Audi A6, S6 Recalled: Back-Seat Spills Could Cut Engine Power

• Audi is recalling 50,883 A6 and A7 cars because a gateway control module could shut down and cut engine power unexpectedly.
• The problem appears to be caused by liquid spilled in the car’s rear seating area.
  
• Audi plans to install a protective cover over the area affected and will notify owners in January to bring their vehicles in for the fix.

Audi has announced the recall of more than 50,000 vehicles over a risk that liquid spilled in the rear seat area could cause a gateway control module to shut off, reducing engine power unexpectedly. The automaker’s report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that the affected vehicles were produced without a protective cover over this module.

The recall includes the 2019–2022 A6 and A7; the 2020–2022 A6 Allroad, S6, and S7; and the 2021–2022 RS6 and RS7 (pictured above). The A6 makes up most (32,585) of the affected vehicles.

According to the report, the module is located under the rear middle seat, and if water or other liquids get into that area, a short circuit could cause the gateway to switch off, putting the vehicle into limp-home mode. In this situation, there will be warning messages. The vehicle will still be steerable and the brakes will operate but power will be reduced, the report explains. There were 46 reported cases in the U.S. by October, but no injuries or crashes as a result, Audi said.

Owners will be notified by January 20, 2023, to bring in their Audi for a protective cover to be installed. In the meantime, they can check the NHTSA recalls site for information about the recall and to see if their vehicle is affected.

Source: Motor - aranddriver.com