Audi recalls 2025 Q7/Q8 SUVs for seat-belt buckle defect
Audi recall: 2025 Q7, Q8, SQ8 and RS Q8 front seat-belt buckle fix
Audi recalls 2025 Q7/Q8 SUVs for seat-belt buckle defect
Audi recalls 2025 Q7, Q8, SQ8 and RS Q8 over faulty front seat-belt buckles; dealers will replace parts free and owner letters mail out by Jan 9, 2026.
2025-11-21T05:56:11+03:00
2025-11-21T05:56:11+03:00
2025-11-21T05:56:11+03:00
Audi announced a recall of a sizable batch of 2025 Q7 and Q8 flagships after a flaw was found in seat-belt buckles. Supplier Joyson Safety Systems produced some buckles without the connecting rivets between the buckle housing and the stalk. In a crash, such a buckle may fail to withstand the load, increasing the risk of serious injury to the driver and front passenger. For halo SUVs, that’s the kind of oversight that raises eyebrows.The issue came under scrutiny following a field report dated July 28, 2025, in which a missing rivet was discovered on a single vehicle. Three months later, the supplier traced the fault to a specific batch and confirmed the defect was linked to it. Audi instructed dealers to replace the buckles on both front seats at no charge to owners — a simple, targeted fix.The campaign covers the Q7, Q8, SQ8 and RS Q8, including the RS Q8 Performance, built in March 2025 at the Bratislava plant, a key Volkswagen Group hub for large SUVs. Owners are slated to receive letters by January 9, 2026 — a clear timeline that helps set expectations.After the defect was identified, the supplier tightened quality controls by adding automated camera inspection, manual checks and tensile testing to prevent a repeat. That kind of process discipline is exactly what you want to see after a quality slip.
Audi recall, 2025 Q7, 2025 Q8, SQ8, RS Q8, seat-belt buckle defect, Joyson Safety Systems, Bratislava plant, front seat buckle replacement, safety campaign, free dealer fix, recall letters Jan 2026
2025
Michael Powers
news
Audi recall: 2025 Q7, Q8, SQ8 and RS Q8 front seat-belt buckle fix
Audi recalls 2025 Q7, Q8, SQ8 and RS Q8 over faulty front seat-belt buckles; dealers will replace parts free and owner letters mail out by Jan 9, 2026.
Michael Powers, Editor
Audi announced a recall of a sizable batch of 2025 Q7 and Q8 flagships after a flaw was found in seat-belt buckles. Supplier Joyson Safety Systems produced some buckles without the connecting rivets between the buckle housing and the stalk. In a crash, such a buckle may fail to withstand the load, increasing the risk of serious injury to the driver and front passenger. For halo SUVs, that’s the kind of oversight that raises eyebrows.
The issue came under scrutiny following a field report dated July 28, 2025, in which a missing rivet was discovered on a single vehicle. Three months later, the supplier traced the fault to a specific batch and confirmed the defect was linked to it. Audi instructed dealers to replace the buckles on both front seats at no charge to owners — a simple, targeted fix.
The campaign covers the Q7, Q8, SQ8 and RS Q8, including the RS Q8 Performance, built in March 2025 at the Bratislava plant, a key Volkswagen Group hub for large SUVs. Owners are slated to receive letters by January 9, 2026 — a clear timeline that helps set expectations.
After the defect was identified, the supplier tightened quality controls by adding automated camera inspection, manual checks and tensile testing to prevent a repeat. That kind of process discipline is exactly what you want to see after a quality slip.
