Due to a problem with the pins inside the control module of the passenger seat occupant recognition system, which could prevent the airbag from deploying, Audi is recalling 17 different models in the US.

It appears from the recall notice issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that there may have been an error in the soldering of the seat occupant detection system’s pins to the circuit board. This can result in a communication breakdown between the airbag control module and the system control module. The pins may separate from the circuit board due to vibrations as well. The passenger airbag will be deactivated and the airbag control unit will enter fail-safe mode if it senses a malfunction, therefore raising the possibility of harm to the occupant in this seat.

Although it affects a number of Audi models, just 91 vehicles are believed to have been affected in the US. They include the following:

• 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet – built on February 2, 2023.
• 2023 Audi A4 Allroad – built on July 7, 2023.
• 2024 Audi A8 – built on November 16, 2023.
• 2024 Audi E-Tron Quattro – built from February 13-23, 2023.
• 2024 Audi E-Tron Sportback Quattro – built on February 13, 2023.
• 2023-2024-Audi Q3 – built between January 28, 2023, and October 25, 2023.
• 2023-2024 Audi Q5 – built between January 27, 2023 and November 29, 2023.
• 2023 Audi Q5 Sportback – built on January 28, 2023.
• 2023-2024 Audi Q7 – built between June 8, 2023 and October 23, 2023.
• 2024 Audi Q8 – built from October 18-19, 2023.
• 2023 Audi A3 Sedan – built on June 13, 2023.
• 2024 Audi RS Q8 – built on October 13, 2023.
• 2023 Audi S5 Sportback – built between July 7, 2023, and July 20, 2023.
• 2023 Audi SQ7 – built on June 8, 2023.
• 2023 Audi TT Coupe – built from February 3-6, 2023.
• 2023 Audi TT Roadster – built between January 30, 2023, and February 6, 2023.
• 2023 Audi RS5 Sportback – built on July 11, 2023.

If the dashboard’s yellow airbag warning light illuminates, owners will be notified of the problem.

In each of the impacted cars, Audi will swap out the control module for the passenger seat occupant detection system. Owners will receive notice by May 31, 2024, at the latest.