The problem
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix
Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 21V-606 (21V606000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 69CR, 69CS |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Component | Seat belts › Rear/other › Retractor |
| Report date | August 5, 2021 |
| Owners notified | August 27, 2021 |
| Vehicles affected | 45,496 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
- 2021 Audi A4
- 2021 Audi A5
- 2021 Audi A5 Cabriolet
- 2021 Audi A6
- 2021 Audi A6 Allroad
- 2021 Audi A7
- 2021 Audi A8
- 2021 Audi e-tron
- 2021 Audi Q3
- 2021 Audi Q5
- 2021 Audi Q7
- 2021 Audi Q8
- 2021 Audi RS 5
- 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant
- 2021 Audi RS 7
- 2021 Audi RS Q8
- 2022 Audi S3
- 2021 Audi S4
- 2021 Audi S5
- 2021 Audi S5 Cabriolet
- 2021 Audi S6
- 2021 Audi S7
- 2021 Audi S8
- 2021 Audi SQ5
- 2021 Audi SQ7
- 2021 Audi SQ8
- 2021 Volkswagen ID.4
Plus 1 other model/year combinations not covered on this site.
Owner complaints about the seat belts
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 21V-606 repair free?
Yes. Audi dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 45,496 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.