Does the 2018 Audi RS 5 have any recalls?

Transport Canada lists 3 campaigns and the U.S. NHTSA lists 1 for the 2018 Audi RS 5. Matched by make, model, and model year. Many recalls affect only specific VIN ranges — confirm with your dealer using your full VIN.

How do I know if a recall applies to my 2018 Audi RS 5?

Recalls are matched by make, model and model year, but many cover only certain VIN ranges. Confirm with your manufacturer or dealer using your full VIN, or use the official Transport Canada or NHTSA lookup.

Are recall repairs free?

Yes. In both Canada and the United States the manufacturer must fix a recalled defect at no charge, through a franchised dealer.

RECALLS — MAKE · MODEL · YEAR

2018 Audi RS 5 recalls

4 safety recall campaigns have been filed for the 2018 Audi RS 5 with Transport Canada and the U.S. NHTSA. Here is what both agencies say.

Canadian recalls: 03
U.S. recalls: 01
Total campaigns: 04

Transport Canada recalls

Airbag#2021688November 10, 2021
35,107 units affected
Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a passenger is seated. Note: This problem would cause an error message to display on the instrument panel and a warning chime to sound. The airbag indicator light would also display "passenger airbag off". Additional note: For the 2020 model year A5 model, only the A5 Sportback is affected by this recall. Safety Risk: An airbag that is turned off could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash. Corrective Actions: Audi will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to inspect the front passenger seat. Depending on the seat type, the dealer will either replace the seat heating mat including the connecting cable or the entire seat cover.
Electrical#2020604December 9, 2020
447 units affected
Issue: On certain vehicles, the cover for the positive battery terminal could be damaged in a rear crash. This can cause the car to lose electrical power. If this happens, it may not be possible to open the doors from the outside and/or the hazard lights may not work. Safety Risk: Doors that cannot be opened from the outside could increase the risk of injury after a crash. Hazard lights that do not work could make the vehicle less visible and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Audi will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the plus (positive) terminal cover.
Airbag#2019361July 24, 2019
26,386 units affected
Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a passenger is seated. Note: This problem would cause an error message to display on the instrument panel and a warning chime to sound. The airbag indicator light would also display "passenger airbag off". Safety Risk: An airbag that is turned off could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to install cable ties on the wiring harness under the front passenger seat.

Canadian data updated August 24, 2026

U.S. NHTSA recalls

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE#19V547000July 24, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.

Does this recall apply to my vehicle?

Matched by make, model, and model year. Many recalls affect only specific VIN ranges — confirm with your dealer using your full VIN.

What to do

Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer in both countries. To confirm a recall applies to your specific vehicle, or to book the work, contact your manufacturer or dealer with your full VIN, or use the official channel:

NHTSA recall lookup (search by VIN) — U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Defects and recalls database — Transport Canada

Check a 2018 Audi RS 5 VIN

A VIN decode confirms your vehicle's exact model year, trim and assembly plant, then runs this same recall check against it.

Data sources and coverage limits →