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dieterjung6

S5 Hood & Airbag Warnings Signal Safety System Alert

Anyone else had issues with hood latch and airbag warnings on their S5? Got multiple system fault messages on my 2013 S5 (173k km). The car shows active hood fault warning along with airbag warning light. Checked the error memory and found the spring actuators were triggered. Getting nervous about safety system reliability after my last mechanic visit went badly. Has anyone dealt with this before and can recommend what to do? Running a 3.0L TFSI if that matters.

4 comment(s)

kevinjones1

Had similar warnings on my 2016 Audi S4 with the same 3.0L TFSI engine. The active hood and airbag system warnings typically indicate a fault in the car safety network, specifically the impact sensor system. When these warnings appeared, initial diagnostics revealed triggered actuators, but the root cause was actually a failing front impact sensor connection. The car electronics were registering false positives, causing the safety system to think a collision was imminent. This required attention from a certified technician as the entire front impact sensor array needed recalibration. The active hood system is a critical car safety feature that deploys in milliseconds during accidents, so any faults need proper diagnosis and repair. The repair involved: Full system diagnostic scan, Replacement of corroded sensor connectors, Reset and recalibration of impact sensors, Clear fault codes and test system integrity While this was a serious issue requiring immediate attention, it wasnt a complex repair for a qualified technician with proper diagnostic equipment. The car safety system should never be ignored when showing multiple faults, as it could compromise airbag deployment in an actual collision. Based on your mileage, its worth having the entire sensor network inspected, as wire harness deterioration is common at this age.

dieterjung6 (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience. I had the exact same problem on my S5 last summer. The crash detection system kept triggering false warnings and the hood latch safety feature was constantly showing system fault messages. The repair fixed the issue completely and my collision detection system works perfectly now. Its been 6 months with no recurring problems. The wiring harness needed replacement and they had to recalibrate the entire safety system. Do you remember roughly how much you paid for the repairs? Also curious if youve had any other electrical gremlins pop up since getting it fixed?

kevinjones1

Just got back from the shop where my acceleration sensor was replaced. The total repair came to 315 Euro which fixed the active hood fault completely. The car sensor system has been working flawlessly since then. Unlike what happened with your wiring harness, my issue was isolated to a defective impact sensor that was sending incorrect signals to the crash detection system. The pedestrian safety features are now functioning correctly without any warning messages. No other electrical issues have surfaced in the last few months. The car electronics seem stable, and all safety systems are operating as designed. Regular diagnostic scans show everything is communicating properly within the safety network. The investment was worth it for the peace of mind, knowing the car safety systems are fully operational. A faulty sensor may seem minor, but it can compromise the entire safety system if left unaddressed.

dieterjung6 (Author)

Thanks for the input. Just wanted to close the loop on my experience with this problem. Took it to a certified shop last week after getting more worried about the system fault warnings. The mechanic found corroded wiring and a faulty impact sensor causing the pedestrian safety systems to malfunction. Total bill came to 480 Euro for parts and labor. The repair process was straightforward, they replaced the damaged wiring, installed a new sensor, and recalibrated the car electronics. The car safety system is now working perfectly with no warning lights or false alarms. Really relieved to have this fixed properly. All the crash detection features are back to normal and I feel much better about the reliability now. No other electrical issues have shown up since the repair. Definitely worth getting it done right rather than trying quick fixes that could compromise safety. Thanks again for helping me understand what I was dealing with.

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