Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated that the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) had failed to operate with a passenger seated in the front passenger's seat. The contact then received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that an interim repair could be performed on the vehicle however, due to previous poor service, the contact decided not to have the recall repaired at that dealer. The contact then took the vehicle to Audi Gilbert (3235 S Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85297) where they informed him that they would have to scan the vehicle prior to having the interim repair performed. The contact notified manufacturer and the manufacturer spoke with the dealer. …
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH with her son sitting in the front passenger's side seat, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the recall repair was not completed as the contact left with the vehicle to pick up her son from school. The contact stated that the dealer refused to honor the manufacturer's vehicle rental assistance offer. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but canceled the scheduled appointments for diagnostic testing on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the airbag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle had previously been serviced four years ago for the recurring failure, and the dealer had replaced the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) sensor mat. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the Audi presence system fault warning chime and light was illuminated. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag warning light would illuminate whether or not there was a passenger seated in the seat. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the alarm repeatedly activated causing the battery to drain. The vehicle was repaired prior to the recall however, the failure persisted. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the passenger's side air bag off warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The VIN was included however, the vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the repair failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer failed to repair the vehicle in a timely manner. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called Audi Fort Lauderdale (1200 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, [phone]) and Audi North Miami(1995 NE 142nd St, North Miami, FL 33181, [phone]), and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.
Related recalls
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Airbag complaints in other A3 Cabriolet years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the air bags of the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 44% of the model year's 87 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-474 (occupant classification, Jun 19, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.