2021 Audi A4 Seat Belt Retractor Recall (21V606)

Recall 21V606 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Audi A4 in recall 21V606?

The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Is it safe to drive a 2021 A4 with recall 21V606?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during 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 retractor.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V606?

Recall 21V606 covers 45,496 vehicles: 2021 Audi A4; 2021 Audi A5; 2021 Audi A5 Cabriolet; 2021 Audi A6; 2021 Audi A6 Allroad; 2021 Audi A7; 2021 Audi A8; 2021 Audi E-Tron; 2021 Audi Q3; 2021 Audi Q5; 2021 Audi Q7; 2021 Audi Q8; 2021 Audi RS 5; 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021 Audi RS 7; 2021 Audi RS Q8; 2021-2022 Audi S3; 2021 Audi S4; 2021 Audi S5; 2021 Audi S5 Cabriolet; 2021 Audi S6; 2021 Audi S7; 2021 Audi S8; 2021 Audi SQ5; 2021 Audi SQ7; 2021 Audi SQ8; 2021 Volkswagen ID.4.

NHTSA lists 45,496 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the A4 seat belt retractor recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).

Manufacturer recall number: 69CR, 69CS.

When was recall 21V606 announced?

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 21V606 to NHTSA on August 5, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 27, 2021.

This recall was filed 62 months ago. If your A4 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my A4 is part of recall 21V606?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V606 is open on your A4, 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 A4 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 A4 owners do about recall 21V606?

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 21V606000 applies to your A4.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Audi dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Keep a simple log of any retractor 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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are A4 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 664 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 8 of them about the seat belts.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 664 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 8 of them involve the seat belts. 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 Volkswagen ID.4: 335 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
• 2021 Audi Q7: 75 complaints in total, 2 about the seat belts
• 2021 Audi Q5: 74 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 Audi E-Tron: 36 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 Audi Q8: 30 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
• 2021 Audi A6: 17 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 Audi Q3: 15 complaints in total, 2 about the seat belts
• 2021 Audi SQ5: 13 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

Tl* the contact owns a 2021 audi q8. The contact stated while stopped at a red light, he leaned forward and the front driver's seat belt shoulder harness tightened which caused him shortness of breath and chest pain. Medical treatment was later received for his injuries.

2021 Audi Q8 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11412868, filed April 19, 2021

Two weeks ago my 2021 Audi Q3 displayed a child lock malfunction error. The rear passengers cannot open the door from the inside even after turning off the child lock feature because of this fault. I dropped my vehicle at the Audi dealership in Ontario, California.

2021 Audi Q3 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11506816, filed February 12, 2023

I was traveling approximately 50 mph on a highway when we were rear-ended. The car spun around and we were both thrown forward due to the malfunctioning of both the driver and passenger seat belts. Further inspection found the rear seatbelts as well did not function properly.

2021 Audi Q3 owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11534285, filed July 25, 2023

Can recall 21V606 make my A4 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 retractor recall means their A4 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)).

Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs in your records.

This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same retractor again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021 Audi A4 has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 21V607000.

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 21V606