2025-2026 Audi Proactive Occupant Protection Fault TSB

Audi has released Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2081251/1, identifying a software-related issue that may cause a specific warning message to appear in the instrument cluster of certain 2025-2026 Audi models. This TSB addresses the "Audi proactive occupant protection fault" message, which is accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) U017E00 and U017F00.

The issue stems from a timing deviation between the reversible belt tensioner and the airbag control unit, leading to a communication fault. Audi has confirmed that this condition does not affect the functionality or performance of the reversible belt tensioner or the airbag system.

Symptoms Owners May Experience

Owners of affected 2025-2026 Audi vehicles may notice a warning message in their instrument cluster after the vehicle is started. The exact message displayed is: "Proactive occupant protection: fault. Please contact workshop."

This "Audi proactive occupant protection fault" message can sometimes be cleared by a bus sleep cycle, which occurs when the vehicle's electrical systems power down after a period of inactivity.

Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs)

When this condition occurs, even if no active warning message is visible in the instrument cluster, a workshop diagnostic scan may reveal specific fault codes logged in the diagnostic address 0015 (airbag control unit). These include:

• U017E00: Left front belt tensioner control module, no communication (DFCC 1118464/0x111100)
• U017F00: Right front belt tensioner control module, no communication (DFCC 1118720/0x111200)

These DTCs indicate that the airbag control unit is not properly communicating with the left or right front belt tensioner control modules due to the software timing issue.

Understanding the Technical Issue

According to TSB 2081251/1, the root cause of the "Audi proactive occupant protection fault" is a software issue. Specifically, there is a deviation in the timing behavior between the reversible belt tensioner and the airbag control unit. This timing discrepancy leads to the communication fault and the subsequent warning message.

Crucially, Audi states that this issue does not impact the actual functionality or performance of the reversible belt tensioner or the overall airbag system. This means that despite the warning, the safety features related to occupant protection are still operational.

Important Warnings and What Not to Do

Audi has provided clear instructions regarding this condition:

• "Do not replace any components for this condition since this will not resolve the customer's concern."

This warning is critical for owners, as attempting to replace parts like the belt tensioner control modules will not fix the underlying software problem and could lead to unnecessary expenses.

What Owners Should Do

If you experience the "Audi proactive occupant protection fault" message in your 2025-2026 Audi, there is no immediate repair action required. Audi advises customers that a software solution is expected to be available by the end of the second quarter of 2026. No repairs are necessary at this point.

Dealers are instructed to create a record in the Pending Service Solutions (PSS) application through Audi Now. This TSB is for informational purposes and is not applicable to any Audi Warranty claims directly.

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Source: NHTSA ID: 11031041