Safety Recall 42L5 / Rear Axle Suspension Alignment – 2019-2021 Audi

January 26, 2022 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 22V034000

Rear Axle May Be Misaligned

Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V034

Manufacturer VolkswageneBay logo Group of America, Inc.

Components TIRES, SUSPENSION

Potential Number of Units Affected 31,058

 

Summary

VolkswageneBay logo Group of America, Inc. (AudieBay logo) is recalling certain 2019-2021 AudieBay logo A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.

 

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact AudieBay logo customer service at 1-800-253-2834. AudieBay logo’s number for this recall is 42L5.

 

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

 


Affected Vehicles

CountryBeginning Model YearEnding Model YearVehicleVehicle Count
USA20202021A44,138
USA20192021A51,921
USA20202021A5 CABRIOLET314
USA20202021A62,450
USA20202021A7203
USA20202021A8222
USA20202021Q514,611
USA20212021Q71,929
USA20212021Q8706
USA20192021RS5172
USA20212021RS6129
USA20212021RS7208
USA20212021RSQ885
USA20202021S4380
USA20192021S5695
USA20202021S5 CABRIOLET100
USA20202021S6227
USA20202021S7131
USA20202021S870
USA20202021SQ52,021
USA20212021SQ7191
USA20212021SQ8155
CAN20202021A4759
CAN20192021A5366
CAN20202020A5 CABRIOLET21
CAN20202021A662
CAN20202021A716
CAN20202020A83
CAN20202021Q52,206
CAN20212021Q793
CAN20212021Q862
CAN20192021RS518
CAN20212021RS623
CAN20212021RS719
CAN20212021RSQ825
CAN20202021S471
CAN20202021S5278
CAN20202021S5 CABRIOLET16
CAN20202021S621
CAN20202020S79
CAN20202021S88
CAN20202021SQ5244
CAN20212021SQ715
CAN20212021SQ826

 

Problem Description

A check of the suspension alignment of the rear axle was not included originally in the work instructions for Safety Recall 42L1. This may result in displacement in the wheel alignment, and could result in premature and uneven wear of the tires leading to a decrease of traction.

In cases where the tires are worn to the carcass, this may also cause a puncture. This could lead to a loss of tire pressure without warning, potentially causing a loss of vehicle control and even a crash.

 

Corrective Action

Check and, if necessary, adjust the rear axle suspension alignment on the affected vehicles.
Tires will be checked for premature and uneven wear due to a possible misalignment of the suspension and will be replaced if necessary.

 

Important Information Regarding Tire Inspections Under This Recall

Customers are being advised:

For your safety and that of your passengers, please have this recall work performed as soon as possible. If you have more than one set of tires for your vehicle (for example, summer tires or winter tires), you must bring both sets to your recall appointment so they can be inspected (if necessary) under this recall.

  • If the rear axle suspension is properly aligned, it will not be necessary for your dealer to inspect your vehicle’s tires for premature wear under this recall.
  • If the rear axle suspension is misaligned, your dealer will correct it free of charge and will, at the same time, also inspect your vehicle’s tires for evidence of premature wear as a result of the misalignment. A tire(s) found to be prematurely worn due to misalignment of the rear axle suspension will be replaced free of Your dealer will advise you regarding the estimated additional time needed to order and perform the replacement.

Tire replacement(s) will only be authorized in cases where your dealer has determined that the condition of the tires is directly related to wear resulting from the post-Safety Recall 42L1 rear axle suspension misalignment. Tire damage or malfunctions caused by normal wear & tear, or by outside influence, such as damage due to an accident, or vehicle misuse or neglect is not covered under this action.

 

Precautions

If this condition is present, the driver may notice a steering wheel misalignment when driving on a straight road or the vehicle pulling to one side when braking or accelerating. Customers experiencing this condition with their vehicle should contact an authorized AudieBay logo dealer without delay to have the vehicle diagnosed/repaired.

 

Repair Overview

  • Check rear axle alignment.
  • Adjust rear axle alignment and check tires, if necessary.

 


Chronology :

May 28, 2021: Start of recall 42L1 in the US market

September / October, 2021: Field cases regarding premature and uneven tire wear after carrying out recall 42L1 were reported in the European markets leading to the start of investigation.

October 2021 – January 2022: Detailed analysis of root cause, possible influences and consequences and determination of affected population. On November 20, 2021 the repair instructions of 42L1 in the US market were adopted and a check of the suspension alignment for the rear axle was added.

January 19, 2022: The AudieBay logo Product Safety Committee determines that it cannot be completely ruled out that the rear axle in vehicles with recall 42L1 already executed is not within specification regarding the suspension alignment of the rear axle. The decision for a voluntary worldwide safety recall is made including all vehicles where 42L1 was executed without a suspension alignment of the rear axle.

AudieBay logo is not aware of any field cases in the United States.

 


42 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKEMODELYEAR
AUDIeBay logoA42020-2021
AUDIeBay logoA4 ALLROAD2020-2021
AUDIeBay logoA52019-2021
AUDIeBay logoA5 CABRIOLET2020-2021
AUDIeBay logoA62020-2021
AUDIeBay logoA6 ALLROAD2020-2021
AUDIeBay logoA72020-2021
AUDIeBay logoA82020-2021
AUDIeBay logoQ52020-2021
AUDIeBay logoQ72021
AUDIeBay logoQ82021
AUDIeBay logoRS Q82021
AUDIeBay logoRS52019-2021
AUDIeBay logoRS62021
AUDIeBay logoRS72021
AUDIeBay logoS42020-2021
AUDIeBay logoS52019-2021
AUDIeBay logoS62020-2021
AUDIeBay logoS72020-2021
AUDIeBay logoS82020-2021
AUDIeBay logoSQ52020-2021
AUDIeBay logoSQ72021
AUDIeBay logoSQ82021

 


14 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-22V034-2777.pdf 645.944KB

 


Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-22V034-4804.PDF 232.475KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – AUDIeBay logo Date: February 04, 2022 Advance Notice Safety Recall 42L5 / Rear Axle Suspension Alignment

RCMN-22V034-6245.pdf 858.434KB

 


Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-22V034-6696.pdf 1199.082KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – AUDIeBay logo Date: February 17, 2022 Repair Available – Safety Recall 42L5 / Rear Axle Suspension Alignment

RCMN-22V034-7958.pdf 806.313KB

 


Recall 573 Report – 02/02/2022

RCLRPT-22V034-3573.PDF 232.437KB

 


Tire Wear Chart

RMISC-22V034-4582.pdf 81.085KB

 


ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577) – 42L5 Customer Launch PRI

RCONL-22V034-2218.pdf 1181.69KB

 


ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577) – 42L5 Customer Launch

RCONL-22V034-5155.pdf 600.042KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – AUDIeBay logo Date: March 11, 2022 Campaign Circular Revision – Safety Recall 42L5 / Rear Axle Suspension Alignment

RCMN-22V034-5696.pdf 289.987KB

 


Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-22V034-4415.pdf 1220.759KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2022-2

RCLQRT-22V034-1847.PDF 211.252KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2022-3

RCLQRT-22V034-2330.PDF 211.333KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2022-4

RCLQRT-22V034-3834.PDF 211.448KB

 


Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=22V034&docType=RCL

 


 

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Last update on 2026-06-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API


 

 


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