2022-2024 Audi A3/S3/RS3 Pre Sense Warning TSB

Owners of certain 2022-2024 Audi A3, S3, and RS3 models may experience their vehicle's Audi pre sense front system activating without any apparent hazard. This issue, detailed in Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2069662/1, describes instances where the system triggers warnings, warning jolts, or even emergency braking when there is no actual obstacle or critical situation. This can be a concerning experience for drivers and indicates a potential malfunction in the advanced driver-assistance system.

This TSB specifically targets the Audi S3 pre sense warning issue and similar false activations across the affected models. It provides guidance for dealerships on how to diagnose and address these unwarranted interventions.

Symptoms of Unwarranted Pre Sense Activation

Customers report that the Audi pre sense front system intervenes for no reason, manifesting in several ways:

• An "Audi pre sense front warning" appears on the instrument cluster.
• The driver experiences an "Audi pre sense front warning jolt."
• The vehicle performs "Audi pre sense front emergency braking" unexpectedly.

The instrument cluster may display a red "Audi pre sense" symbol, as shown in the TSB, indicating system activation. Dealerships have noted that these complaints are often difficult to reproduce during a standard road test.

Understanding Audi Pre Sense Functions

Audi pre sense is a suite of safety technologies designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions. The system uses sensors and cameras to monitor the area in front of the vehicle and can initiate various responses:

• Audi pre sense warning: Provides visual and acoustic alerts to the driver if a critical situation is detected with a vehicle ahead or a stationary object.
• Audi pre sense warning jolt: If the driver does not react to initial warnings, the ABS control unit J104 applies a short, noticeable brake jolt to alert the driver to the traffic situation.
• Driver-triggered emergency braking: When the driver applies the brakes, the system calculates if sufficient braking force is being applied to prevent a collision. If not, it increases braking performance as needed.
• Automatic partial braking (preliminary stage): If the driver still does not respond to warnings, an urgent warning jolt is issued. This short, noticeable application of the brakes does not slow the vehicle but aims to regain the driver's attention.
• Automatic partial braking (main stage): In situations where a collision cannot be avoided, the system provides additional support through automatic braking to bring the vehicle to a standstill, applying maximum braking force.
• Swerve support: Active at speeds above 19 mph, this function provides steering torque assistance (max. 2 Nm) to help the driver avoid a collision by correcting the steering angle, especially when changing lanes. It utilizes front assist, ACC, and lane assist systems.
• Brake dead time minimization: If a hazardous situation is identified, the hydraulic brake system is pre-charged, and a slight jolt may be noticeable. This reduces the reaction time for braking.
• Turn-off function (turn assist): Emergency braking may be initiated during a left turn at speeds up to 9 mph to prevent frontal collisions with oncoming vehicles.

Diagnosis Procedure

To diagnose the Audi S3 pre sense warning and related issues, technicians are instructed to perform a specific diagnostic procedure using the Audi pre sense test program. This program is accessed through the diagnostic tool's test plan via the following path:

Test plan > Select self-test > Body > Electrical system > 01 - On Board Diagnostic capable systems > 0013 - Control Module for Adaptive Cruise Control -J428- > 0013 - Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) > Audi pre sense

The test program will prompt the technician to enter the exact date of the customer's complaint. It then checks for any Audi pre sense front interventions that occurred within a seven-day window, specifically three days before and three days after the entered date. At the conclusion of the program, a comprehensive list of all recorded Audi pre sense front interventions during this period is provided.

Important Notes for Owners

Owners should be aware of specific limitations regarding the pre sense system's data storage and diagnostic procedures:

• Only the last four pre sense events in each category are stored by the vehicle's system. This means older events may not be retrievable for diagnosis.
• The Audi pre sense test program should generally be performed only once per complaint. However, if a customer reports multiple instances of the issue, the test program may be performed a maximum of three times for that specific complaint to gather sufficient data.

Warranty Information

This diagnostic procedure, identified by Service Number 9163 and Damage Code 0039, is covered under Audi's warranty program under specific conditions:

• Claim Type 110: Applicable for vehicles up to 48 months or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.
• Claim Type G10: Applies to Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles, subject to owner verification.
• If your vehicle falls outside these warranty periods, this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 2069662/1) serves as informational guidance only.

Diagnostic time is recorded as GFF (0150 0000) with a maximum of 30 Time Units (TU) as stated on the diagnostic protocol. Road tests performed both prior to and after the service procedure are not allowed for separate billing (0 TU).

Related Resources

For additional information on the Audi pre sense system and related topics, the following resources are referenced:

• SSP 680: Audi A3: Provides general information and self-study programs related to the Audi A3.
• TSB 2058077: This bulletin addresses similar Audi pre sense warning, warning jolt, and/or brake engagement issues on vehicles built on the MLB platform.

NHTSA ID: 10237731