NHTSA safety recall National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Volkswagen recall: The torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors may have

Recall published 1+ years ago

The torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production.

The hazard: Seat belt or seat defect

A seat or seat belt defect prompted this notice. Vehicles with this fault drive and feel entirely normal.

What the notice says: In a crash, a damaged torsion bar in a retractor could fail. If this happens, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Why it matters: A seat belt, buckle, anchorage or seat frame may not restrain an occupant properly in a crash. The fault is invisible in normal driving because the part is never loaded until it is needed.

Recall details

Recall number
25V638000
Published
September 24, 2025
Risk level
NHTSA safety recall
Status
Open safety recall
Issued by
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Brand
Volkswagen
Product type
Seat Belts
Distribution
Nationwide
Vehicles
Audi S6 Sportback e-tron
Lot / code info
NHTSA campaign number 25V638000

Products covered by this recall

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 GTI, Golf R, Audi A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S5, S6 Sportback E-Tron, 2026 Q4 Sportback E-Tron, and Q4 E-Tron vehicles. The torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production.

Vehicles in this campaign

Check your product

The notice names 8 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Vehicle

Match this against the make and model on your registration.

  • GTI
  • Golf R
  • Audi A5
  • A6 Sportback E-Tron
  • S5
  • S6 Sportback E-Tron
  • Q4 Sportback E-Tron
  • and Q4 E-Tron

Codes are lifted verbatim from the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Seat belt

Volkswagen — A seat or seat belt defect prompted this notice. Vehicles with this fault drive and feel entirely normal.

  1. Check every belt and seat in the vehicle for the symptom the notice describes, including the ones nobody usually sits in.
  2. If a child seat is installed on an affected anchorage, ask the dealer whether to move it to another position in the meantime.
  3. Keep the repair order the dealer hands you. It is your proof the campaign was closed out, and it matters at resale.
  4. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you do anything else. A campaign covers a build range, not every car of that model year, and the VIN lookup is the only thing that confirms yours is included.

What the recall repair costs you

Nothing, and that is a legal obligation rather than a goodwill gesture. The question worth asking is what else is covered.

  • Recall work is free for as long as you own the vehicle, with no mileage limit, no age limit for the current owner, and no requirement that you bought the car from that dealer.
  • If you already paid an independent garage for the same fix, submit the invoice to the manufacturer under their reimbursement plan.
  • Get the closed campaign noted on your service record. Buyers and insurers both check.
  • Ask about a loaner or rental when you book, not when you arrive. On a parts-delayed campaign it is frequently available and almost never volunteered.

Remedy named in the notice: Dealers will replace one or both front seat belts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 30, 2025, and October 31, 2025. Owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834 or Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 69UM; Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 694T. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 26, 2025.

Company contact: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Volkswagen seat belts recalled?

The torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production. In a crash, a damaged torsion bar in a retractor could fail. If this happens, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Check every belt and seat in the vehicle for the symptom the notice describes, including the ones nobody usually sits in.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Dealers will replace one or both front seat belts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 30, 2025, and October 31, 2025. Owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834 or Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 69UM; Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 694T. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 26, 2025.

Does the repair cost me anything?

No. Safety recall repairs are performed free of charge at a franchised dealer for as long as the campaign is open, whether or not the vehicle is still under warranty.

Related recalls