Volkswagen and Audi front seat belt retractor torsion bars may be damaged
Volkswagen is recalling certain 2025-2026 GTI, Golf R, Audi A5, S5, A6 and Q4 e-Tron models because the torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: Rubric level 4 covers structural vehicle defects: a damaged torsion bar can fail in a crash so the seat belt does not restrain the occupant, and the remedy is replacing the belt.
Plain-English summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2025 GTI, Golf R, Audi A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S5 and S6 Sportback E-Tron, and 2026 Q4 Sportback E-Tron and Q4 E-Tron vehicles. About 1,042 units are potentially affected.
The torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production.
NHTSA states that in a crash, a damaged torsion bar in a retractor could fail. If this happens, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace one or both front seat belts free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 30 and 31, 2025. Owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834 or Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298, or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recalled product
- Product
- AUDI, VOLKSWAGEN Q4 E-TRON, A6 SPORTBACK E-TRON, S5, S6 SPORTBACK E-TRON
- Brand
- AUDI
- Manufacturer
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Category
- Vehicle — Seat belts
- Affected units
- 1,042
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (8)
- Q4 E-TRON
- A6 SPORTBACK E-TRON
- S5
- S6 SPORTBACK E-TRON
- Q4 SPORTBACK E-TRON
- A5
- GOLF R
- GTI
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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