2021 Audi A6 Side Impact Recall (20V749)

Recall 20V749 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Audi A6 in recall 20V749?

The electrical connector can detach from the door crash sensor in either of the front doors.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A6 Allroad, Q7, RS6 and RS7 vehicles. The electrical connector can detach from the door crash sensor in either of the front doors.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 A6 with recall 20V749?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A detached connector can delay the activation of the restraint systems, including the side air bag, curtain air bag and/or seat-belt pretensioners during a side impact crash, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A detached connector can delay the activation of the restraint systems, including the side air bag, curtain air bag and/or seat-belt pretensioners during a side impact crash, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the side impact.

Which vehicles are included in recall 20V749?

Recall 20V749 covers 166 vehicles: 2021 Audi A6; 2021 Audi Q7; 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021 Audi RS 7.

NHTSA lists 166 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the A6 side impact recall?

Yes. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and as necessary, replace the crash sensors in both front doors, free of charge.

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and as necessary, replace the crash sensors in both front doors, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BM.

When was recall 20V749 announced?

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 20V749 to NHTSA on December 2, 2020.

This recall was filed 70 months ago. If your A6 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my A6 is part of recall 20V749?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V749 is open on your A6, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 A6 vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should A6 owners do about recall 20V749?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V749000 applies to your A6.
2. Call a Audi dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any side impact symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are A6 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the air bags.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 20V749 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 100 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Audi Q7: 75 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2021 Audi A6: 17 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2021 Audi RS 7: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

Can recall 20V749 make my A6 a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Recall 20V749000 does not automatically make your A6 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 20V749