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Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has announced a recall for certain 2022-2023 Audi Q5 PHEV and 2022 Audi A7 PHEV vehicles due to the risk of overheating high-voltage batteries. This condition could potentially lead to a fire, posing a significant safety risk. The recall affects approximately 4,616 vehicles, and Volkswagen will be implementing an interim and final remedy to address the issue.
Key Highlights:
- Affected Vehicles: 2022-2023 Audi Q5 PHEV and 2022 Audi A7 PHEV.
- Issue: High-voltage batteries may overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
- Remedy Plan: Advanced diagnostic software will be installed as a final remedy, expected by the second quarter of 2025.
- Interim Instructions: Owners are advised not to charge affected vehicles until further notice.
- Recall Notifications: Interim letters to be mailed by January 24, 2025.
Details of the Recall
The recall was initiated following several thermal events linked to high-voltage battery modules in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). This issue can potentially cause the battery to overheat, resulting in smoke or even a fire. The root cause is under investigation, and Volkswagen is collaborating with the battery supplier, Samsung SDI, to identify the specific conditions leading to this risk.
As of now, Volkswagen Group has determined that approximately 4,616 vehicles are potentially affected, which includes 4,606 Audi Q5 PHEV units produced between August 10, 2021, and December 10, 2022, and 10 Audi A7 PHEV units produced between July 2, 2021, and May 4, 2022.
Remedy and Interim Measures
Dealers will install advanced onboard diagnostic software to monitor the battery’s performance and alert drivers to any potential issues before they escalate. This software is expected to be available by the second quarter of 2025. Until then, Volkswagen has issued interim guidelines:
- For Vehicles with Online Data: Volkswagen will monitor vehicle data and contact owners if a critical module is detected. Owners may be instructed to avoid charging their vehicles until a battery replacement can be arranged.
- For Vehicles without Online Data: Owners are advised not to charge their batteries until the final remedy is available.
Repairs will be carried out free of charge, and affected owners will receive an interim letter notifying them of the safety risk by January 24, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is ready.
Contact Information
Owners seeking additional information can contact Volkswagen Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Additionally, they may also reach the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit nhtsa.gov for more details.
Volkswagen’s internal recall number for this issue is 93AA, and the NHTSA Campaign Number is 24V898000.
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