2025-2026 Audi Emergency Assist Activated TSB 2079190/3

Owners of certain 2025-2026 Audi A5, S5, Q5, SQ5, and A6 models may encounter unexpected activation of the vehicle's emergency assist system. This can lead to various warnings and interventions, including visual messages in the instrument cluster. Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2079190/3 provides guidance for technicians to diagnose and understand these activations, ensuring proper vehicle operation and addressing customer concerns about the "Audi emergency assist activated" condition.

This TSB, last revised on March 13, 2026, supersedes previous versions, including revisions from February 19, 2026, and the initial publication on September 9, 2025. It clarifies diagnostic steps and conditions related to the emergency assist system.

Symptoms and Warning Messages

When the emergency assist system activates, drivers may observe specific messages and icons in their instrument cluster. The primary symptom reported by customers is that the "Audi emergency assist activated" message appears. Common displays include:

• An icon depicting a heart with a cross, accompanied by the message: "Inactivity detected."
• The same heart-with-cross icon, indicating: "Adaptive cruise control and a braking intervention are active."
• A steering wheel icon combined with the heart-with-cross, signifying: "Adaptive cruise control, a braking intervention and lane guidance are active."

These messages indicate that the vehicle's driver assist systems have intervened due to perceived driver inactivity or specific road conditions.

Important Warnings for Diagnosis

Technicians performing diagnostics related to the "Audi emergency assist activated" condition must adhere to specific procedures, especially concerning software versions and Security-Enabled Diagnostics (SFD) activation:

• Software Version Requirement: If the software version of the front sensors for driver assist systems -R242- (diagnostic address 00A5) is below SW0772, the system's activation history can only be read out after a suitable SFD activation. In such cases, the Technical Assistance Center (TAC) must be contacted.
• SFD Token Validity: After reading out the activation request structure for SFD, technicians must not perform any other writing diagnostic services in diagnostic address 00A5 until the SFD token is received from the Technical Assistance Center (TAC). Failing to do so will invalidate the SFD token.

Diagnosis and Activation History

To diagnose why the "Audi emergency assist activated" message appeared, technicians utilize the emergency assist test program within ODIS-S. This program allows them to review the activation history of the system. The history is displayed with details such as the activation date, time, reason, and highest escalation phase (e.g., "25.10.2024 / 12:41:05 (UTC+0) – Activation reason: Adaptive cruise assist - highest escalation phase: E2").

SFD Activation Procedure (if required):

1. Navigate to ODIS-S >> Self-diagnosis >> Diagnostic address 00A5.
2. Select Access authorization >> “Use case" = Manual SFD activation.
3. Choose “Implement" and respond to the query for a valid SFD token with “No”.
4. Copy the displayed activation request structure and send it to the Technical Assistance Center (TAC).

Test Plan for Emergency Assist:

• Test plan > Select own test... > Diagnostic capable system > 00A5 - Front sensors for driver assistant systems - R242 > 00A5 - Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) > Emergency assist.

Activation Reasons

The emergency assist system can be triggered by several conditions, leading to the "Audi emergency assist activated" state:

• Rear-end collision prevention: Lateral guidance functions (lane departure warning/lane center guidance) are inactive, driver inactivity is detected, and there is insufficient distance to a vehicle in front.
• Lane departure warning: The lane departure warning system is active, and multiple consecutive interventions occurred without steering torque during the intervention.
• Adaptive cruise assist: The adaptive cruise assist is active, and driver inactivity is detected for a certain duration.
• Lane left: Lateral guidance functions are inactive, driver inactivity is detected, and the vehicle leaves the lane without the turn signal being activated.
• Fatigue and distraction warning: The driver monitoring system detects "Sleep."

Escalation Phases

When the emergency assist system activates, it progresses through several escalation phases, each with increasing levels of intervention:

• E1: Slight deceleration, visual warning, and medium acoustic warning. Vehicle guidance and distance to the vehicle in front are maintained.
• E2: Medium deceleration, visual warning, and loud acoustic warning. Vehicle guidance and distance to the vehicle in front are maintained. This phase includes multiple weak brake jolts, belt vibration on the driver's side, hazard warning lights, and horn activation (below 50 km/h).
• E3: Strong deceleration, visual warning, and loud acoustic warning. Vehicle guidance and distance to the vehicle in front are maintained. It involves a medium-strength brake jolt, belt vibration on both driver and passenger sides, hazard warning lights, and horn activation (below 50 km/h).
• E4: Visual warning, hazard warning lights, parking position activation, eCall activation, and doors unlocked.

Sensitivity Settings

Owners can adjust the sensitivity of the emergency assist system, which affects how quickly it activates based on detected driver inactivity:

• High: Earlier activation.
• Medium: Activates approximately 10 seconds after driver inactivity is detected.
• Low: Slightly delayed activation.

Warranty Information

For vehicles outside of their warranty period, this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 2079190/3) is for informational purposes only. The Service Number associated with this bulletin is 9638, and the Damage Code is 0039. Labor operations for guided functions are 0150 0010 and 0150 0060, with time stated on the diagnostic protocol.

Owner Action

If you experience your "Audi emergency assist activated" unexpectedly or see any of the warning messages described, it is recommended to contact an authorized Audi service center. While the TSB primarily guides technicians, understanding the potential causes and diagnostic steps can help you communicate effectively with your service advisor. The diagnostic process involves checking the system's activation history and potentially performing SFD activation if the front sensor software is outdated.

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Source: NHTSA ID: 11031010