2023-2024 Audi SQ8 Side Air Bag Recall (23V868)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 1,001 vehicles · Reported December 20, 2023
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 1,001 2023-2024 Audi Q7; 2023-2024 Audi Q8; 2023-2024 Audi RS Q8; 2024 Audi SQ7; 2023-2024 Audi SQ8 vehicles. The driver's seat side air bag may have been improperly mounted to the seatback frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection." An improperly mounted air bag may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V868 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V868000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 69GA |
| Date reported to NHTSA | December 20, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2023-2024 Audi Q7; 2023-2024 Audi Q8; 2023-2024 Audi RS Q8; 2024 Audi SQ7; 2023-2024 Audi SQ8 |
| Units affected | 1,001 |
| Component | Air Bags > Side / Window |
| Safety risk | An improperly mounted air bag may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023-2024 Audi SQ8 in recall 23V868?
The driver's seat side air bag may have been improperly mounted to the seatback frame.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2023-2024 SQ8, RSQ8, Q8, Q7, and 2024 SQ7 vehicles. The driver's seat side air bag may have been improperly mounted to the seatback frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Is it safe to drive a 2023-2024 SQ8 with recall 23V868?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An improperly mounted air bag may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An improperly mounted air bag may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing 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 side and window.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V868?
Recall 23V868 covers 1,001 vehicles: 2023-2024 Audi Q7; 2023-2024 Audi Q8; 2023-2024 Audi RS Q8; 2024 Audi SQ7; 2023-2024 Audi SQ8.
NHTSA lists 1,001 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | Audi | Q7 |
| 2023-2024 | Audi | Q8 |
| 2023-2024 | Audi | RS Q8 |
| 2024 | Audi | SQ7 |
| 2023-2024 | Audi | SQ8 |
What is the fix for the SQ8 side air bag recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air bag as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69GA.
When was recall 23V868 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 23V868 to NHTSA on December 20, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 17, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 20, 2023 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V868000. |
| January 17, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 33 months ago. If your SQ8 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my SQ8 is part of recall 23V868?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V868 is open on your SQ8, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 23V868000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should SQ8 owners do about recall 23V868?
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 23V868000 applies to your SQ8.
- 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 side and window 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 SQ8 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 23V868 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 53 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 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.
- 2024 Audi Q8: 23 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2023 Audi Q7: 16 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2023 Audi Q8: 7 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2023 Audi SQ8: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2024 Audi SQ8: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2024 Audi Q7: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2024 Audi SQ7: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2023 Audi RS Q8: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
Can recall 23V868 make my SQ8 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 23V868000 does not automatically make your SQ8 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))?
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023-2024 Audi SQ8 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the SQ8 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 SQ8 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Audi SQ8 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V868
Is the 23V868000 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 January 17, 2024.
How do I know if my SQ8 is part of recall 23V868000?
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 23V868000 (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.