2023-2026 Audi SOS Emergency Assist Malfunction TSB

Owners of certain 2023-2026 Audi vehicles may encounter issues with the SOS Emergency Assist system. This Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 2074059/3) addresses various complaints and provides information regarding the system's behavior and potential remedies.

Symptoms

Customers have reported several issues related to the SOS Emergency Assist system. These include:

• The vehicle slowing down unexpectedly or without justification due to emergency assist activation.
• The emergency assist system repeatedly tugging on the seat belt.
• The instrument cluster displaying messages such as "SOS Emergency assist: active. Please take over" (Figure 1 in the original document) or "SOS Emergency assist: canceled" (Figure 2 in the original document).

Even during a test drive, no abnormal behavior might be immediately detected, making diagnosis challenging. After deactivating the emergency assist, a white icon and the message "Emergency assist: off" may appear on the instrument cluster.

Diagnosis / Trigger Conditions

The emergency assist system is designed to detect driver incapacitation by monitoring driver activity. It activates if no input is detected on the steering wheel (torque), if a capacitive steering wheel is not firmly touched, if the brake pedal is not pressed, and if the accelerator pedal is not suddenly or significantly pressed.

There are two main operating modes for the emergency assist:

Manual Driving Mode

This mode applies when the adaptive cruise assist and lane departure warning are deactivated, and the vehicle speed is above 40 mph. If driver inactivity is detected, the system may engage. It can slow the vehicle to follow a vehicle in front or intervene to slow the vehicle if it leaves its lane without signaling. In this mode, the system may slow the vehicle without prior acoustic warning.

Assisted Driving Mode

This mode is active when the adaptive cruise assist or lane departure warning is activated. The emergency assist is automatically available regardless of vehicle speed. If driver inactivity is detected, the system engages.

Drivers can override emergency assist interventions by moving the steering wheel (for active steering) or firmly touching a capacitive steering wheel, or by pressing the brake pedal. Pressing the accelerator pedal suddenly and significantly will also override the system. However, hesitant or very slow accelerator pedal input will not be detected as driver activity.

Repair Procedure Summary

To address the Audi SOS Emergency Assist malfunction, technicians should first explain the technical background of the emergency assist system to the customer.

Next, the software version of the driver assist systems control unit (J1121, diagnostic address 00A5) must be checked. If the software version is lower than SW0352, a software update for the driver assist systems is available. This update is performed via TSB 2063497 and is designed to enhance the robustness of the emergency assist. If the software version is already SW0352 or above, no further measures are necessary, and TSB 2063497 will not be visible.

As an alternative measure, if a customer prefers not to use the emergency assist, it can be deactivated in the MMI. This involves pressing the button for driver assist systems E617 in the center console's switch module, opening the profile master, and deactivating the emergency assist within the "Individual" profile. This adjustment must be made for every user profile (MMI > Users > Profile selection > Profile 1 to 6).

Owner Action

If your 2023-2026 Audi exhibits an Audi SOS Emergency Assist malfunction, such as unexpected braking, seat belt tugs, or warning messages, it is recommended to contact your authorized Audi dealership. They can diagnose the issue and determine if a software update (TSB 2063497) is required for the J1121 control unit. Software updates are typically covered under warranty. If you wish to disable the system, your dealer can guide you through the MMI settings, or you can follow the instructions in your owner's manual.