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Airbag / Occupant Detection Defect - Airbag May Not Deploy Correctly
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
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Audi A5 problems with structure:body:door:hinge and attachments recall? Learn recalls, symptoms, and California lemon law options.
The Audi A5 page focuses on documented recall-backed problems rather than general reliability claims. Owners searching for repeated Audi A5 repairs should compare their symptoms, repair orders, and warranty history against the sourced NHTSA records cited on this page.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
front suspension noise; stabilizer bar loose; vehicle pulls or clunks
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
tail light out; exterior light warning; reduced rear visibility
front suspension noise; stabilizer bar loose; vehicle pulls or clunks
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the speaker cover aluminum trim, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 70G6.
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will modify the head curtain air bags so that they deploy properly, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 11-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69T7.
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y4.
front suspension noise; stabilizer bar loose; vehicle pulls or clunks
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the front suspension fasteners, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40O2.
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.
tail light out; exterior light warning; reduced rear visibility
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will apply scuff protection, free of charge. The recall began January 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97EU.
front suspension noise; stabilizer bar loose; vehicle pulls or clunks
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this re
backup camera blank; screen goes black in reverse; rearview camera distorted
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Dealers will update the infotainment unit parameters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 9, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91CR.
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
backup camera blank; screen goes black in reverse; rearview camera distorted
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
backup camera blank; screen goes black in reverse; rearview camera distorted
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Dealers will replace the infotainment main unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91Ei.
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Dealers will replace one or both front seat belts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 30, 2025, and October 31, 2025. Owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834 or Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 69UM; Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 6
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
Recall-backed safety or drivability concern; repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Dealers will inspect and replace the right and left rear seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69D8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs)
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 SQ6 E-Tron, SQ6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 Sportback E-Tron, A6, A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 E-Tron, S5, and S6 Sportback E-Tron vehicles. The automatic locking retractor may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 GTI, Golf R, Audi A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S5, S6 Sportback E-Tron, 2026 Q4 Sportback E-Tron, and Q4 E-Tron vehicles. The torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production.
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 AUDI A8, A6 Allroad, E-TRON Quattro, 2022 S3, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 Avant, Q8, Q7, Q3, E-TRON Sportback Quattro, S5 Cabriolet, E-TRON GT, S5 Sportback, A7, A6, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet, A4, A4 Allroad, A3, S8, SQ7, SQ8, S6, and S4 vehicles. The infotainment main unit may become damaged internally when the vehicle is shut off, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera display the next time the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8 and S8, 2022 Audi A5 Sportback, A4 Sedan, E-Tron GT, Q3, Q5, RS6 Avant, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RSQ8, SQ7, SQ8, and S3 Sedan vehicles. A software error may prevent the rear-view image from initially displaying when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well.
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of North America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback vehicles. The front suspension fasteners may not have been sufficiently tightened during vehicle production, possibly resulting in a front wheel becoming loose.
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles were built with head curtain air bag assemblies that may not unfold properly. As such, these vehicle fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
remedy available
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges exposed.
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California consumers may have rights under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act when a warrantied defect is not repaired after a reasonable number of attempts or the vehicle spends substantial time out of service. This is general information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading it. Law as of Jun 28, 2026.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
If the Audi dealer says it cannot duplicate the issue, ask that the symptom, mileage, date, warning lights, and test-drive result be written on the repair order. Save videos, photos, tow records, and all repeat visits.
For Audi A5 owners, recall-backed defects are important because they show the manufacturer had notice of a problem. Whether a specific car qualifies still depends on warranty timing, repair history, and documents.
— The Margarian Law team
If your Audi has repeated warranty repairs, Margarian Law can review your repair orders and help evaluate whether a buyback, replacement, or cash resolution may be available.
Audi A5 records cited on this page include NHTSA recall-backed issues such as structure:body:door:hinge and attachments recall. A recall does not automatically make a vehicle a lemon, but repeat unresolved warranty repairs may matter under California law.
An Audi A5 may qualify if a covered defect continues after a reasonable number of warranty repair attempts or causes substantial time out of service. Eligibility depends on repair history, timing, and documents.
Ask the dealer to document the complaint exactly as reported, including warning lights, mileage, dates, and whether a test drive was performed. Keep every repair order and avoid relying only on verbal explanations.
Recall records can help show that Audi or Volkswagen Group had notice of a safety or drivability issue. The legal question is still whether your specific vehicle was repaired within a reasonable number of attempts.
Save purchase or lease documents, every repair order, tow or rental records, photos or videos of symptoms, and all manufacturer recall notices. These records help evaluate warranty timing and repeated repair attempts.
For qualifying California lemon law cases, attorney fees are typically pursued from the manufacturer after a successful outcome. A case review can help determine whether your Audi repair history is strong enough to pursue.
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