Audi e-tron GT Recalled Over Insufficient Battery Sealant That Could Lead to Fire

A handful of Audi e-tron GT models – along with Porsche Taycan EVs – were discovered to have liquid inside of the battery pack.

Much ado has been made about all-electric vehicles and the possibility of fire risk related to their batteries, as we’ve seen a handful of them burst into flames over the past few years. Of course, EVs are really no more prone to erupting into flames than ICE-powered vehicles, but any time this happens – or could possibly happen – the press seemingly has a field day. Regardless, owners of the Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT do need to heed a new recall that was just issued over a potential fire risk with those models, though the fix is rather simple, at least.

The culprit is insufficient sealing on the high-voltage battery, which can allow liquid to accumulate in the battery pack. Obviously, this is a bad thing, as it can cause electrical arching to occur, which can potentially lead to a fire. However, the NHTSA notes that this hasn’t happened yet, and dealers are being instructed to inspect the battery pack, test it for leakage, and even replace the entire unit if a problem is in fact found, which is obviously quite costly for the automaker.

This problem affects not only the 2023 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT – around 1,899 units in total – but also 4,777 Porsche Taycan variants including the Taycan, Taycan 4 Cross Turismo, Taycan 4S, Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, Taycan Cross Turismo, Taycan GTS,  Taycan GTS Sport Turismo, Taycan Turbo, Taycan Turbo S, and Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.

Porsche and Audi first became aware of this problem last year, and in some cases, the companies found liquid in certain battery packs on certain vehicles. The brands also received a handful of reports indicating that models equipped with a sealant from the supplier Teroson were exhibiting reduced insulation resistance, but the company has since switched to a newer, enhanced version of that sealant, which apparently solved the problem.

Thus, vehicles equipped with the older sealant are being recalled in an attempt to prevent this issue from occurring in customer vehicles. Those that own a 2023 Audi e-tron GT or RS e-tron GT can head over here to check and see if their particular model is affected, though it’s worth noting that only e-tron GT models produced September 26, 2022 and August 25, 2023 are impacted, as well as RS e-tron GT models built between September 23, 2022 and August 28, 2023.

Photos: Audi

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.
He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.
In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.
You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.