Recall 25V638 covers 1,042 2025-2026 Audi vehicles, Golf R, and GTI for damaged front seat belt retractors. Repair is free at franchised Audi dealers.
Audi is recalling 1,042 2025-2026 vehicles, including the Q4 E-Tron, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S5, S6 Sportback E-Tron, Q4 Sportback E-Tron, A5, Golf R, and GTI, because front seat belt retractor torsion bars were damaged during production. In a crash, that retractor failure can keep the seat belt from properly restraining an occupant, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The front seat belt assembly on these 2025-2026 vehicles includes a retractor, the mechanism that winds the belt back in and locks it when the belt has to hold you in place. Inside the retractor is a torsion bar. Its job is to help the belt manage force in a controlled way during a crash.
On affected Q4 E-Tron, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S5, S6 Sportback E-Tron, Q4 Sportback E-Tron, A5, Golf R, and GTI vehicles, the torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors was damaged during production. Audi traced the problem to a sub-supplier process issue, where component jamming in a ball feeder mechanism damaged the torsion bars. A damaged torsion bar means the front seat belt assembly is not the same as the undamaged replacement part Audi will install.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem does not trigger a warning message, and it is not visible or noticeable during normal use.
Who's affected?
Covers 8 models across the 2025-2026 model years, all tied to the front seat belt assembly.
| 2026 Audi Q4 E-Tron | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2025 Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron | seat belt |
| 2025 Audi S5 | seat belt |
| 2025 Audi S6 Sportback E-Tron | seat belt |
| 2026 Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron | seat belt |
| 2025 Audi A5 | seat belt |
| 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | seat belt |
| 2025 Volkswagen GTI | seat belt |
| Units affected | 1,042 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
A damaged torsion bar in the seat belt retractor can prevent the belt from properly restraining an occupant during a crash, increasing injury risk. There is no warning message, and the problem is not visible or noticeable before a crash. Schedule service promptly if your VIN is included. Repair will be free at any franchised Audi dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025-2026 Audi Q4 E-Tron, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S5, S6 Sportback E-Tron, Q4 Sportback E-Tron, A5, Golf R, or GTI is included in this recall.
- Watch for your owner letter if you have not received it, then contact a franchised Audi dealer about the free front seat belt retractor repair.
- Schedule the front seat belt replacement that fixes the damaged retractor torsion bar, so the belt can restrain an occupant as designed in a crash.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it. If not, reference recall number 25V638 when you call.
- Call Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 with questions about this recall.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician will replace one or both front seat belts covered by recall 25V638. Audi has not listed the final remedy as available here, so treat the dealer repair as not yet schedulable until Audi confirms availability. Once it opens, parts and labor are covered under the recall. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| September 24, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 26, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| September 26, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 26, 2025 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 31, 2025 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V638?
Recall 25V638 covers 1,042 2025-2026 Audi and Volkswagen vehicles with a front seat belt retractor defect. A damaged torsion bar in one or both front retractors can prevent the seat belt from restraining an occupant properly in a crash, increasing injury risk. Dealers replace the affected front seat belt parts for free.
What should I do if my 2025-2026 Audi Q4 E-Tron, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S5, S6 Sportback E-Tron, Q4 Sportback E-Tron, A5, Golf R, or GTI is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 25V638. If it is, contact a franchised Audi or Volkswagen dealer to schedule the front seat belt inspection and replacement. Reference recall number 25V638 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 25V638, dealers will replace one or both affected front seat belts free of charge, including covered parts and labor.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced front seat belt protection in a crash. If the damaged torsion bar fails inside the retractor, the belt will not restrain the occupant as designed, increasing the risk of injury. Confirm your VIN, then schedule the free dealer repair if your vehicle is included.
When were owner letters mailed for recall 25V638?
Owner notification letters were mailed October 30, 2025, and October 31, 2025. If you bought the vehicle used or never received a letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, then contact the dealer with recall number 25V638.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V638000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-253-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V638 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V638000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →