Audi Recall Check by VIN: Open vs Fixed on a Used Audi

To check Audi recalls by VIN, run the 17-digit number on NHTSA's recall lookup, then have an Audi dealer pull the same VIN and print its open campaigns, and get repair orders for anything shown as done. On a used Audi in mid October 2026, the campaigns most likely to still be open are the rear camera software recall that spans 2019-2026 models and the plug-in and e-tron battery recalls, where some owners were told not to charge until the fix is in.

Audi recalls are filed with NHTSA by Volkswagen Group of America, so the federal record often says "Volkswagen" even when the only cars listed are Audis. The dealer side uses Audi's own four-character codes, such as 90TV or 93AA, and those are what a service advisor will recognize. When we pulled Audi's NHTSA records on October 13, 2026, a couple of the newer campaigns existed only because an earlier fix had gone wrong. That pattern is the main reason we don't trust a "recalls done" line in an ad.

How to run an Audi VIN without getting fooled

Take the VIN from the base of the windshield and the driver door jamb and confirm they match the title. Our guide to checking recalls by VIN explains what remedy not yet available, incomplete, and completed mean on the federal screen. Decode the car with our Audi VIN decoder before you compare it with the listing. Model year confusion is real here: Car and Driver notes that Audi sold the previous-generation Q5 alongside the all-new one for the 2025 model year, so two "2025 Q5s" can sit in very different recall populations.

Rear camera software, and the fix that needed a fix

NHTSA recall 25V-900 covers about 356,894 Audis from the 2019 through 2026 model years whose rearview camera image may not display because of a software error. Dealers update the software under Audi code 90TV, and owner letters went out January 14, 2026. Then came 26V-125: about 1,620 2019 Q8, A7, and A6 cars that had already been repaired under 25V-900 may have had their lane departure warning switched off by a software error. So on those three models, a completed 25V-900 is not the end of the story. Ask the dealer to confirm 90TW as well.

Battery recalls on plug-ins and e-trons

If the Audi plugs in, read its battery campaigns twice. The 25V-080 recall report covers roughly 20,000 2021-2024 Q5 plug-in hybrids and some 2022 A7 plug-ins whose high-voltage battery may overheat. It expands and replaces 24V-898. Audi said it would monitor online vehicle data and replace batteries where needed, and owners without that data link were told not to charge from external sources until the diagnostic software was installed. On the full electric side, 23V-867 covers about 26,866 2019-2022 e-tron and 2020-2022 e-tron Sportback SUVs with battery modules that may overheat; dealers install monitoring software and replace modules where necessary. Our post on used EV battery recalls covers what paperwork to ask for after a module swap.

Engines, fuel pumps and steering

22V-753 covers about 76,515 2021-2023 Q5 and Q5 Sportback SUVs, plus some Volkswagen Atlas models, whose connecting rod bearings may be damaged, which can end in engine failure. Dealers inspect and replace the engine if needed under Audi code 13i5. The VW side of that campaign, and several others shared across the group, are in our Volkswagen recall check by VIN. Bigger Audis have their own list. 22V-516 covers about 49,443 2019-2021 Q8 and 2020-2021 Q7 SUVs whose fuel pump can break internally and fail, and a much smaller 20V-149 covers 2017-2019 Q7 and 2019 Q8 SUVs with a steering shaft bolt that may loosen. A Q7 that stalls once on a test drive deserves that VIN check before any talk of a "sensor."

Spilled drinks and gateway modules

This one sounds silly until it happens. 21V-947 covers about 288,991 2018-2022 Q5 and SQ5 SUVs, and 2021-2022 Sportbacks, where a liquid spill in the rear seat or water entering through an underbody seam can reach the gateway control module and shut it down. A similar campaign, 22V-861, covers 2019-2022 A6 and A7 models. The fix is a protective cover, plus seam sealing on the Q5. If an Audi from a family with small kids shows a dash full of warning lights, that recall is the first thing to rule out.

History report and price

Recall lookups say nothing about salvage brands, flood titles, or mileage. CARFAX says its reports cover title brands, odometer readings, ownership, and reported accidents, and our guide on how to read a CARFAX report explains the accident lines. As of mid October 2026, CARFAX through us is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, with a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle around $6.75, compared with roughly $39.99 to $44.99 at retail. Confirm the price at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. A seller who emails a polished PDF but will not let you type the VIN yourself is not saving you time.

Sources

• NHTSA: Audi recall 25V-900 (rear camera software)
• NHTSA: Audi recall 26V-125 (follow-up to 25V-900)
• NHTSA: Audi recall report 25V-080 (Q5 plug-in battery)
• NHTSA: recall 22V-753 (Q5 connecting rod bearings)
• Car and Driver: 2025 Audi Q5
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports