2022-2023 Audi Heated Steering Wheel Malfunction DTC B145504

Symptoms

Owners of affected 2022-2023 Audi vehicles may experience the following issues related to the Audi e-tron heated steering wheel:

• The heated steering wheel is not working as expected.
• A steering wheel warning malfunction message appears in the instrument cluster.

Fault Codes / DTCs

When diagnosing the issue, technicians may find the following Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) stored in the steering column electronics control module, identified as J527 (address word 0016):

Code	Description	Module	Symptom Code
B145504	Temperature sensor of steering wheel heating defective (active/static) or (passive/sporadic)	J527	7340800

This DTC indicates a problem with the temperature sensor responsible for monitoring the steering wheel heating.

Diagnosis / Trigger Conditions

Audi notes that the steering wheel heating system can automatically switch itself off after approximately 5 minutes under certain conditions. To reactivate it, the driver must either press the steering wheel heater button again or cycle the ignition. Environmental factors, such as direct sunlight or high ambient temperatures, can also cause the system to deactivate prematurely. However, if the Audi e-tron heated steering wheel consistently fails to operate or displays a warning, the DTC B145504 is the primary indicator of a fault.

If additional DTCs are present in the J527 module related to the steering heater, technicians should follow the test plan in the Guided Fault Finding (GFF) system or consult other relevant TSBs.

Important Warnings

Owners and technicians should note a critical instruction from Audi regarding this issue:

• "Do not replace the steering wheel."

This means that the problem is not resolved by replacing the entire steering wheel assembly, indicating the fault lies elsewhere or requires a specific software or diagnostic procedure.

Repair Procedure Summary

The recommended repair procedure for DTC B145504 is straightforward:

1. Clear the Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) from the vehicle's system.
2. Release the vehicle to the customer.

This suggests that the issue is often a temporary fault or a software-related anomaly that can be reset without component replacement.

Warranty Information

Warranty claims for this issue are handled under specific conditions:

• Claim Type 110: Applicable for vehicles up to 48 months or 50,000 miles.
• Claim Type G10: For Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles, requiring owner verification.
• If the vehicle is outside of its warranty period, this Technical Service Bulletin serves as informational guidance only, and any repairs would typically be at the owner's expense.

Service Number: 4810 Damage Code: 0040 Diagnostic Time: 0150 0000 (Maximum 30 Test Units, as stated on the diagnostic protocol)

Road tests before and after the service procedure are not allotted additional time for warranty claims.