Audi is recalling about 208,332 cars because of concerns that a seat heater cable problem can disable the front passenger airbag.
According to Consumer Reports, if the passenger airbag is disabled, the occupants of the cars will not be protected in the event of a crash. Audi advises vehicle owners to immediately take their cars to an Audi dealership to fix the problem.
Details of the Recall
This action includes certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, and 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. Audi has said that models not included in this recall have already been equipped with improved parts.
The recalled vehicles feature a passenger occupant detection system in the front seats as federal regulations in the United States and Canada require. The problem relates to a potential wiring fault connected to the occupant detection system. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger airbag.
This can cause the passenger airbag to be deactivated even if a passenger is present. If this occurs, the airbag indicator light will display “passenger airbag off.” The instrument cluster will also have an acoustic warning and an error message. Audi will begin notifying vehicle owners in early January. Depending on the seat type, connecting cable, and seat heating mats, dealers will replace the entire seat cover at no cost to customers. Audi has built the remedy components with a newly-developed shielded connecting cable. For more information, contact the manufacturer at 1-800-253-2834.
Auto Product Liability Issues
Airbags are among the most important safety features in our vehicles. Newer vehicles have front and side airbags to help cushion vehicle occupants and protect them from blunt force injuries during auto accidents. However, when an airbag fails to deploy due to a defect or malfunction, occupants of a vehicle may suffer major, if not catastrophic or life-threatening injuries.
Suppose you or a loved one has been injured because of a defective airbag, seatbelt, or a safety feature that fails to work as intended. In that case, you may be able to file a product defect lawsuit against the vehicle manufacturer and/or the maker of the defective part. You may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, and pain and suffering. If you have lost a loved one due to an airbag defect, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation. An experienced auto defect lawyer will be able to provide you with more information about your legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.consumerreports.org/car-recalls-defects/audi-cars-recalled-due-to-airbag-problem-a1042761795/
