2021 Audi SQ7 Engine Recall (21V339)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 15 vehicles · Reported May 12, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 15 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021 Audi RS 7; 2021 Audi RS Q8; 2021 Audi SQ7; 2021 Audi SQ8 vehicles. Cracks may develop on the surface of the engine cylinder bore. Cracks may cause engine damage and a stall or an oil leak, increasing the risk of a crash or fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V339 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V339000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 10G9 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 12, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021 Audi RS 7; 2021 Audi RS Q8; 2021 Audi SQ7; 2021 Audi SQ8 |
| Units affected | 15 |
| Component | Engine |
| Safety risk | Cracks may cause engine damage and a stall or an oil leak, increasing the risk of a crash or fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Audi SQ7 in recall 21V339?
Cracks may develop on the surface of the engine cylinder bore.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi SQ7, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 AVANT, and SQ8 vehicles. Cracks may develop on the surface of the engine cylinder bore.
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 SQ7 with recall 21V339?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Cracks may cause engine damage and a stall or an oil leak, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Cracks may cause engine damage and a stall or an oil leak, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
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 engine.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V339?
Recall 21V339 covers 15 vehicles: 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021 Audi RS 7; 2021 Audi RS Q8; 2021 Audi SQ7; 2021 Audi SQ8.
NHTSA lists 15 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Audi | RS 6 Avant |
| 2021 | Audi | RS 7 |
| 2021 | Audi | RS Q8 |
| 2021 | Audi | SQ7 |
| 2021 | Audi | SQ8 |
What is the fix for the SQ7 engine recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 10G9.
When was recall 21V339 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 21V339 to NHTSA on May 12, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 9, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 12, 2021 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V339000. |
| July 9, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 65 months ago. If your SQ7 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my SQ7 is part of recall 21V339?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V339 is open on your SQ7, 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 SQ7 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 SQ7 owners do about recall 21V339?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V339000 applies to your SQ7.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Audi dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any engine symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- 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 SQ7 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 3 of them about the engine.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the engine have been filed since recall 21V339 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 19 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 3 of them involve the engine. 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 SQ7: 6 complaints in total, 2 about the engine
- 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the engine
- 2021 Audi RS 7: 4 complaints in total, 1 about the engine
- 2021 Audi SQ8: 3 complaints in total, 0 about the engine
- 2021 Audi RS Q8: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the engine
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The car continues to smell like coolant and burns excessive oil. It has been taken in for service. Repairs have been attempted but problem still exists. On one occasion, service records indicate a test drive when the mileage remained the same.
2021 Audi RS 7 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11582098, filed April 10, 2024
I am reporting premature cooling system failure on my 2021 Audi SQ7 equipped with the 4.0L twin-turbo V8 (EA825 engine). The vehicle developed a coolant leak from the water pump and thermostat housing assembly at relatively low mileage (less than 27,000 miles).
2021 Audi SQ7 owner, MA, NHTSA complaint 11739537, filed May 22, 2026
The car started over heating at 39,000 miles with the warning that “coolant temperature too high, let engine run with vehicle stationary.” Took it to the dealer for repairs and they said it’s a bad thermostat and water pump which requires the entire front end to be disassembled to change.
2021 Audi SQ7 owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11574768, filed February 29, 2024
Can recall 21V339 make my SQ7 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.
Owners often ask whether this engine recall means their SQ7 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Engine defects can mean stalling, loss of power, oil consumption or overheating. When the same engine complaint brings the 2021 Audi SQ7 back to the dealer more than once, that history matters under California's lemon law.
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.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the SQ7 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
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.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your SQ7 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Audi SQ7 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V339
Is the 21V339000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed July 9, 2021.
How do I know if my SQ7 is part of recall 21V339000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
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.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V339000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Audi. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.