2018 Audi A6 · Safety restraints
Air bag may not deploy
Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
What the reviewed source says
Start with the documented condition, not a parts guess.
NHTSA campaign 18V370000 includes certain 2015 to 2018 Audi A6 vehicles. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Words owners may use
Does this match the moment?
Symptoms in the pattern
- An air bag or SRS warning may appear, but some affected vehicles have no advance warning
- An open campaign appears when the complete VIN is checked
- Some recalled vehicles may show no advance warning before the component fails
Vehicles and scope
- 2015 to 2018 Audi A6
- NHTSA campaign 18V370000
- The manufacturer filing lists 139,249 potentially affected units across the complete campaign.
- VIN eligibility determines whether this recall applies to an individual vehicle
Manufacturer position
What the official procedure directs
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Safety recall eligibility is based on the VIN and campaign scope, not ordinary warranty mileage. Check the complete VIN even when the vehicle is outside its original warranty.
Original evidence
Open the documents behind this page.
Repair paths and safe checks
Separate the diagnosis from the action.
Use the official recall remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Do not buy parts from the campaign description alone. VIN scope, superseded remedies and parts availability can change.
What owners reported
Did this repair fix the same symptom on your car?
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Check the complete VIN before arranging work
Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup and ask the manufacturer or an authorised dealer to confirm whether the campaign is open for this vehicle.
A year, make and model match does not prove that every vehicle is included. The VIN result controls eligibility.
What owners reported
Did this repair fix the same symptom on your car?
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Useful before authorizing work
Read the method beside the problem
These guides explain the safety and evidence checks that apply to this problem file.
Check recalls by VIN
A VIN search checks the displayed NHTSA records for an unrepaired safety recall associated with one vehicle. A model search shows only the wider campaign population.
Read guide ↗When a car is unsafe
A warning light does not always mean the same thing, but weak brakes or smoke leave little room for experimentation. Damaged tires and certain recall instructions can do the same.
Read guide ↗Why symptoms overlap
“It makes a weird noise” is useful human language. Diagnosis begins when that language is tied to the exact vehicle and its operating conditions.
Read guide ↗More for this model
Other reviewed Audi A6 conditions
2019 to 2022 Audi A6 · Electrical & software
Electrical or software fault may disable vehicle functions
Liquid spilled in the rear seat may penetrate and cause the gateway control module to shut down.
2015 Audi A6 · Engine & cooling
Engine defect may cause power loss or damage
These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.
2019 to 2025 Audi A6 · Visibility & cameras
Rearview camera image may not display
A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended.