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Audi and VW rear belts may not secure child seats
high How serious is it? About this label
A child seat that is not held securely can increase the risk of injury in a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V606000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Aug 5, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Part affected | Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor |
| Vehicles covered | 20 model/year combinations, model years 2021 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
Volkswagen and Audi are recalling certain 2021 and 2022 cars and SUVs because of a problem with the rear seat belts. The part of the belt that locks it in place for a child seat may switch off too early, so the child seat may not be held securely. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet the federal rule on protecting people in a crash. Dealers will check the middle rear seat belts and replace them if needed.
What you should do
Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?
Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 21V606000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (20)
Show all 20 vehicles
Who to contact
Audi — official Audi recall lookup
Customer service: 1-800-253-2834
Volkswagen — official Volkswagen recall lookup
Customer service: 1-800-893-5298
The bigger picture
- Audi Seat Belt Recalls Affect Occupant Restraint and Child Seats · all 6 Audi recalls in this area
- Volkswagen Seat Belt Recalls Affect Buckles, Anchors and Child Restraints · all 5 Volkswagen recalls in this area
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- Jun 30, 2025VW Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, ID.4 Loose Boltshigh
Official notice
- Component
- SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Safety risk
- An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.