2025 Audi A5/S5/Q5/SQ5 Rear Occupant Detection Alarm TSB

Symptoms of Rear Occupant Detection Issues

Owners of certain 2025 Audi models may experience unexpected behavior from the rear occupant detection system. This can manifest in two primary ways, both related to the Audi A5 rear occupant detection system.

One scenario occurs when "There are no rear occupants in the vehicle → a warning message appears, and the horn of the vehicle may sound, and the lights may flash." This can be alarming and disruptive, suggesting a fault in the system's ability to accurately detect the absence of passengers.

The second scenario is observed when "There are rear occupants in the vehicle → a warning message appears but the horn of the vehicle does not sound, and the lights do not flash." In both cases, the vehicle's anti-theft alarm system may not have been triggered during the period of complaint, even if the symptoms resemble an alarm activation. These issues are sometimes misinterpreted as an unintentional triggering of the anti-theft alarm.

Diagnosis and Absence of Fault Codes

Audi Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2080144/1 explicitly states that no DTCs are logged in relation to this specific issue. This means that traditional diagnostic scans will not reveal a specific fault code, making the symptoms themselves the primary indicator of the problem. Technicians must rely on the customer's description of the events and may attempt to reproduce the conditions that lead to the warning messages or the horn/light flashing. The bulletin also notes that even when the horn sounds and/or lights flash, the anti-theft alarm system itself is not triggered, a fact that can be confirmed by reviewing the measured value blocks of the anti-theft alarm system during the period of complaint.

Technical Background of the Issue

This issue stems from problems within the newly introduced rear occupant detection system, which became available starting with model year 2025. Due to these underlying issues, the system may inaccurately detect occupants or their absence, leading to the triggering of warnings more or less frequently than intended. This inconsistency in the Audi A5 rear occupant detection system, and similar systems in other affected models, necessitates a software update to correct these inaccuracies and ensure proper system function.

Detailed Repair Procedure

The definitive resolution for the unwanted triggering of horn/lights flashing and warning messages is a specific software update. Technicians are instructed to first verify the applicability of TSB 2079690 for the vehicle. This involves checking if the "00 Combined software update 03.10.00/C (28.13.01) KD2" is visible and applicable to the vehicle in question. If confirmed, the technician must proceed to perform the software update as fully detailed within TSB 2079690.

The software update process is comprehensive and includes several critical steps to ensure successful implementation. These steps, outlined in the labor operations, involve:

• Connecting a battery charger: This is a crucial preliminary step to maintain stable voltage throughout the software update process, preventing potential issues due to power fluctuations.
• Performing required preliminary and follow-up work: This encompasses all necessary preparations before the update and subsequent checks after its completion.
• Managing the bus sleep cycle: Proper handling of the vehicle's electrical system sleep cycle is essential for a smooth software installation.
• Conducting a calibration drive: After the software update, a calibration drive may be required to ensure the system functions correctly with the new software.
• Addressing additional work: Any other tasks necessary for the successful completion of the update.
• Restarting software update if flashing is aborted: The procedure accounts for potential interruptions during the flashing process, providing steps to restart the update if it is aborted.

This meticulous process ensures that the new software is installed correctly, resolving the issues with the Audi A5 rear occupant detection system and related models.

Warranty and Claim Information

For vehicles still covered under warranty, claims for this essential software update must be submitted in strict accordance with the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures Manual. The specific labor operations and codes for this repair are:

• Labor Operation 0151 0010: This covers the "Software update, including connecting battery charger". Technicians should refer to the Service Repair Time (SRT) system for associated operations.
• Labor Operation 0151 0040: This is a fixed-rate operation covering "Software update, including all required preliminary and follow-up work (including bus sleep cycle, calibration drive, additional work and restarting software update if flashing is aborted)". This operation is allocated 130 Time Units (TU).

The Service Number associated with this repair is 9602, and the Damage Code is KD02. When submitting the claim, the comment section should explicitly reference TSB 2080144/1 to ensure proper processing. It is important to note that when performing the combined software update, time stamps are not required for billing under warranty, and non-productive personnel may also perform the update.

Important Owner Information

Owners should be aware of a critical detail regarding warranty coverage. Audi TSB 2080144/1 explicitly states: "If the vehicle is outside of any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin is informational only." This means that if your 2025 Audi A5, S5, Q5, or SQ5 is no longer under its original warranty, the costs associated with diagnosing and performing this software update may not be covered by Audi, and the owner would be responsible for these charges. It is advisable to check your vehicle's warranty status with an authorized Audi dealer.

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Source: NHTSA ID: 11026290