Volkswagen Group of America has initiated a recall for the 2019 Audi e-tron Quattro in the United States and Canada over a fault in the all-electric luxury SUV’s brakes. The issue is believed to affect 206 vehicles in the United States and 12 in Canada. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Safety Recall Report noted that in affected Audi e-tron Quattro units, the bolt connection from the input rod on the brake pedal to the actuator rod on the brake booster may not have been performed according to specifications.
This was due to a deviation in the screwdriving station at one of Audi’s suppliers. The NHTSA Safety Recall Report noted that the screw in affected vehicles may completely loosen, effectively separating the pedal from the booster. If this were to happen, the affected Audi e-tron Quattro units would not be able to use their brakes.
“If a complete separation would occur, vehicle braking would only be possible using the emergency braking function, increasing the risk of a crash,” The NHTSA’s Safety Recall Report read. The Audi Product Safety Committee was initially informed about the issue in February 2024, when three customer complaints were received about unusual brake noises and brake pedal reset. A detailed analysis of the issue was conducted from February to August 2024, which included collecting parts from the field.
Following its analysis, the Audi Product Safety Committee initiated a recall for the potentially affected vehicles.