Safety Recall 42L1 / Rear Axle Trailing Arm Lock Nut – 2020-2021 Audi

April 26, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V295000

Rear Axle Lock Nuts May Break

A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V295

Manufacturer Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Components 

Potential Number of Units Affected 40,993

 

Summary

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.

 

Remedy

Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi’s number for this recall is 42L1.

 

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.safercar.gov.

 

Check if your Audi has a Recall

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Issue:

Due to stress corrosion cracking on lock nuts of particular production batches, the nut of the excentric bolt on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break which may cause alterations in the wheel alignment of the rear axle. This could be noticed by a steering wheel misalignment when driving straight ahead or by the vehicle pulling to one side when braking or accelerating. It cannot be ruled out that the rear axle could suddenly and uncontrollably move in the wrong direction at higher speeds. This can lead to a loss of vehicle control and a crash without warning.

 

Precautions

If this condition is present in the vehicle, the driver may notice a steering wheel misalignment when driving straight ahead or the vehicle pulling to one side when braking or accelerating.

Should this occur, owners are advised to contact an authorized Audi dealer without delay and make arrangements to have the vehicle inspected/repaired.

 

Repair:

REPAIR AVAILABLE – May 28, 2021 – REPAIR DESCRIPTION

See ELSA/ServiceNet for complete repair & claiming instructions

Check daily campaign open inventory report or OMD for affected vehicles in inventory

Repair every affected inventory vehicle before delivery to consumers.

 

Affected Vehicles

 

 

Problem Description

Due to stress corrosion cracking on lock nuts of particular production batches, the nut of the eccentric bolt on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break which may cause alterations in the wheel alignment of the rear axle. This could be noticed by a steering wheel misalignment when driving straight ahead or by the vehicle pulling to one side when braking or accelerating.

It cannot be ruled out that the rear axle could suddenly and uncontrollably move in the wrong direction at higher speeds. This can lead to a loss of vehicle control and a crash without warning.

 

Corrective Action

The affected lock nut will be replaced. If the screw connection is already damaged, it will be replaced completely.

 

Precautions

If this condition is present in the vehicle, the driver may notice a steering wheel misalignment when driving straight ahead or the vehicle pulling to one side when braking or accelerating. Should this occur, owners are advised to contact an authorized Audi dealer without delay and make arrangements to have the vehicle inspected/repaired.

 

Code Visibility

On or about May 28, 2021, the campaign code was applied to affected vehicles.

 

Owner  Notification

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

 

Repair Overview

A4 and A5 variants: Replace left and right control arm nuts at the connection to the subframe.

All other models: Replace left and right control arm nuts at the subframe and at the wheel bearing housing.

 

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36 Affected Products

Vehicles

 

 

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16 Associated Documents

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-21V295-6955.pdf 1885.402KB

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-21V295-6898.PDF 229.445KB

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-21V295-1320.pdf 701.478KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – AUDI Date: May 28, 2021 Repair Available Safety Recall 42L1 / Rear Axle Trailing Arm Lock Nut

RCMN-21V295-1303.pdf 723.367KB

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-21V295-3014.pdf 1770.126KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – AUDI Date: May 28, 2021 Repair Available Safety Recall 42L1 / Rear Axle Trailing Arm Lock Nut

RCMN-21V295-8789.pdf 212.272KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2021-2

RCLQRT-21V295-9233.PDF 211.147KB

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577) – 42L1_Audi Customer PRI

RCONL-21V295-8848.pdf 156.778KB

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577) – 42L1_Audi Customer

RCONL-21V295-3717.pdf 140.733KB

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Date June 17, 2021 42L1 Campaign Tip Wind Deflector Pins

RMISC-21V295-7405.pdf 349.244KB

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-21V295-1860.pdf 1770.028KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – AUDI Date: May 04, 2021 Advance Notice Safety Recall 42L1 / Rear Axle Trailing Arm Lock Nut

RCMN-21V295-1684.pdf 719.42KB

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-21V295-1559.pdf 1420.178KB

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-21V295-4001.pdf 1423.326KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2021-3

RCLQRT-21V295-4862.PDF 211.25KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2021-4

RCLQRT-21V295-8518.PDF 211.335KB

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=21V295&docType=RCL

 

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