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2018 Audi S6 Recalls & Complaints

1

open safety recall on record

Serious

5 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.00 · updated 2026-10-27

The recalls

Serious18V370000

Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification

If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, raises the risk of injury.

Remedy & full details

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.

Complaint volume

5 this model-year 7 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
0Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths

Across 5 complaints. Severity Index 0.00.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Steering2 · 40%Service Brakes1 · 20%Visibility/Wiper1 · 20%Electrical System1 · 20%
  1. Steering — 2 reports
  2. Service Brakes — 1 reports
  3. Visibility/Wiper — 1 reports
  4. Electrical System — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (2) · 1996 (1) · 1998 (1) · 2001 (1) · 2002 (2) · 2003 (2) · 2007 (2) · 2008 (2) · 2010 (2) · 2013 (3) · 2014 (3) · 2015 (2) · 2016 (2) · 2017 (2) · 2018 · 2020 (6) · 2022 (4) · 2025 (1)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.