2021-2022 Audi MIB3 Data Loss: Favorites and Destinations Lost

Owners of various 2021-2022 Audi models equipped with the MIB3 infotainment system may encounter an issue where their saved navigation data, including favorite destinations, home addresses, and other stored locations, are sporadically lost. This problem, identified by Audi in Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 91 21 42 2062266/3, points to a software bug as the root cause.

Symptoms

Customers report that their MIB3 infotainment system intermittently fails to retain crucial navigation data. The primary symptom is that "Last destinations, favorites, and home/work addresses are sporadically lost." This can be frustrating for drivers who rely on these saved locations for daily commutes and travel, requiring them to re-enter information repeatedly.

Technical Background

Audi has determined that the sporadic loss of user data in the MIB3 system is due to a software bug. This bug affects the system's ability to consistently save and retrieve user-specific information upon vehicle boot-up. The TSB clarifies that this is a software-related issue rather than a hardware malfunction.

Important Warnings

Audi emphasizes a critical directive for this issue: "Do not replace any components for this condition since this will not resolve the customer's concern." This warning is crucial for owners, as attempting to replace infotainment system components will not fix the underlying software bug and could lead to unnecessary costs or wasted effort. The problem, including the specific Audi e-tron MIB3 data loss, is software-based.

What Owners Should Do

As of the TSB's publication in October 2021, Audi was actively working on a solution. Owners experiencing this Audi e-tron MIB3 data loss or similar issues in other affected models are advised of the following:

• Solution Forthcoming: Audi anticipated a permanent software solution in the third quarter of 2022. A workaround procedure was expected by the end of 2021, which would be communicated via an update to this TSB.
• No Immediate Repairs Needed: At the time of the bulletin, no repairs were necessary, as the solution was still under development.
• Dealer Documentation: If you experience this issue, your Audi dealership will create a Pending Service Solutions (PSS) record. This helps Audi track the prevalence of the problem and ensures that your vehicle is noted for the eventual fix.

This TSB is informational and does not apply to any Audi Warranty claims, indicating that the fix, once released, would likely be handled as a software update rather than a traditional warranty repair.

Source: NHTSA ID 10202629