2021 Audi MMI Freezes When Searching Contacts TSB

Symptoms of Audi MMI Freezing

Owners of affected 2021 Audi vehicles may experience issues with their MMI (Multi Media Interface) system when a phone is connected via Bluetooth and they attempt to search for a contact in the MMI address book. This can occur when using either the MMI control knob or the voice recognition system.

The primary symptoms of the Audi e-tron MMI freezes issue include:

• The MMI screen goes blank and then restarts.
• The MMI screen freezes for a few minutes before recovering.

Fault Codes / DTCs

This technical service bulletin (TSB 2036576/6) does not list any specific diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) associated with the MMI freezing or restarting condition. The issue is primarily related to data integrity within the phonebook contacts.

What the Service Bulletin Says

Audi Technical Service Bulletin 2036576/6 addresses instances where the MMI system freezes or restarts when users search for contacts. The bulletin, which supersedes earlier TSB 18-88, explains that this condition is caused by special characters, such as symbols, emoticons, or map icons, being stored in the name fields of phonebook contacts.

The TSB clarifies that replacing the MMI main unit or the telephone control unit will not resolve the problem. For MMI3G+ vehicles, a specific troubleshooting script is available on the ServiceNet website. This script helps identify invalid entries in the phonebook. If no invalid entries are found, or if the maximum contact limit is reached, the phonebook may not be the source of the concern.

The recommended service procedure involves checking all phonebook contact fields (first name, last name, company, phone number) that have been transferred to the vehicle. Any special characters found in these fields must be removed. Owners are advised to correct these entries on their phone and in any synchronized source information, such as Outlook or Gmail, to prevent the issue from recurring. TSB 2026390 is also referenced for additional information regarding Bluetooth and MMI issues related to phonebooks.

What to Do if Your Audi MMI Freezes

If your 2021 Audi MMI system is freezing or restarting when you search for contacts, the first step is to check your phone's contact list. Look for any special characters, symbols, emoticons, or map icons in the name fields of your contacts. These characters are known to cause the Audi e-tron MMI freezes problem.

Carefully remove any such special characters from your phonebook entries. It's also important to update these corrections in any cloud services or apps (like Outlook or Gmail) that synchronize with your phone, to ensure the changes are permanent. If the issue persists after clearing all special characters, or if you are unable to resolve the problem yourself, it is recommended to contact an authorized Audi service center for further diagnosis and assistance.

Source: NHTSA ID 10176067