Volkswagen has recalled more than 350,000 Audi vehicles due to issues with rearview cameras that could increase the risk of crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Several different Audi models are covered in the recall.
Audi is owned by the Volkswagen Group, a Germany-based multi-conglomerate that also owns Bentley, Ducati, Porsche, Automobili Lamborghini and other brands. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., of Auburn Hills, Mich., was listed as the supplier in the recall.
“In certain situations, a software issue may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying,” said a description of the noncompliance. This in turn “decreases the driver’s visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.”
Per the NHTSA, 356,649 vehicles – including 19 different models – are potentially impacted by the rearview camera issue.
These models are:
· 2025 Audi RS e-tron GT (344 units)
· 2020-2026 Audi SQ8 (11,586 units)
· 2020-2026 Audi SQ7 (8,502 units)
· 2020-2026 Audi S8 (3,002 units)
· 2020-2025 Audi S7 (2,570 units)
· 2020-2025 Audi S6 (2,904 units)
· 2020-2026 Audi RS Q8 (7,681 units)
· 2021-2026 Audi RS 7 (4,403 units)
· 2021-2026 Audi RS 6 Avant (6,425 units)
· 2022-2026 Audi RS e-tron GT (2,878 units)
· 2019-2026 Audi Q8 (60,712 units)
· 2020-2026 Audi Q7 (120,597 units)
· 2020-2024 Audi e-tron Sportback quattro (10,191 units)
· 2019-2024 Audi e-tron quattro (37,075 units)
· 2022-2026 Audi e-tron GT (3,859 units)
· 2019-2026 Audi A8 (12,220 units)
· 2019-2025 Audi A7 (11,449)
· 2019-2025 Audi A6 (45,175)
· 2020-2026 Audi A6 allroad (5,526)
“The recalled products are equipped with certain parts and software versions that may lead to a malfunction,” the NTHSA explained. It also said under 1% are estimated to be non-compliant.
An investigation into the issue began in December 2023 based on field claims, the NHTSA said. From January 2024 through September 2024, “various reproduction attempts, component analyses, and complete vehicle analyses were carried out to identify the root cause,” per the recall notice.
“However, due to the highly sporadic occurrence of the issue, the cause could not be determined,” it added. From October 2024 through last September, potential technical measures for the field were evaluated though the root cause of the issue was still not understood.
Analyses eventually identified “corrupted register entries,” in one of the cameras that could lead to camera failure in November 2024. Still, the reason for the corrupted register entries remained unknown.
“Further testing confirmed for the first time that electrical noise between the control unit and the cameras can cause corrupted register data which could sporadically affect the performance of one or more individual cameras of the Top View Camera system if the system is being used during that driving cycle,” the notice further explained. It also said the issue is “highly sporadic and is resolved after vehicle restart/bus sleep.”
From last October through December, continued investigation of the issue revealed that issues with diminished shielding integrity and timing could be related to the camera failure issue. By Dec. 15, the Audi Product Safety Committee determined decided a noncompliance recall was warranted.
Owners who have already experiences this issue are advised to use extra caution when reversing, the NHTSA recall notice said. They should also contact an authorized Audi dealer without delay to have the vehicle diagnosed, it said.
To remedy the issue, a “more robust software solution was developed concurrently during the analysis to prevent such failures,” and it was introduced in various models between July and September of last year the notice added. Now, the new software can “perform a self-healing process of the cameras during the driving cycle, if necessary, thereby preventing the failure,” that is conducted quickly and in the background.
Dealers were set to be notified of the fix on Dec. 23 and owners are expected to be alerted around Feb. 17.