- Audi recalled over 44,000 vehicles due to a display failure from cable damage.
- Affected models include 2021 A6, Q7, RS6 Avant, and several performance variants.
- Owners of impacted models will be alerted to the recall from May 30, 2025.
Audi was one of the pioneers of the digital instrument cluster, and its ‘virtual cockpit’ remains one of the most advanced systems on the market. However, a fault with the cluster has prompted a recall for more than 44,000 Audi models in the United States. While digital gauges are cool, they certainly seem more prone to failure than analog alternatives.
A recall notice issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says Audi has discovered the virtual cockpit display can shut down because of potential damage to one of the cluster’s flat cables. According to Audi, even a small amount of damage to this cable increases contact resistance and automatically shuts down the display.
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If the screen is to turn off, that means drivers will have no access to vital information, including engine speed, vehicle speed, and gear indicators.
The recall impacts a host of different Audi models. These include 2021 SQ8s built between July 23, 2020, and March 18, 2021, as well as 2021 Audi A6s manufactured from July 16, 2020, to March 29, 2021. Other models involved include 2021 A7s built from July 24, 2020 to April 19, 2021, A8s built from July 30, 2020 to May 6, 2021, 2021 Q7s assembled from July 2, 2020 to April 1, 2021, 2021 Q8s produced from July 2, 2020 to March 19, 2021, and 2021 RS6 Avant models built between July 24, 2020 and March 24, 2021.
Other models involved include 2021 RS7s (July 24, 2020 – March 30, 2021), 2021 RS Q8s (July 3, 2020 – March 18, 2021), 2021 S6s (August 31, 2020 – March 26, 2021), 2021 S7s (August 31, 2020 – March 29, 2021), 2021 S8s (July 15, 2020 – March 26, 2021), 2021 A6 Allroads (July 20, 2020 – March 25, 2021), and 2021 SQ7s (July 22, 2020 – March 19, 2021). In total, 44,387 vehicles are being recalled.
Audi will alert owners to the recall from May 30, 2025, and has instructed dealers to update the software so it isn’t as sensitive and doesn’t shut off due to slight changes in contact resistance of the cable.
