Photo: Audi
It seems that more and more carmakers have trouble with the airbags fitted to their cars. Now, it’s Volkswagen Group of America’s turn to recall no less than 22,000 Audis in two airbag-related campaigns. If you own these particular models, you should check with your local dealership as soon as possible.
In the first safety campaign, Audi will recall 21,074 examples of the 2012-2013 A6 manufactured between March 28, 2011, and March 25, 2013, and 2012-2013 A7 models built between January 25, 2015, and March 19, 2013.
Apparently, in the models featuring heated and cooled seats, the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS), which activates the front passenger airbags, doesn’t work properly and may not deploy the passenger-side airbags in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
As a consequence, Audi dealerships will install a PODS repair kit, free of charge, of course. Fortunately, no injuries or deaths related to this issue have been reported, and the recall will begin in February 2016.
In the second campaign, 904 models of the 2015 A3 Cabriolet, manufactured between June 5, 2014, and April 1, 2015, will be recalled by the Volkswagen Group of America, this time because of a driver or front passenger seat cover that has been incorrectly stitched. Due to this issue, the airbag might not function as it should and might not deploy in the event of a crash.
Just like in the first case, no injuries or deaths have been reported, and Audi will replace the driver’s and passenger’s seat cover, free of charge, starting next month.
The last recall that Audi conducted because of an airbag problem was back in 2014, when the German carmaker called back no less than 850,000 A4 models built after 2012. Then, Audi’s own software malfunctioned and prevented airbags from properly deploying in case of a crash.
Also related to this system that is supposed to save lives, in November 2015, the US Department of Transportation announced that Takata, one of the world’s largest airbag manufacturers, would be fined $70 million for its failure to manufacture and handle safe units for over 30 million cars.
Apparently, in the models featuring heated and cooled seats, the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS), which activates the front passenger airbags, doesn’t work properly and may not deploy the passenger-side airbags in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
As a consequence, Audi dealerships will install a PODS repair kit, free of charge, of course. Fortunately, no injuries or deaths related to this issue have been reported, and the recall will begin in February 2016.
In the second campaign, 904 models of the 2015 A3 Cabriolet, manufactured between June 5, 2014, and April 1, 2015, will be recalled by the Volkswagen Group of America, this time because of a driver or front passenger seat cover that has been incorrectly stitched. Due to this issue, the airbag might not function as it should and might not deploy in the event of a crash.
Just like in the first case, no injuries or deaths have been reported, and Audi will replace the driver’s and passenger’s seat cover, free of charge, starting next month.
The last recall that Audi conducted because of an airbag problem was back in 2014, when the German carmaker called back no less than 850,000 A4 models built after 2012. Then, Audi’s own software malfunctioned and prevented airbags from properly deploying in case of a crash.
Also related to this system that is supposed to save lives, in November 2015, the US Department of Transportation announced that Takata, one of the world’s largest airbag manufacturers, would be fined $70 million for its failure to manufacture and handle safe units for over 30 million cars.
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