2020-2021 Audi MIB3 Data Loss for Favorites and Destinations

Symptoms

Owners of affected 2020-2021 Audi vehicles may experience the following issues with their MIB3 infotainment system:

• "Last destinations, favorites and home/work addresses are sporadically lost."

This Audi MIB3 data loss can be frustrating, as it means your personalized navigation settings are not reliably saved. The issue is described as sporadic, making it difficult to reproduce consistently, even for dealership technicians.

Technical Background

According to Audi's Technical Service Bulletin PSS 91 MIB3, the root cause of this problem is a software bug. This bug can lead to the loss of certain user data stored in the MIB3 system whenever the vehicle's infotainment system boots up. This explains why the data loss is intermittent and not always present, making it challenging for workshops to reproduce.

Important Warnings

Audi has issued specific instructions to dealerships regarding this Audi MIB3 data loss concern, which are vital for owners to understand:

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

This warning is crucial for owners, as it prevents unnecessary and potentially costly component replacements that will not fix the underlying software issue. Dealers are explicitly told that replacing hardware will not resolve the problem.

Service Procedure for Dealerships

When an owner reports this Audi MIB3 data loss issue, Audi has instructed dealerships to follow a specific procedure. Technicians are to explain to the customer that a software solution is anticipated for the third quarter of 2021. Crucially, the bulletin explicitly states, "Do not replace any components for this condition since this will not resolve the customer's concern." Instead of a physical repair, the dealership must create a PSS (Pending Service Solutions) record. This record is made in the PSS application via the 'Pending Service Solutions (PSS)' link in AccessAudi (under Related Links >> Service) or through the Technical Assistance page in Elsa. This process ensures that the customer's concern is officially documented and tracked by Audi, pending the release of the software update.

What Owners Should Do

If you own a 2020-2021 Audi vehicle equipped with the MIB3 system and are experiencing Audi MIB3 data loss, you should be aware of the following:

• No immediate repair: As of the TSB's publication date (February 17, 2021), there is no immediate repair available. Audi has stated that a solution is "forthcoming for the 3rd quarter of 2021."
• Contact your dealer: Explain the issue to your Audi dealership. They are instructed to inform you about the pending software solution and will not perform any physical repairs.
• PSS record: Your dealership will create a PSS (Pending Service Solutions) record. This helps Audi track the prevalence of the issue and ensures that your vehicle is noted for the upcoming fix.

Warranty Information

This Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 91 21 68 2062266/1) is classified as "informational only" and is "not applicable to any Audi Warranty." This means that while the issue is acknowledged by Audi, the TSB itself does not provide specific warranty claim instructions or coverage details for a repair, as no repair is currently available. Owners should understand that this is a known software bug for which a future update is planned, rather than a defect requiring immediate, warranty-covered part replacement.

Additional Information

This Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 91 21 68 2062266/1) was issued on February 17, 2021. It applies to a wide range of 2020-2021 Audi models equipped with the MIB3 infotainment system, including A4, S4, A5, S5, A6, S6, A7, S7, A8, S8, Q5, SQ5, Q7, SQ7, Q8, SQ8, RS models, and Audi e-tron models.

---

Source: NHTSA ID: 10187353