2019-2026 Audi Apple CarPlay Disconnection TSB

Audi has released Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2073629/2, titled "91 ASI: Apple CarPlay connection is dropped repeatedly in short intervals," to address a common complaint among owners of 2019-2026 Audi vehicles equipped with the Audi Smartphone Interface (ASI). This bulletin, revised on May 22, 2024, supersedes a previous bulletin, 91 24-99, dated April 8, 2024.

The TSB clarifies the root cause and provides a straightforward solution for the persistent Audi Apple CarPlay disconnection problem. It's important for owners to understand that this issue stems from a third-party software bug rather than a defect in their Audi vehicle.

Symptoms of Apple CarPlay Disconnection

Owners experiencing this issue will notice that shortly after Apple CarPlay™ is initiated on the Multi Media Interface (MMI) system, the connection between their iPhone and the vehicle is lost. A few seconds later, the phone will attempt to reconnect and restart Apple CarPlay™, only for the connection to drop again after a brief period. This creates a frustrating "reconnect-loop" where the system constantly tries to establish a stable connection but fails.

Workshop findings confirm that this customer complaint is reproducible. Interestingly, if a wired connection is initially used and then the USB cable is unplugged to switch to a wireless connection, the wireless Apple CarPlay™ connection tends to remain stable.

Technical Background of the Issue

The underlying cause of the repeated Audi Apple CarPlay disconnection is related to how the iPhone manages its connection type after a vehicle's sleep cycle. If the iPhone was initially paired wirelessly to the vehicle and then, after the vehicle has been off for a period, a wired connection is used (e.g., for charging via USB), the phone may struggle to correctly determine whether to use a wired or wireless connection.

This confusion triggers the "reconnect-loop" behavior, which is initiated by the iPhone itself. Audi has identified this behavior as a bug within the iPhone's iOS operating system. Specifically, this issue is known to occur with iOS versions 17.3.* and 17.4.. Audi has confirmed that the problem is not reproducible with iOS 17.5. or newer versions.

Important Warnings for Owners

Audi's TSB 2073629/2 provides several critical advisories for owners and technicians:

• "Do not perform any repairs. Any repairs for this concern may be denied."
• "Instruct the customer that this condition is due to outside, third party influence and can therefore not be repaired by Audi."
• "This concern is due to a third-party system and is not covered by any Audi Warranty."
• "We recommend that the customer always update their iPhone and keep it maintained with the newest iOS version."

These warnings emphasize that the problem is not a vehicle defect and, therefore, no vehicle repairs are necessary or covered under Audi's warranty. Attempting vehicle-side repairs will not resolve the issue and may lead to denied warranty claims.

Solution and Owner Action

The solution for the Audi Apple CarPlay disconnection issue, as outlined in TSB 2073629/2, is straightforward: owners should update their iPhone to the newest available software version, specifically iOS 17.5.* or newer. Since the problem is identified as an iOS bug, updating the iPhone's operating system directly addresses the root cause.

Owners experiencing this problem should ensure their iPhone is running the latest iOS version. Regularly updating your iPhone's software is generally recommended to ensure optimal performance and security, and in this case, it directly resolves the Apple CarPlay connectivity issue.

Warranty Information

As this issue is attributed to a third-party system (the iPhone's iOS) and is not a defect in the Audi vehicle, it is explicitly stated that this concern is not covered by any Audi Warranty. Owners are responsible for updating their personal devices.

Source: NHTSA ID 11002268