The problem
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 GTI, Golf R, Audi A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S5, S6 Sportback E-Tron, 2026 Q4 Sportback E-Tron, and Q4 E-Tron vehicles. The torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production.
The risk
In a crash, a damaged torsion bar in a retractor could fail. If this happens, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix
Dealers will replace one or both front seat belts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 30, 2025, and October 31, 2025. Owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834 or Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 69UM; Volkswagen's number for this recall is 694T. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 26, 2025.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 25V-638 (25V638000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 694T 69UM |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Component | Seat belts › Front › Retractor |
| Report date | September 24, 2025 |
| Owners notified | October 31, 2025 |
| Vehicles affected | 1,042 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Plus 6 other model/year combinations not covered on this site.
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 25V-638 repair free?
Yes. Audi dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will replace one or both front seat belts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 30, 2025, and October 31, 2025. Owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834 or Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 1,042 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.