Nearly 20K Audi vehicles recalled over loose brake pedals

How car recalls get reported

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officially start car recalls after receiving complaints from consumers.

WASHINGTON - A major safety recall has been issued affecting nearly 20,000 Audi electric vehicles in the United States due to a potentially dangerous brake pedal defect, according to federal safety filings submitted this month.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. announced the recall on April 15, 2026, impacting a total of 18,853 vehicles across two popular electric SUV models: the Audi e-tron and the Audi e-tron Sportback.

The recall was published by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Audi e-tron vehicles recalled

By the numbers:

The recall, which affects 18,853 Audi vehicles, includes: 

2019–2024 Audi e-tron (14,102 vehicles)

2020–2024 Audi e-tron Sportback (4,751 vehicles)

Big picture view:

The recall stems from a manufacturing defect involving a critical connection in the braking system. Specifically, a screw linking the brake pedal’s input rod to the brake booster actuator rod may not have been tightened according to specifications during production.

The Audi logo is displayed at a dealership on April 14, 2025 in Austin, Texas.(Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

If that connection loosens or fully separates, drivers could lose normal braking capability. In such cases, braking would only be possible using the vehicle’s emergency braking function – significantly increasing the risk of a crash.

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Drivers experiencing the issue may notice unusual noises after applying the brakes or find that the brake pedal does not return to its normal position.

As of early April 2026, Audi has reported no known crashes, injuries, or fatalities linked to the defect. 

New safety recall issued

The backstory:

The issue came to light after engineers reviewed returned parts earlier this year and identified similar faults to those addressed in a previous 2024 recall.

Earlier this month, the Audi Product Safety Committee decided to implement a new safety recall for the new potentially affected vehicles. 

Dealers will inspect recalled vehicles

What you can do:

The fix does not require replacing parts. Instead, dealers will inspect the brake booster’s pushrod screw connection and tighten it to proper specifications if needed.

Audi also said it will offer reimbursement for customers who paid for repairs related to the issue.

Dealers were notified of this recall on April 17. Owners will be notified on June 12. 

Owners of affected vehicles are advised to watch for warning signs and consult their owner’s manual for instructions on using the emergency braking system if necessary. Once notified, they should schedule an inspection with an authorized Audi dealer.