2021 Audi E-Tron Brake Recall (21V569)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 498 vehicles · Reported July 26, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 498 2021 Audi E-Tron vehicles. An improperly welded rotor and shaft may separate within the integrated brake system. Separation of the rotor and shaft may cause a reduction in braking assistance and a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V569 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V569000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 47R1 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 26, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Audi E-Tron |
| Units affected | 498 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
| Safety risk | Separation of the rotor and shaft may cause a reduction in braking assistance and a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Audi E-Tron in recall 21V569?
An improperly welded rotor and shaft may separate within the integrated brake system.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 E-Tron Quattro and 2020-2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback Quattro vehicles. An improperly welded rotor and shaft may separate within the integrated brake system.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 E-Tron with recall 21V569?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Separation of the rotor and shaft may cause a reduction in braking assistance and a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Separation of the rotor and shaft may cause a reduction in braking assistance and a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), increasing the risk of a crash.
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 service brakes, hydraulic.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V569?
Recall 21V569 covers 498 vehicles: 2021 Audi E-Tron.
NHTSA lists 498 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Audi | E-Tron |
What is the fix for the E-Tron brake recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the brake booster, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the brake booster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 14, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47R1.
When was recall 21V569 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 21V569 to NHTSA on July 26, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 14, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 26, 2021 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V569000. |
| September 14, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 63 months ago. If your E-Tron was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my E-Tron is part of recall 21V569?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V569 is open on your E-Tron, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V569000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should E-Tron owners do about recall 21V569?
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 21V569000 applies to your E-Tron.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the service brakes, hydraulic happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- 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 E-Tron owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 3 of them about the brakes.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the brakes have been filed since recall 21V569 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 36 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 3 of them involve the brakes. 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 E-Tron: 36 complaints in total, 3 about the brakes
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
On five separate occasions across two separate drivers, we have experienced a partial brake failure in this vehicle. We strongly believe this to be a software defect and not a mechanical fault. On the e-Tron, the first portion of the brake pedal swing typically activates the regenerative braking.
2021 Audi E-Tron owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11639800, filed January 31, 2025
Moisture build-up in the high-voltage electrical system through a faulty seal on the charging socket, which can cause a short circuit and significantly increase the risk of a vehicle fire. If you get a warning light saying "electrical system: fault," you should stop driving immediately, park outdoors away from structures, and not charge the vehicle.
2021 Audi E-Tron owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11738208, filed May 15, 2026
Car turns on but won’t move. Take it to dealership as it happens for the second time and turns out the brakes are sticking to the rotors. Audi says it’s perfectly normal just put force to the accelerator. When you do that in fact, it sound like the car is about to split in half.
2021 Audi E-Tron owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11488720, filed October 11, 2022
Can recall 21V569 make my E-Tron 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 21V569000 does not automatically make your E-Tron 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))?
Brake defects are safety defects. California's lemon law presumption can apply after two repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, when the manufacturer has been notified directly.
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.
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.
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 E-Tron been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Audi E-Tron recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V569
Is the 21V569000 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 September 14, 2021.
How do I know if my E-Tron is part of recall 21V569000?
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 21V569000 (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.