Recall 25V899 covers 27,768 2025 Audi vehicles with seat belt retractors that fail to lock child seats. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 27,768 2025 S5, Q6 E-Tron, A5, A6, and related Audi models because the automatic locking retractor can fail to engage when a child seat is installed with the seat belt. An improperly secured child seat can increase injury risk in a crash, and Audi dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The rear seat belt assembly on the 2025 Audi S5, Q6 E-Tron, A5, A6, SQ6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 Sportback E-Tron, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S6 Sportback E-Tron, and SQ6 E-Tron includes an automatic locking retractor. That retractor is the part that locks the belt for a child seat when the seat belt is used instead of the LATCH anchors.
In affected vehicles, the spring cassette inside the retractor was damaged during manufacturing. A loose or misplaced pin allowed the housing to deform, so the locking pawl cannot engage. When that happens, the belt webbing keeps extending past the allowed length instead of holding the child restraint tight.
The warning sign appears during child seat installation. If you secure a child restraint with the seat belt, the belt will not stop before the webbing is fully retracted, so the seat does not lock down the way it should.
Who's affected?
VINs became searchable on December 23, 2025.
| 2025 Audi S5 | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2025 Audi Q6 E-Tron | seat belt |
| 2025 Audi A5 | seat belt |
| 2025 Audi A6 | seat belt |
| 2025 Audi SQ6 Sportback E-Tron | seat belt |
| 2025 Audi Q6 Sportback E-Tron | seat belt |
| 2025 Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron | seat belt |
| 2025 Audi S6 Sportback E-Tron | seat belt |
| 2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron | seat belt |
| Units affected | 27,768 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
An improperly secured child restraint increases the risk of injury during a crash. If you install a child seat with the seat belt instead of LATCH, watch for a belt that keeps retracting instead of locking as expected. Schedule the inspection soon before relying on that belt for child-seat installation. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025 Audi S5, Q6 E-Tron, A5, A6, SQ6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 Sportback E-Tron, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S6 Sportback E-Tron, or SQ6 E-Tron is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free rear seat belt assembly inspection and replacement that fixes the automatic locking retractor used for child seats.
- Bring the recall notice if Audi mailed one. If not, reference recall number 25V899 and Audi recall 69D8 when you call.
- Avoid securing a child seat with the rear seat belt until the dealer inspects the automatic locking retractor.
- Call Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 with questions about scheduling or owner notices.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician inspects the right and left rear seat belt assemblies and replaces any assembly that needs replacement. The inspection, parts, and labor are free under the recall. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, because the affected 2025 Audi vehicles are still within that warranty period. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| December 19, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 23, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| December 23, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 23, 2025 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| February 16, 2026 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V899?
Recall 25V899 covers 27,768 2025 Audi vehicles with rear seat belt retractors that can fail to lock when a child seat is installed with the seat belt. Audi dealers will inspect and replace the left and right rear seat belt assemblies as needed for free.
What should I do if my 2025 Audi S5, Q6 E-Tron, A5, A6, SQ6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 Sportback E-Tron, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S6 Sportback E-Tron, or SQ6 E-Tron is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 25V899. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the rear seat belt inspection and any needed replacement. Reference Audi recall number 69D8 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Audi will inspect and replace the affected rear seat belt assemblies as needed free of charge at any franchised Audi dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is an improperly secured child seat during a crash. If the automatic locking retractor fails to engage, the seat belt does not hold the child seat the way it should, increasing injury risk. Have the dealer inspect the rear seat belt assemblies before relying on those seating positions for a child seat.
When did Audi notify owners about recall 25V899?
Audi mailed owner notification letters on February 16, 2026. If you did not receive a letter, check your VIN because the recall follows the vehicle, not the mailbox. You can also call Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 and reference recall 69D8.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V899000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-253-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V899 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V899000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (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 →