Audi’s Seat Belts Work Great, Unless You’re Securing A Child Seat

  • Audi is recalling 27,768 cars over a rear seat belt defect.
  • Seat belts may not lock properly when securing a child seat.
  • Problem traced to damage during belt retractor production.

Audi is recalling nearly 28,000 vehicles from the 2025 model year due to a seat belt issue that could compromise child safety. The problem centers on how the belts interact with car seats, and it puts the affected vehicles out of compliance with federal safety regulations.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall impacts the A5, S5, A6, A6 Sportback e-tron, S6 Sportback e-tron, Q6 e-tron, Q6 Sportback e-tron, SQ6 e-tron, and SQ6 Sportback e-tron.

Review: The 2026 Audi S5 Sedan Is Better Than Ever, But One Detail Spoils It

That’s quite an assortment of vehicles and the issue they share is rooted in the rear seat belts. According to regulators, the “automatic locking retractor may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the seat belt.”

Audi discovered the issue in September as part of an internal audit. This kicked off an investigation, which eventually determined that the automatic locking retractor may fail to prevent the seat belt webbing from being extended more than the allowable length after locking, when being used to secure a car seat. This extra movement means the car seat might not be secure, which increases the risk of injury.

How the Failure Happens

The problem was traced back to spring cassettes used in the seat belt assemblies, which may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. This is being blamed on a loose or misplaced pin, which can cause the housing to deform, and result in the locking pawl failing to engage. Thankfully, only 3% of the recalled vehicles are believed to have the defect.

Audi’s Seat Belts Work Great, Unless You’re Securing A Child Seat

Owner notifications are scheduled to go out in mid-February and dealers will inspect the rear seat belt retractors. If the seat belt webbing can be pulled out more than the allowable length after locking, the assembly will be replaced free of charge.

While the fix sounds relatively straightforward, things aren’t quite that simple as remedy instructions sent to dealers reveal there is a stop sale order. That’s typical of new vehicles, but the letter notes “replacement parts are not available.”

Dealers are advised to perform the inspection and hold any vehicles that are determined to have bad seat belt assemblies. As for the inspection, it’s not very fancy as it involves taping a ruler to the rear seat, pulling on the seat belt, and checking the amount of travel.

Audi’s Seat Belts Work Great, Unless You’re Securing A Child Seat

The Auto World

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

This German 911 Looks Straight Out Of 1973 But It’s Hiding A Big Secret

Image
Ruehle’s F97 puts a modern 997 twist on the backdated 911 formula. The 2005-based F97 looks like a ’73 RSR but runs a water-cooled heart. All-steel US-legal builds start at $400K, undercutting Singer’s prices. Sometimes it feels like you’ve seen so many G-series 911 and 964 restomods that there must only be about three standard cars left in the world, which is why the backdated 911 you see here really caught our attention. Because this one isn’t based on a 1980s or ’90s Porsche at all. It starts with a newer model that’s quietly slipped from the spotlight, despite being one of the most balanced 911s ever made. More: Reverse Restomod Takes 2008 Ford Mustang Back To 1969 And The Shelby GT The reverse restomod is called the F97, built by German outfit called Reuhle , which now also operates an American branch in Montclair, California. 997 Bones Underneath Like many other companies making backdated 911s , Reuhle’s car takes major inspiration from the classic 1973 Ca...
Read more

Only 69 Of These 10.4-Liter V8 Camaros Exist And They’re Just As Naughty As That Sounds

Image
The 2023 COPO Camaro delivers 1,004 hp from a 10.4-liter V8. This beast can sprint down the quarter-mile in under 8 seconds. When it was new, these cars set back owners around $130,000. When you think of modern performance cars with truly colossal engines, your mind probably drifts toward the Dodge Viper with its 8.4-liter V10 or the Bugatti Chiron and its 8.0-liter W16. Yet not long ago, Chevrolet quietly built a limited run of Camaros whose engines made even those giants look restrained. More: This Forgotten 1,000-Mile Oldsmobile V8 Sedan Took On Lexus And Lost The car in question is the 2023 COPO Camaro , of which just 69 examples were produced. These models were available with a choice of three V8s: a 427 cubic-inch (6.9-liter) V8, a supercharged 350 cubic-inch (5.7-liter), and a monstrous 632 cubic-inch V8, which translates to 10.4 liters. In January, Mecum Auctions will be selling one of the COPO models equipped with this flagship engine. How Big Is Too Big...
Read more

Stellantis Wants To Rebrand Chinese EVs For Europe

Image
Opel may rebadge the Leapmotor B10 for Europe by 2026. Production could begin at Stellantis’ Zaragoza plant in Spain. Local output could help avoid steep EU tariffs on Chinese EVs. Stellantis could soon find itself stepping into unfamiliar territory, as it is reportedly exploring the idea of adding Chinese-built models to its European lineup under familiar badges. According to insider sources, Opel is eyeing the electric Leapmotor B10 as its first possible contender. German outlet Automobilwoche reports that the Chinese SUV might wear Opel badges as early as next year. Leapmotor, a Chinese EV manufacturer partly owned by Stellantis, has been steadily expanding its footprint both at home and abroad. More: Stellantis Just Sent Europe A Warning With This Chinese-Built Electric Hatch The unnamed source notes that while a final decision remains pending, the proposal represents “an interesting opportunity to offer a well-equipped and affordable EV in the compact SUV segmen...
Read more