Audi has suspended sales of A6 and A7 models equipped with certain seats in the US because of a defective sensor. A recall for the two luxury sedans has also been actioned affecting models built from 2012 to 2018. According to Automotive News, the sensor mat in front of the passenger seat in these models, which is designed to detect whether the passenger seat is occupied, could malfunction and prevent the airbag from deploying in a crash.
An Audi spokesman confirmed 139,249 A6s and A7s built between January 2011 and April 2018 equipped with standard or Super Sport seats are affected by the issue. Luckily, no deaths or injuries have been reported as a result of the defect, but Audi doesn’t have a fix available yet. Audi A6 and A7 models sold outside the US are not affected. If you own a 2012-2018 A6 or A7 in the US, there’s a simple way to tell if your car has been fitted with a defective sensor. If the indicator light showing that the passenger-side airbags are not armed activates when the front passenger seat is occupied, this means the sensor is faulty.
If that’s the case, Audi advises customers to stop using the seat immediately and contact their local dealership. It’s otherwise safe to drive your A6 or A7 until it can be inspected or repaired, though. This isn’t the first time the A6 has been recalled because of a potential safety hazard. Last year, around 583,000 A6 models built between 2012 and 2015 and powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine were recalled because there was a possibility the electric coolant pump could overheat and cause a fire.
