Volkswagen Group of America has detected an issue affecting 91 vehicles from the Audi brand. Specifically, the passenger seat occupant detection system control module pins were improperly soldered to the circuit board.
This issue could potentially disrupt communication between the passenger seat occupant detection system control module and the airbag control module, leading to the deactivation of the front passenger airbag in the event of a crash.
Fortunately, an interruption in communication would trigger the yellow airbag warning light, prompting owners to contact a dealer for diagnosis. The automaker became aware of this deviation in the soldering process on November 24, 2023, and initiated an investigation in December 2023. Audi identified two warranty claims related to the recall condition during the investigation.
On February 27 of this year, the supplier, IEE S.A., improved the automated optical inspection process on the production line to ensure proper soldering of all pins inside the control module. The affected vehicles include various models such as the Q3, Q5, Q7, Q8, and several others, totaling 91 units produced between January 27, 2023, and November 29, 2023.
Audi reported 228,550 deliveries in the United States last year, with the Q5 being the most popular model, followed by the Q7 and A5. The next-generation Q5 is expected to launch in late 2024 for the 2025 model year, retaining its current engine options. Prices for the Q5 and its variants start at $45,300 for the 2024 model year.