Audi Sued Over Defective Door Locks That Can Trap Passengers

Audi is being sued for allegedly selling vehicles with defective electronic door locks that can trap people inside or prevent them from locking their cars at all.

A class action lawsuit filed on March 26, 2026 in California federal court alleges that Volkswagen Group of America, doing business as Audi of America, has known about the defect since at least 2019 and continued selling affected vehicles without warning buyers.

According to the complaint, the door-locking mechanism and its related software can intermittently fail during normal use. When the lock won't release, the doors can't be opened from the inside or outside — meaning drivers and passengers can get stuck in the car after an accident, on a hot day, or in an emergency. When the lock won't engage, drivers can't secure their vehicles at all, leaving them open to theft.

The lawsuit covers a wide range of Audi models from the 2019 through 2026 model years, including the A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5, Q8, e-tron, RS models, and several others. The full list of affected vehicles is extensive and varies by model year.

The complaint points out that Audi issued at least eight technical service bulletins related to the locking system. One of those bulletins allegedly stated that no repairs were necessary — a claim the lawsuit calls false. Despite all of this, Audi has not issued a recall, and the lawsuit alleges the problem has actually gotten worse in newer models.

The lead plaintiff says he purchased his Audi in 2024 with no knowledge of the defect. In one incident described in the complaint, the door lock failed and his infant son was trapped in the back seat while he was locked out of the vehicle. He says he brought the car to an Audi dealership at least three times, but the issue was never resolved.

The lawsuit seeks to represent all current and former owners or lessees of the affected Audi vehicles in the United States.

There is no settlement yet in this case. Download ClassyAction to stay updated on this lawsuit and get notified when the payout drops.