YearToAvoid

2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet Airbags Problems

Airbags account for 38 of 87 complaints (44%) filed on the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet, mostly involving the passenger occupant detection system disabling the airbag. Median mileage at failure is 52,500 miles, with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported. A related recall, 19V474000, addresses an airbag connector issue.

Airbags complaints
38
44% of 87
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
52,500 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Passenger occupant detection sensor mat fails, disabling the front passenger airbag and triggering a warning light.
  • Air bag and seat belt warning indicators illuminate intermittently while driving, sometimes recurring after dealer visits.
  • Owners report the airbag warning stays on with a passenger seated, even though no accident occurred.
  • Some owners describe visible defects on the passenger airbag panel shortly after taking delivery of the vehicle.
  • Multiple owners mention being told repairs were not covered because a formal recall remedy had not yet been released.

When 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 30, 2015, latest Nov 8, 2022.

2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet airbags complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2015May 2018Jan 2019Aug 2019May 2021Jan 2022Apr 2022Oct 2022
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2015 to Nov 2022; peak Jul 2019 (3).

Airbags recalls for the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet

  1. NHTSA 19V474000Jun 19, 2019Airbags138,896 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

    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. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.

Airbags complaints by A3 Cabriolet model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201538 (44%)
  2. 201615 (42%)
  3. 201713 (52%)
  4. 20187 (58%)
  5. 20194 (100%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are airbag complaints on the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
NHTSA lists 38 airbag complaints for the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet, which is 44% of the 87 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet airbags?
Yes. Recall 19V474000, reported June 19, 2019, covers an improper electrical contact affecting the passenger airbag connector; Audi replaces the connector and reroutes the cable free of charge.
At what mileage do airbag problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 52,500 miles.
Did the airbag issue cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to these airbag complaints.
What is the main airbag complaint on this model year?
Most complaints describe the passenger occupant detection system failing and disabling the front passenger airbag, often accompanied by a warning light.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.