Audi (Volkswagen Group of America) is recalling more than 27,700 model year 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 [made by Joyson Safety Systems in Poland – AutoCrat] may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the seat belt. 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.”
“Dealers will inspect and replace the right and left rear seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. [As required by U.S. safety regulations- AutoCrat]. “If the seat belt webbing can be pulled out more than the allowable length after locking, the seat belt assembly must be replaced,” Audi said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today.
Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 17 February 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 are searchable on NHTSA.gov (NHTSA Audi Recall 25V899 or 25V-899).
Chronology
- September 12, 2025: During an internal audit, a malfunction of the child restraint seat locking function was detected.
- September 2025: Following the audit results, sorting actions were initiated at the supplier and factory level to determine potentially affected parts and vehicles.
- October 2025: Analysis conducted with supplier to determine effects of anomaly and whether it meets internal and regulatory specifications. Additional process optimizations and improvements were implemented, including tool adjustments and end-of-line (EOL) testing at the supplier.
- November to December 2025: A review of the analysis results was performed and compliance with FMVSS 208 and 209 was analyzed in conjunction with supplier.
- December 17, 2025: The Audi Product Safety Committee determined that the issue constitutes a non-compliance and decided to perform a non-compliance recall.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Audi Recalls Seat Belts for Child Seat Retention Failures
Audi (Volkswagen Group of America) is recalling more than 27,700 model year 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 [made by Joyson Safety Systems in Poland – AutoCrat] may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the seat belt. 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.”
“Dealers will inspect and replace the right and left rear seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. [As required by U.S. safety regulations- AutoCrat]. “If the seat belt webbing can be pulled out more than the allowable length after locking, the seat belt assembly must be replaced,” Audi said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today.
Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 17 February 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 are searchable on NHTSA.gov (NHTSA Audi Recall 25V899 or 25V-899).
Chronology
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.