2021 Audi SQ8 Electrical Software Recall (25V201)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 44,387 vehicles · Reported March 31, 2025
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 44,387 2021 Audi A6; 2021 Audi A6 Allroad; 2021 Audi A7; 2021 Audi A8; 2021 Audi Q7; 2021 Audi Q8; 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021 Audi RS 7; 2021 Audi RS Q8; 2021 Audi S6; 2021 Audi S7; 2021 Audi S8; 2021 Audi SQ7; 2021 Audi SQ8 vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V201 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V201000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 90VC |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 31, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Audi A6; 2021 Audi A6 Allroad; 2021 Audi A7; 2021 Audi A8; 2021 Audi Q7; 2021 Audi Q8; 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021 Audi RS 7; 2021 Audi RS Q8; 2021 Audi S6; 2021 Audi S7; 2021 Audi S8; 2021 Audi SQ7; 2021 Audi SQ8 |
| Units affected | 44,387 |
| Component | Electrical System > Software |
| Safety risk | An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Audi SQ8 in recall 25V201?
Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 SQ8, A6 SEDAN, A7, A8, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S6 SEDAN, S7, S8, A6 Allroad, and SQ7 vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 SQ8 with recall 25V201?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your SQ8 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the software, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V201?
Recall 25V201 covers 44,387 vehicles: 2021 Audi A6; 2021 Audi A6 Allroad; 2021 Audi A7; 2021 Audi A8; 2021 Audi Q7; 2021 Audi Q8; 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant; 2021 Audi RS 7; 2021 Audi RS Q8; 2021 Audi S6; 2021 Audi S7; 2021 Audi S8; 2021 Audi SQ7; 2021 Audi SQ8.
NHTSA lists 44,387 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Audi | A6 |
| 2021 | Audi | A6 Allroad |
| 2021 | Audi | A7 |
| 2021 | Audi | A8 |
| 2021 | Audi | Q7 |
| 2021 | Audi | Q8 |
| 2021 | Audi | RS 6 Avant |
| 2021 | Audi | RS 7 |
| 2021 | Audi | RS Q8 |
| 2021 | Audi | S6 |
| 2021 | Audi | S7 |
| 2021 | Audi | S8 |
| 2021 | Audi | SQ7 |
| 2021 | Audi | SQ8 |
What is the fix for the SQ8 electrical software recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the instrument panel module software, free of charge.
Dealers will update the instrument panel module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90VC.
When was recall 25V201 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 25V201 to NHTSA on March 31, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 24, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2025 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V201000. |
| April 24, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 18 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 25V201?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V201 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 25V201000. 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 25V201?
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 25V201000 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.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any software symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- 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 SQ8 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 165 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 89 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 25V201 was reported on March 31, 2025, owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 1 of them (3%) 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 March 31, 2025, 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 165 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 89 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 Q7: 75 complaints in total, 43 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi Q8: 30 complaints in total, 13 about the electrical system
- 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 SQ7: 6 complaints in total, 3 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi A7: 6 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi A8: 5 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
- 2021 Audi RS 7: 4 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The car stopped in the middle of the intersection due to a 48V issue that is back ordered worldwide. It has been in the shop five times in reference to this stopping multiple times in the road.
2021 Audi RS 7 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11544671, filed September 15, 2023
MMI system stops working all of a sudden. This has happened multiple times and especially when it takes updates on its own. When called customer service they referred to the dealer stating they cannot do anything. Right after my call with them the car starts functioning back to normal.
2021 Audi SQ8 owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11452516, filed February 17, 2022
See attached document for complaint. I took my 2021 AUDI A8 to Audi Rockville located at 1125 Rockville Pike; Rockville, MD 20852 on July 18 to fix the recall.
2021 Audi A8 owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11728863, filed April 2, 2026
Can recall 25V201 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.
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 Audi SQ8 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.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no 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 25V201
Did the recall 25V201 fix work?
Since recall 25V201 was reported on March 31, 2025, owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 1 of them (3%) 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 April 24, 2025.
Is the 25V201000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my SQ8 is part of recall 25V201000?
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 25V201000 (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.