2021-2026 Audi Steering Wheel Not Straight TSB 2056386/10

Symptoms

Owners of 2021-2026 Audi vehicles may experience the following issues related to wheel alignment and steering:

• "The steering wheel is not straight."
• "The steering wheel is not straight when driving in a straight line."
• "When driving the vehicle pulls to the left or right."
• "When driving straight ahead, vehicle pulls to the left or right."
• "When driving, the vehicle pulls to the left or the right although the steering wheel is in the straight ahead position."

Important Warnings for Owners

Audi has issued specific guidelines regarding wheel alignment complaints that owners should be aware of:

• Tolerance for Steering Wheel Position: "Deviations of ±2° in the steering wheel position are within the permitted tolerances for the individual toe settings and therefore do not constitute a fault." This means a slight off-center steering wheel within this range may be considered normal.
• Warranty Coverage: "During a workshop visit, if the total toe is OK but one of the individual toe settings on the rear axles is not OK, this is not a valid reason to perform wheel alignment under warranty." This TSB is also explicitly stated as "informational only and not applicable to any Audi Warranty."
• Steering Column Position: When evaluating a complaint about an Audi e-tron steering wheel not straight, technicians are instructed to ensure the steering column is in its top position and pushed as far as it will go toward the dash panel. If it's not in this position, a misalignment within the ±2° tolerance may occur.
• Road Test Conduct: During a road test, always keep both hands on the steering wheel. It's not possible to accurately assess straight-line driving by removing your hands due to the low friction of axle components and steering rack design.

Diagnosis and Trigger Conditions

Before performing any wheel alignment, technicians are advised to:

• Perform a test drive with the customer to reproduce the complaint. This helps to understand the specific conditions under which the issue occurs.
• Switch off the lane departure warning and any other driver assist systems that might influence the vehicle's straight-line running.
• Check tire pressures and inspect tire profiles and running surfaces for any irregularities.
• Consider the effect of road camber, as vehicles naturally tend to follow the slope of the road for drainage.
• If the vehicle pulls to one side during acceleration or braking, this could indicate a tire-related issue rather than an alignment problem.

Repair Procedure Summary

For a confirmed Audi e-tron steering wheel not straight or pulling condition, Audi outlines the following service steps for technicians:

1. Initial Assessment: Conduct a road test with the customer to verify the complaint and observe vehicle behavior, paying attention to road camber.
2. Pre-Alignment Checks: Review the complaint using the Elsa Repair Manual, specifically the Chassis >> Suspension, Wheels, Steering >> 44 Wheels, Tires, Wheel Alignment section.
3. Tool Setup: If available, use the steering wheel scale VAS 6826 to aid in diagnosis and measurement.
4. Software Update: Check and update the software version of the wheel alignment computer before proceeding with any alignment.
5. Exclusion of Other Factors: Perform a wheel alignment only after ruling out all other potential causes for the symptoms.
6. Measurements: Conduct an initial measurement to align the individual toe settings of the front wheels by turning the steering wheel.
7. Documentation: Take a photo of any steering wheel misalignment with the scales attached. Save all initial measurements, labeling them with the VIN.
8. Correction: Straighten the steering wheel and then measure the individual toe values again.
9. Final Documentation: Save the final measurements, labeling them with the VIN, and upload all relevant documents to DOC-IT.

Required Tools

Technicians will need specific tools to properly diagnose and correct wheel alignment issues:

• VAS 6458: Steering Wheel scale
• VAS 6826: Steering Wheel Scale
• VAS 61XX: Vehicle Diagnostic Tester

Warranty Information

This Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 2056386/10) is provided for informational purposes only and is not applicable to any Audi Warranty. This means that repairs performed under the guidance of this TSB may not be covered by standard warranty terms if the conditions for warranty coverage are not met, particularly concerning the ±2° tolerance for steering wheel position and rear axle toe settings.

Revision History

This bulletin, 44 24 09 2056386/10, dated December 6, 2024, supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 44 number 23-99 dated April 19, 2023. Key revisions include:

• Revision 10: Updated information regarding Warranty, Condition, and Service.
• Revision 9 (April 19, 2023): Updated Service Procedure.
• Revision 8 (April 18, 2023): Updated header (added model year) and Service Procedure.

Source: NHTSA ID 11012490