NHTSA campaign 21V198000 · Manufacturer campaign 69BY
Audi Recall 21V-198: Passenger Air Bag May Deactivate
NHTSA recall 21V198000 (Manufacturer campaign 69BY) was reported by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. on March 22, 2021, with 153,152 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Audi A3, Audi S3, Audi RS 3 and more for model years 2015–2020. Owners were notified on December 23, 2021, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 21V198000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Audi VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 21V198000 (also written 21V-198 or 21V198)
- Filed by
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Manufacturer campaign number
- 69BY
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 153,152 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
- Owners notified
- Safety standard
- FMVSS 208
Repair completion: 72.64% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 21V198000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 21V198000.
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
Notes
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.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 21V198000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.