2021 Audi S7 Brake Fluid Recall (23V601)

Recall 23V601 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Audi S7 in recall 23V601?

An incorrectly labeled brake fluid cap may have been installed, which can result in the use of the wrong type of brake fluid.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi S7, S6 Sedan, RS7, RS6 Avant, A6 Allroad, 2019-2021 A7, and A6 Sedan vehicles. An incorrectly labeled brake fluid cap may have been installed, which can result in the use of the wrong type of brake fluid.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 S7 with recall 23V601?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Incorrect brake fluid can reduce braking ability and increase the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Incorrect brake fluid can reduce braking ability and increase 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 fluid, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V601?

Recall 23V601 covers 7,499 vehicles: 2021 Audi A6; 2021 Audi A6 Allroad; 2021 Audi A7; 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021 Audi RS 7; 2021 Audi S6; 2021 Audi S7.

NHTSA lists 7,499 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the S7 brake fluid recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect the brake fluid reservoir cap and, if necessary, replace it, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect the brake fluid reservoir cap and, if necessary, replace it, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 17, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47T9.

When was recall 23V601 announced?

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 23V601 to NHTSA on August 25, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as October 17, 2023.

This recall was filed 37 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 23V601?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V601 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 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 23V601?

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 23V601000 applies to your S7.
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 fluid 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 recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are S7 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the brakes.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the brakes have been filed since recall 23V601 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 43 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 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 A6: 17 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
• 2021 Audi A6 Allroad: 9 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
• 2021 Audi A7: 6 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
• 2021 Audi RS 7: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
• 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
• 2021 Audi S7: 3 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
• 2021 Audi S6: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes

Can recall 23V601 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.

Owners often ask whether this fluid recall means their S7 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)).

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.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Audi S7 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V601