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Campaign 23V601 Posted August 25, 2023 7,499 units

2019-2021 Audi A6/A7 Recall 23V601: Brake Fluid Cap

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 20, 2026

Recall 23V601 affects 7,499 2019-2021 Audi A6 and A7 family vehicles for mislabeled brake-fluid caps. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.

Audi is recalling 7,499 2019-2021 A6, A7, S6, S7, RS 7, RS 6 Avant, and A6 Allroad vehicles because an incorrectly labeled brake fluid cap can lead to the wrong type of brake fluid. Incorrect brake fluid can reduce braking ability and increase crash risk; Audi dealers will replace the cap free of charge.

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What's wrong?

The brake fluid reservoir cap on the 2019-2021 Audi A6, S6, A7, S7, RS 7, RS 6 Avant, and A6 Allroad closes the brake fluid reservoir under the hood. It also tells the owner or technician which brake fluid belongs in the system. That label matters because the brake system depends on the correct fluid to keep pressure moving from the pedal to the brake components.

On affected Audi vehicles, the cap installed at the factory is the European-specification version instead of the United States version. The wrong cap uses pictograms instead of the required verbal instructions. During service, that incorrect label can lead someone to add the wrong type of brake fluid.

There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is on the cap label, so an owner sees the problem by reading the reservoir cap or having an Audi dealer inspect it.

Who's affected?

Covers A6, S6, A7, S7, RS 7, RS 6 Avant, and A6 Allroad across the 2019, 2020, and 2021 model years, all tied to the same hydraulic brake system.

2021 Audi A6 hydraulic brake system
2021 Audi S6 hydraulic brake system
2021 Audi A7 hydraulic brake system
2021 Audi S7 hydraulic brake system
2021 Audi RS 7 hydraulic brake system
Units affected7,499
Field incidentsNHTSA has logged no field incidents to date.

The year, model, and brake component narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.

What's the safety risk?

Incorrect brake fluid can reduce braking ability and increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before braking performance drops, so schedule the recall repair soon and treat any brake feel change as a reason to stop and call the dealer. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2021 Audi A6, S6, A7, S7, RS 7, RS 6 Avant, or A6 Allroad is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free brake fluid reservoir cap inspection and cap replacement if needed, so the cap label matches the correct brake fluid.
  3. Bring the owner letter if you have it. If not, reference recall number 23V601 when you call.
  4. Drive with extra following distance until the dealer confirms the correct brake fluid cap is installed.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, an Audi technician inspects the brake fluid reservoir cap and replaces it if the cap is the incorrect label covered by recall 23V601. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the new vehicle warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, because Audi says the affected vehicles were covered under that warranty. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.

ReimbursementWarranty coverage applies

Timeline

August 25, 2023 NHTSA published the recall
September 25, 2023 Owner notification mailed
October 17, 2023 Dealer notification began
October 17, 2023 Dealer notification ended
October 17, 2023 VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
October 17, 2023 Interim owner notification (was planned for this date)

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 23V601?

Recall 23V601 covers 7,499 2019-2021 Audi A6, S6, A7, S7, RS 7, RS 6 Avant, and A6 Allroad vehicles with a brake fluid reservoir cap label issue. The wrong label can lead to the wrong brake fluid being used.

What should I do if my 2019-2021 Audi A6, S6, A7, S7, RS 7, RS 6 Avant, or A6 Allroad is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific Audi is included in recall 23V601. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the brake fluid reservoir cap inspection. The dealer will replace the cap for free when needed.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Audi dealers will inspect the brake fluid reservoir cap and replace it for free when needed. Parts and labor are covered.

What is the safety risk?

Incorrect brake fluid can reduce braking ability and increase the risk of a crash. Recall 23V601 is about preventing the wrong fluid from being used because of an incorrectly labeled reservoir cap. Confirm the VIN, then have an Audi dealer complete the free inspection.

What if I bought this Audi used?

The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Audi is included, then reference recall 23V601 or Audi recall number 47T9 when you call the dealer.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V601000
Audi customer service1-800-253-2834
NHTSA recall #23V601
NHTSA recall # (full)23V601000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →