2021-2022 Audi S7 Electrical Recall (22V861)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 50,883 vehicles · Reported November 21, 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 50,883 2021-2022 Audi A6; 2021-2022 Audi A6 Allroad; 2021-2022 Audi A7; 2021-2022 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021-2022 Audi RS 7; 2021-2022 Audi S6; 2021-2022 Audi S7 vehicles. Liquid spilled in the rear seat may penetrate and cause the gateway control module to shut down. A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V861 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V861000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 90V2 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 21, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Audi A6; 2021-2022 Audi A6 Allroad; 2021-2022 Audi A7; 2021-2022 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021-2022 Audi RS 7; 2021-2022 Audi S6; 2021-2022 Audi S7 |
| Units affected | 50,883 |
| Component | Electrical System |
| Safety risk | A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Audi S7 in recall 22V861?
Liquid spilled in the rear seat may penetrate and cause the gateway control module to shut down.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Audi S7, S6 Sedan, A6 Allroad, 2021-2022 RS7, RS6 Avant, 2019-2022 A7, and A6 Sedan vehicles. Liquid spilled in the rear seat may penetrate and cause the gateway control module to shut down.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 S7 with recall 22V861?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your S7 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the electrical system, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V861?
Recall 22V861 covers 50,883 vehicles: 2021-2022 Audi A6; 2021-2022 Audi A6 Allroad; 2021-2022 Audi A7; 2021-2022 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021-2022 Audi RS 7; 2021-2022 Audi S6; 2021-2022 Audi S7.
NHTSA lists 50,883 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Audi | A6 |
| 2021-2022 | Audi | A6 Allroad |
| 2021-2022 | Audi | A7 |
| 2021-2022 | Audi | RS 6 Avant |
| 2021-2022 | Audi | RS 7 |
| 2021-2022 | Audi | S6 |
| 2021-2022 | Audi | S7 |
What is the fix for the S7 electrical recall?
Yes. Dealers will install a protective cover, free of charge.
Dealers will install a protective cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90V2.
When was recall 22V861 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 22V861 to NHTSA on November 21, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 20, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 21, 2022 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V861000. |
| January 20, 2023 | Owner notification letters scheduled (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 47 months ago. If your S7 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my S7 is part of recall 22V861?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V861 is open on your S7, 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 2021-2022 S7 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 S7 owners do about recall 22V861?
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 22V861000 applies to your S7.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Audi dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the electrical system 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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are S7 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 28 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 22V861 was reported on November 21, 2022, owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 2 of them (9%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after November 21, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 52 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 28 of them involve the electrical system. 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 A6: 17 complaints in total, 10 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi A6 Allroad: 9 complaints in total, 4 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi A7: 6 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant: 4 complaints in total, 3 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi RS 7: 4 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
- 2022 Audi S6: 4 complaints in total, 3 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi S7: 3 complaints in total, 3 about the electrical system
- 2022 Audi A6 Allroad: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The virtual cockpit (dashboard) went completely black except for an exclamation point. Speed, warning symbols, engine temp etc were not visible. Dealers has confirmed the issue and is currently trying to remedy the situation. The danger was not knowing how fast I was traveling.
2021 Audi A7 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11517345, filed April 17, 2023
At first, the yellow electrical system malfunction warning light came on. After a short time of driving, the light turned red, and very shortly after than (within five minutes as I was trying to drive the vehicle to the dealership for repair), all of the electrical systems in the vehicle failed.
2021 Audi A7 owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11552430, filed October 28, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Audi S7. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V155000 (Electrical System) and was later informed that the vehicle was also included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V861000 (Electrical System) however, parts for the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted.
2021 Audi S7 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11499130, filed December 28, 2022
Can recall 22V861 make my S7 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2021-2022 Audi S7 back, and the problem shows up again.
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.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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.
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 S7 been back to the dealer for this problem?
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Frequently asked questions about recall 22V861
Did the recall 22V861 fix work?
Since recall 22V861 was reported on November 21, 2022, owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 2 of them (9%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed January 20, 2023.
Is the 22V861000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my S7 is part of recall 22V861000?
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.
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 22V861000 (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.