Hearth Record

Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger; air bags: on-off switch assembly (Audi)

Vehicle recall 21V-198. NHTSA received Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.’s report on Mar 22, 2021.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.’s report on Mar 22, 2021. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 23, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

(Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles.

The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger.
  • NHTSA’s part: Air bags: on-off switch assembly.

What should you do?

Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi’s number for this recall is 69BY.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: 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.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 153,152 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Each model year opens its own page: every recall naming it, its owner complaints and its crash ratings.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt. Owners’ complaints are counted on each vehicle’s page.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).

    Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 23, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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