NHTSA campaign 21V606000 · Volkswagen campaign 69CR, 69CS
Audi and Volkswagen Recall 21V-606: Seat Belt Locking Retractor Malfunction/FMVSS 208
NHTSA recall 21V606000 (Volkswagen campaign 69CR, 69CS) was reported by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. on August 5, 2021, with 45,496 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Audi S3, Audi A4, Audi A5 and more for model years 2021–2022. Owners were notified on August 27, 2021, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 21V606000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 21V606000 (also written 21V-606 or 21V606)
- Filed by
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Volkswagen campaign number
- 69CR, 69CS
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 45,496 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Retractor
- Owners notified
- Safety standard
- FMVSS 208
Repair completion: 98.51% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 21V606000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Audi
Audi A4
Audi A5
Audi A5 Cabriolet
Audi A6
Audi A6 Allroad
Audi A7
Audi A8
Audi E-Tron
Audi Q3
Audi Q5
Audi Q7
Audi Q8
Audi RS 5
Audi RS 6 Avant
Audi RS 7
Audi RS Q8
Audi S3
Audi S4
Audi S5
Audi S5 Cabriolet
Audi S6
Audi S7
Audi S8
Audi SQ5
Audi SQ7
Audi SQ8
Volkswagen
Volkswagen ID.4
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 21V606000.
Defect description
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Safety consequence
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 21V606000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.