The problem
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 SQ6 E-Tron, SQ6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 Sportback E-Tron, A6, A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 E-Tron, S5, and S6 Sportback E-Tron vehicles. The automatic locking retractor may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
The risk
An improperly secured child seat can increase risk of injury during a crash.
The fix
Dealers will inspect and replace the right and left rear seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69D8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 25V-899 (25V899000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 69D8 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Component | Seat belts › Rear/other › Retractor |
| Report date | December 19, 2025 |
| Owners notified | February 16, 2026 |
| Vehicles affected | 27,768 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Plus 5 other model/year combinations not covered on this site.
Owner complaints about the seat belts
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 25V-899 repair free?
Yes. Audi dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will inspect and replace the right and left rear seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 27,768 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.