If you are an Audi driver, this news concerns you directly. The German company Audi has announced an emergency recall of 44,387 vehicles in the U.S. market due to a technical glitch that may cause digital dashboards to malfunction unexpectedly. This decision follows the discovery of an issue with the cable powering the "Virtual Cockpit" system, one of Audi's hallmark features.
The digital dashboard, or Virtual Cockpit, has been a standout feature in Audi cars since its launch in 2014, offering display resolution up to 1920x720 pixels with fully customizable interfaces. Despite its global acclaim, this incident highlights the technical challenges associated with modern display systems.
What does this mean for drivers? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports potential damage to the flat cable feeding the Virtual Cockpit display, increasing electrical resistance and causing automatic system shutdowns as a precautionary measure. The original software was found to be overly sensitive to minor changes in electrical resistance, leading to screen outages without immediate danger.
This malfunction disrupts vital data displays such as:
Vehicle speed
Engine RPM
Warning systems
Gear indicator This places drivers at risk of losing critical information while driving.
Audi has detailed all affected models in this recall which includes 12 models from the 2021 production year such as:
A6/A7/A8
Q7/Q8/SQ7/SQ8
RS6 Avant/RS7
S6/S7/S8 Manufactured between July 2020 and May 2021.
It is important to note that information about halting exports of Audi cars to America (as seen in results 2/5/6/7/8) pertains to a separate customs issue from April 2025 and is unrelated to this technical recall campaign.
If you own any model on this list from 2021, manufactured within varying time frames per model, your vehicle is subject to recall:
A6/A6 Allroad: July 2020 - March 2021
A7/A8: July 2020 - May 2021
Q7/Q8/SQ7: July 2020 - April 2021
SQ8/RS Q8: July 2020 - March 2021
RS6 Avant/RS7: July 2020 - March 2021
S6/S7/S8: August 2020 - March 2021 Audi will begin contacting owners starting May 30, 2025:
Software Update: Adjusting system sensitivity to minor electrical fluctuations.
Cable Inspection: Damaged cables will be replaced free of charge if found.
Safety Guidance: Drivers advised not to rely on backup info systems if failure occurs. Now what should you do if you own one of these models?
Immediate Action for Faults
Report Recalls: Contact your authorized dealer upon receiving a recall notice (such as with Audi) for rectifying technical defects.
Preventive Maintenance: Fix mechanical issues like faulty brakes or tires promptly to prevent accidents.
Enhance Active Safety
Adhere to Speed Limits: To avoid losing control, especially on curves or slippery roads.
Maintain Safe Distance: Keep enough distance for reacting to sudden faults.
Technical Improvements
Activate Safety Systems like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) for proper inflation and apply software upgrades provided by manufacturers (like Audi's screen software solution).
Preemptive Setup
Conduct regular vehicle inspections ensuring lights and mirrors are functional and routinely change engine oil and filters.
