2022-2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron Air Bag Recall (23V189)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 5,224 vehicles · Reported March 22, 2023
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 5,224 2022-2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron vehicles. During deployment, the head curtain air bag could deform the door seal and expose the metal inlay within the seal, which could tear the air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 226, "Ejection Mitigation." In the event of a crash, a torn air bag cannot protect occupants as intended, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V189 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V189000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 69FA |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 22, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2022-2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron |
| Units affected | 5,224 |
| Component | Air Bags |
| Safety risk | In the event of a crash, a torn air bag cannot protect occupants as intended, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022-2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron in recall 23V189?
During deployment, the head curtain air bag could deform the door seal and expose the metal inlay within the seal, which could tear the air bag.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Q4 E-Tron SUV and Q4 E-Tron Sportback vehicles. During deployment, the head curtain air bag could deform the door seal and expose the metal inlay within the seal, which could tear the air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Is it safe to drive a 2022-2023 Q4 E-Tron with recall 23V189?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: In the event of a crash, a torn air bag cannot protect occupants as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: In the event of a crash, a torn air bag cannot protect occupants as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Q4 E-Tron shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the air bags, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V189?
Recall 23V189 covers 5,224 vehicles: 2022-2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron.
NHTSA lists 5,224 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | Audi | Q4 E-Tron |
What is the fix for the Q4 E-Tron air bag recall?
Yes. Dealers will install cloth tape in the driver and front passenger B-pillar area, free of charge.
Dealers will install cloth tape in the driver and front passenger B-pillar area, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69FA.
When was recall 23V189 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 23V189 to NHTSA on March 22, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as May 11, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 22, 2023 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V189000. |
| May 11, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 42 months ago. If your Q4 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 Q4 E-Tron is part of recall 23V189?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V189 is open on your Q4 E-Tron, 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 2022-2023 Q4 E-Tron 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 Q4 E-Tron owners do about recall 23V189?
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 23V189000 applies to your Q4 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.
- 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 air bags 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 Q4 E-Tron owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 23V189 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 20 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 of them involve the air bags. 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.
- 2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron: 17 complaints in total, 2 about the air bags
- 2022 Audi Q4 E-Tron: 3 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
As I began to move the car, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. I attempted to brake before reaching the stop sign, but the car continued to gain speed. I estimate the vehicle reached approximately 60 mph. Within seconds, I collided with two vehicles and then a palm tree, sustaining a frontal impact.
2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11712662, filed January 22, 2026
Can recall 23V189 make my Q4 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.
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)).
Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.
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 Q4 E-Tron 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.
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 Q4 E-Tron been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Audi Q4 E-Tron recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V189
Is the 23V189000 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 May 11, 2023.
How do I know if my Q4 E-Tron is part of recall 23V189000?
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.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
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 23V189000 (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.