufacturer number 69Q3). Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.