2025 Audi A5, 2025 Audi A6, 2025 Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron and 6 more models recall: Seat Belt Retractor May Fail to Secure Child Seat/FMVSS 208
Report received by NHTSA: Dec. 19, 2025.
Built by the Tribune's code from NHTSA's official records. No AI wrote this page. Updated Nov. 4, 2026.
- What's recalled
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 SQ6 E-Tron, SQ6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 Sportback E-Tron, A6, A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 E-Tron, S5, and S6 Sportback E-Tron vehicles. The automatic locking retractor may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
- The risk
An improperly secured child seat can increase risk of injury during a crash.
- Who's affected
27,768 vehicles potentially affected, according to NHTSA. Models: 2025 Audi A5, 2025 Audi A6, 2025 Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron, 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron, 2025 Audi Q6 Sportback E-Tron, 2025 Audi S5 and 3 more models.
- Compared with
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has 15 NHTSA recalls in 2026 so far, compared with 26 in all of 2025.
Counted by the Tribune from NHTSA's records since Nov. 1, 2016.
- Before this
265 earlier NHTSA recalls by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. since Nov. 1, 2016; the 5 most recent:
- Dec. 10, 2025 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan recall: Front Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy (agency record)
- Dec. 3, 2025 2023-2024 Volkswagen ID.4 recall: High Voltage Battery May Catch Fire (agency record)
- Dec. 3, 2025 2026 Volkswagen Atlas, 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, 2026 Volkswagen ID.4 recall: Wheel May Detach from Vehicle (agency record)
- Nov. 12, 2025 2025 Audi Q7, 2025 Audi Q8, 2025 Audi RS Q8 and 1 more model recall: Missing Rivet on Front Seat Belt Buckles (agency record)
- Sept. 24, 2025 2025 Audi A5, 2025 Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron, 2026 Audi Q4 E-Tron and 5 more models recall: Damaged Seat Belt Retractor (agency record)
Counted by the Tribune from NHTSA's records since Nov. 1, 2016.
- What to do and when
Dealers will inspect and replace the right and left rear seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69D8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.
NHTSA's record, word for word
- Check it yourself
NHTSA's VIN lookup shows whether a specific vehicle has an open recall.
Models in this recall
- Audi A5 2025
- Audi A6 2025
- Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron 2025
- Audi Q6 E-Tron 2025
- Audi Q6 Sportback E-Tron 2025
- Audi S5 2025
- Audi S6 Sportback E-Tron 2025
- Audi SQ6 E-Tron 2025
- Audi SQ6 Sportback E-Tron 2025
The record as NHTSA published it
| NHTSA recall number | 25V899000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Recall type | Vehicle |
| Component | SEAT BELTS |
| Report received by NHTSA | Dec. 19, 2025 |
| Potentially affected | 27,768 vehicles |
| Manufacturer's recall number | 69D8 |
| “Do not drive” warning | No |
| Fire risk when parked (“park outside”) | No |
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall records (public domain). NHTSA's record