2023 Audi S5 Passenger Air Bag Recall (24V251)

Recall 24V251 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2023 Audi S5 in recall 24V251?

An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the occupant detection system (ODS) control module may loosen and deactivate the front passenger air bag.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet, A4 Allroad, Q5 Sportback, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, SQ7, TT Coupe, TT Roadster, RS5 Sportback, 2024 A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q8, RSQ8, 2023-2024 Q3, Q5, and Q7 vehicles. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the occupant detection system (ODS) control module may loosen and deactivate the front passenger air bag.

Is it safe to drive a 2023 S5 with recall 24V251?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of 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 front passenger.

Which vehicles are included in recall 24V251?

Recall 24V251 covers 91 vehicles: 2023 Audi A3; 2023 Audi A4 Allroad; 2024 Audi A8; 2024 Audi E-Tron; 2023-2024 Audi Q3; 2023-2024 Audi Q5; 2023-2024 Audi Q7; 2024 Audi Q8; 2023 Audi RS 5; 2024 Audi RS Q8; 2023 Audi S5; 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet; 2023 Audi SQ7; 2023 Audi TT.

NHTSA lists 91 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the S5 passenger air bag recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 8, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69GU.

When was recall 24V251 announced?

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 24V251 to NHTSA on April 3, 2024.

This recall was filed 30 months ago. If your S5 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my S5 is part of recall 24V251?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V251 is open on your S5, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 24V251000 is open on your S5, it will be listed there, along with Audi recall number 69GU. 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 S5 owners do about recall 24V251?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 24V251000 applies to your S5.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Audi dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the front passenger happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are S5 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 5 of them about the air bags.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 24V251 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 135 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 5 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.

• 2023 Audi Q5: 43 complaints in total, 3 about the air bags
• 2024 Audi Q8: 23 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2024 Audi Q5: 20 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2024 Audi Q3: 18 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
• 2023 Audi Q7: 16 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2023 Audi A3: 7 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2023 Audi S5: 3 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
• 2024 Audi Q7: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):

We have a leased 2023 Audi Q5 that has been to the Audi Service Department twice so far to determine the source of the problem with our SOS sensor, which turns on randomly and now stays on and won't turn off.

2023 Audi Q5 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11657795, filed April 30, 2025

This is in line with the 2023 Audi Q5 (VIN: [XXX] with only 4k miles on the odometer), which has several system malfunctioning errors that populate periodically. The same error occurred while running on the first day I collected this Audi Q5 from Audi Dallas showroom on [XXX].

2023 Audi Q5 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11568650, filed January 29, 2024

I am writing to file a complaint against Audi of America. My new vehicle, a 2023 Audi Q5 that I was involved in a minor car accident on [XXX]. That evening my car was side swiped during a merge after a toll both in Woodbridge, NJ off.

2023 Audi Q5 owner, CT, NHTSA complaint 11574097, filed February 26, 2024

Can recall 24V251 make my S5 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.

Recall 24V251000 does not automatically make your S5 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (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.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 24V251