2023 Audi ConBox Bluetooth and Connectivity Malfunction TSB

Symptoms

Owners of 2023 Audi vehicles, including the Audi e-tron, may experience several issues related to the ConBox high system. These symptoms often point to a software problem affecting connectivity features:

• An "emergency call malfunction" message is displayed on the instrument cluster.
• The Bluetooth connection to your phone, including Audi Smartphone Integration, is interrupted.
• Bluetooth connections and Bluetooth settings appear "grayed out" on the MMI screen.
• Audi connect features, including in-vehicle and app features, cannot be used.
• A "no data connection" message is displayed on the MMI screen.
• An "Antenna Malfunction" message is displayed on the MMI screen.
• The e-Call LED in the roof module remains illuminated green at all times.

These issues can result in an "Audi e-tron Bluetooth inop" condition, making it impossible to use essential connectivity features.

Fault Codes / DTCs

When diagnosing these symptoms, technicians may find specific Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) stored in the Data Bus On Board Diagnostic Interface (Gateway), J533 (address word 0019):

Code	Description	Module
U142100	Control module for emergency call module and communication unit no communication	Data Bus On Board Diagnostic Interface (Gateway), J533 (address word 0019)
U164200	Ethernet Emergency Call Module no communication	Data Bus On Board Diagnostic Interface (Gateway), J533 (address word 0019)

These codes indicate a communication problem with the control module for the emergency call module and communication unit (ConBox) -J949- (address word 0075).

Diagnosis and Trigger Conditions

The root cause of these issues is a software problem within the ConBox system, which can temporarily make Bluetooth and other connectivity functions unavailable. The complaint may not always be consistently reproducible. However, full functionality can often be temporarily restored by:

• Accessing the ConBox via the ODIS diagnostic tool.
• Turning the vehicle off, closing and locking all doors, and waiting approximately five minutes for the vehicle bus to enter a sleep cycle.

Important Warnings for Owners and Technicians

Audi has issued specific guidance regarding this issue:

• Do not replace any components for this condition since this will not resolve the customer's concern. The problem is software-related, and replacing hardware will not provide a permanent fix.
• The root cause for this defect is currently still under analysis. This Pending Service Solution (PSS) will be updated as soon as further information is available.
• This TSB is informational only and not applicable to any Audi Warranty.

This means that while a temporary fix might be possible, a permanent solution is still being developed by Audi. Owners should be aware that this issue is not currently covered under standard Audi Warranty.

Repair Procedure Summary

Since the underlying cause is a software issue still under investigation, there is no definitive repair procedure at this time. The bulletin serves as a Pending Service Solution (PSS) to document the issue and provide temporary workarounds. Technicians are instructed to create a PSS record in the PSS application if a customer reports these symptoms, including an "Audi e-tron Bluetooth inop" condition.

For temporary restoration of functionality, the observations suggest that accessing the ConBox via the ODIS diagnostic tool or performing a vehicle sleep cycle (turning off, locking doors, waiting five minutes) can help.

What Owners Should Do

If your 2023 Audi e-tron or other affected model is experiencing Bluetooth, Audi connect, or emergency call system malfunctions, and you see messages like "emergency call malfunction" or "no data connection," contact your authorized Audi dealership. Inform them about the symptoms you are experiencing. While a permanent fix is not yet available, your dealer can document the issue and apply any temporary solutions as outlined in this TSB.

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Source: NHTSA ID: 10243972