Compliance Recall 69CS / ALR Seat Belt Retractors – 2021 Audi

August 5, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V606000

Seat Belt Locking Retractor Malfunction/FMVSS 208

An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V606

Manufacturer Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Components SEAT BELTS

Potential Number of Units Affected 45,496

 

Summary

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.”

 

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.

 

Check if your Audi has a Recall

 


Problem Description

Autoliv has determined that certain seat belt assemblies do not comply with regulatory requirements. In these certain seat belt assemblies, the automatic locking retractor (ALR) function may deactivate early before the webbing is fully retracted.

The ALR function is required by regulatory requirement. This noncompliance does not impact the compliance or functionality of the seat belt assemblies with respect to their normal use by adult passengers or use of the LATCH system to secure child restraint seats.

With child restraint seats for which the vehicle owner elects to use the seat belt to secure the child restraint seat instead of the LATCH system, if the seat belt is not lockable so that the seat belt assembly can be used to tightly secure the child restraint seat, there is an increased risk of injury in a crash to the occupant of the child restraint seat.

 

Corrective Action

Inspect and, if necessary, replace the affected seat belt(s).

 

Precautions

A vehicle owner who elects to use the seat belt instead of the LATCH system to secure a child restraint seat will notice that the seat belt is not locked and the audible clicking noise made when the ALR function is activated stops well before the seat belt webbing is fully retracted.

 

Owner Notification

Owner notification will take place in August 2021. Owner letter examples are included in this bulletin for your reference.

 

Repair:

REPAIR AVAILABLE – August 13, 2021 – Inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected seat belt(s).

 

Repair Overview

Check the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function on the seat belts according to specified criteria, and replace if necessary.

 

Seat Belt Inspection

Testing the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function on the second row center seat belt:

 

 

  • Extract 200 – 250 mm lower belt webbing, fold and fix with your hand (as shown).

 

 

  • Pull the webbing all the way out of the seat belt retractor. This will activate the ALR.

 

  • Slowly retract the webbing back into the seat belt retractor. You will hear a ratcheting sound.

 

  • Pull on the belt with uniform and steady pressure and verify the belt cannot be pulled out of the seat belt retractor.

 

  • If the seat belt locks so the webbing cannot be pulled out of the retractor:
    • Unfasten the seat belt and repeat the tests 5 times in succession.

 

  • If the seat belt retractor locks without releasing for all tests:
    • No further work is required.
    • Proceed to Section D.

 

  • If the seat belt retractor does not lock during any of the tests:

 

Second Row Center Seat Belt ALR Function Test Recap:

 

Step 1) Fasten seat belt over an empty seat and gather excess webbing.

 

Step 2) Pull webbing all the way out of seat belt retractor to activate ALR.

 

Step 3) Slowly retract the webbing all the way back into the seat belt retractor while the seat belt remains buckled. You will hear a ratcheting sound.

 

Step 4) Pull on the seat belt and verify it is locked and cannot be pulled out of the seat belt retractor.

 

Testing the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) function on the front passenger seat belt:

  • The seat must be empty.

 

 

 

  • Pull the webbing all the way out of the seat belt retractor. This will activate the ALR.

 

  • Slowly retract the webbing back into the seat belt retractor.

 

  • You will hear a ratcheting sound.

 

  • Pull on the belt with uniform and steady pressure and verify the belt cannot be pulled out of the seat belt retractor.

 

  • If the seat belt locks so the webbing cannot be pulled out of the retractor:
    • Unfasten the seat belt and repeat the tests 5 times in succession.

 

  • If the seat belt retractor locks without releasing for all tests:
    • No further work is required.
    • Proceed to Section D.

 

  • If the seat belt retractor does not lock during any of the tests:

 

Front Passenger Seat Belt ALR Function Test Recap:

 

Step 1) Fasten seat belt over an empty seat.

 

Step 2) Pull webbing all the way out of seat belt retractor to activate ALR.

 

Step 3) Slowly retract the webbing all the way back into the seat belt retractor while the seat belt remains buckled. You will hear a ratcheting sound.

 

Step 4) Pull on the seat belt and verify it is locked and cannot be pulled out of the seat belt retractor.

 

Seat Belt Replacement

 

Replace affected seat belt according to the ELSA Repair Manual:

 

  • Verify the correct seat belt part number and color code in ETKA.

 

 

Note the following during the repair:

 

  • Per the repair manual, the belt end fitting and retractor fasteners do not require replacement unless the vehicle was in an accident.

 

  • If a rear seat bench requires removal, the seat grommets must be replaced (if equipped).

 

  • Adhere to all warnings outlined in the repair manual.

 

  • Reference ELSA Repair Manual for special tools.

 


 

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