Audi automatic locking retractor may not engage for child seats
Volkswagen is recalling certain 2025 Audi models because the automatic locking retractor may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the seat belt.
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: the locking retractor is what holds a child seat in place, and the source states it may not engage at all.
Plain-English summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron, SQ6 Sportback e-tron, Q6 e-tron, Q6 Sportback e-tron, A5, A6, A6 Sportback e-tron, S5 and S6 Sportback e-tron vehicles. About 27,768 units are potentially affected.
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 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies".
NHTSA states that an improperly secured child seat can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace the right and left rear seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 16, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834, or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recalled product
- Product
- AUDI S5, Q6 E-TRON, A5, A6
- Brand
- AUDI
- Manufacturer
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Category
- Vehicle — Seat belts
- Affected units
- 27,768
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 (9)
- S5
- Q6 E-TRON
- A5
- A6
- SQ6 SPORTBACK E-TRON
- Q6 SPORTBACK E-TRON
- A6 SPORTBACK E-TRON
- S6 SPORTBACK E-TRON
- SQ6 E-TRON
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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