2022 Audi S3 Front Air Bag Recall (22V652)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 4,117 vehicles · Reported August 29, 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 4,117 2022 Audi A3; 2022 Audi RS 3; 2022 Audi S3 vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been folded incorrectly. An incorrectly folded air bag can tear, prohibiting it from deploying properly during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V652 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V652000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 69DZ |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 29, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2022 Audi A3; 2022 Audi RS 3; 2022 Audi S3 |
| Units affected | 4,117 |
| Component | Air Bags > Frontal |
| Safety risk | An incorrectly folded air bag can tear, prohibiting it from deploying properly during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Audi S3 in recall 22V652?
The front passenger air bag may have been folded incorrectly.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Audi S3, A3, and RS3 vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been folded incorrectly.
Is it safe to drive a 2022 S3 with recall 22V652?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An incorrectly folded air bag can tear, prohibiting it from deploying properly during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An incorrectly folded air bag can tear, prohibiting it from deploying properly during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the frontal.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V652?
Recall 22V652 covers 4,117 vehicles: 2022 Audi A3; 2022 Audi RS 3; 2022 Audi S3.
NHTSA lists 4,117 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Audi | A3 |
| 2022 | Audi | RS 3 |
| 2022 | Audi | S3 |
What is the fix for the S3 front air bag recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69DZ.
When was recall 22V652 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 22V652 to NHTSA on August 29, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 13, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 29, 2022 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V652000. |
| December 13, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 49 months ago. If your S3 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my S3 is part of recall 22V652?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V652 is open on your S3, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 22V652000 is open on your S3, it will be listed there, along with Audi recall number 69DZ. You can also ask any Audi dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should S3 owners do about recall 22V652?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V652000 applies to your S3.
- Call a Audi dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the frontal happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are S3 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 22V652 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 11 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Audi A3: 9 complaints in total, 3 about the air bags
- 2022 Audi S3: 2 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
- 2022 Audi RS 3: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2022 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V515000 (Seat Belts) and 22V652000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs.
2022 Audi A3 owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11487318, filed September 30, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V652000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2022 Audi A3 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11492097, filed November 3, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V652000 (Air Bags) and 22V823000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.
2022 Audi A3 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11493657, filed November 15, 2022
Can recall 22V652 make my S3 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2022 Audi S3 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the S3 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your S3 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Audi S3 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V652
Is the 22V652000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 13, 2022.
How do I know if my S3 is part of recall 22V652000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V652000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Audi. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.