2021 Audi A5 Tire Recall (22V034)

Recall 22V034 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Audi A5 in recall 22V034?

The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 A5 with recall 22V034?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your A5 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the tires, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 22V034?

Recall 22V034 covers 31,058 vehicles: 2021 Audi A4; 2021 Audi A4 Allroad; 2021 Audi A5; 2021 Audi A5 Cabriolet; 2021 Audi A6; 2021 Audi A6 Allroad; 2021 Audi A7; 2021 Audi A8; 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 Audi S4; 2021 Audi S5; 2021 Audi S6; 2021 Audi S7; 2021 Audi S8; 2021 Audi SQ5; 2021 Audi SQ7; 2021 Audi SQ8.

NHTSA lists 31,058 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the A5 tire recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.

When was recall 22V034 announced?

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 22V034 to NHTSA on January 26, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 3, 2022.

This recall was filed 56 months ago. If your A5 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my A5 is part of recall 22V034?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V034 is open on your A5, 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 A5 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 A5 owners do about recall 22V034?

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 22V034000 applies to your A5.
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. Write down when symptoms involving the tires happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
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 A5 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 277 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 12 of them about the suspension, wheels and tires.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 277 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 12 of them involve the suspension, wheels and tires. 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, 4 about the suspension, wheels and tires
• 2021 Audi Q5: 74 complaints in total, 3 about the suspension, wheels and tires
• 2021 Audi Q8: 30 complaints in total, 0 about the suspension, wheels and tires
• 2021 Audi A6: 17 complaints in total, 0 about the suspension, wheels and tires
• 2021 Audi SQ5: 13 complaints in total, 0 about the suspension, wheels and tires
• 2021 Audi A4: 11 complaints in total, 3 about the suspension, wheels and tires
• 2021 Audi A6 Allroad: 9 complaints in total, 0 about the suspension, wheels and tires
• 2021 Audi A5: 8 complaints in total, 0 about the suspension, wheels and tires

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

The contact owns a 2021 Audi S5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V295000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available.

2021 Audi S5 owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11421184, filed June 16, 2021

The contact owns a 2021 Audi SQ8. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V295000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue.

2021 Audi SQ8 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11422997, filed June 30, 2021

My 2021 Audi Q5 has a manufacturing recall (Safety Recall 42L1 – Rear Axle Trailing Arm Lock Nut) on it and my dealer cancelled my appointment and informed me that they will not perform the recall repair unless I schedule (something that I have to pay for) at the same time – they will not…

2021 Audi Q5 owner, MN, NHTSA complaint 11434472, filed September 27, 2021

Can recall 22V034 make my A5 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 22V034000 does not automatically make your A5 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))?

If a suspension or wheel problem on the 2021 Audi A5 returns after the recall work, keep the repair orders. Repeat visits for the same defect are what California's lemon law looks at.

This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same tires again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021 Audi A5 has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 21V295000.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the A5 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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 22V034