2023-2025 Audi Models Pre Sense Restricted Function Icon TSB

The "Audi pre sense - restricted function icon is displayed after engine starts" message can be a cause for concern for Audi owners. This technical service bulletin, 90 24 47 2059891/8, clarifies that this temporary warning is generally a normal operational characteristic for many 2023-2025 Audi models. This article explains why you might see the Audi e-tron pre sense icon and what it means for your vehicle's driver assistance systems.

Symptoms

Owners of various Audi models, including the 2023 Audi e-tron, may observe a warning icon in their instrument cluster shortly after starting the engine. This icon is accompanied by a message indicating that the Audi pre sense or active front assist system is temporarily unavailable. The specific messages owners might see include:

• "Audi pre sense / active front assist not available at the moment"
• "Audi pre sense not available at the moment" (for models up to MY2020)
• "Audi pre sense / active front assist - restricted or not available at the moment" (for models MY2024 onwards)

This warning typically appears for about 20 seconds before disappearing. In some models, the vehicle may need to be moved slightly for the initialization indicator to clear. This behavior is related to the Audi e-tron pre sense icon and its associated systems.

Important Warnings

Audi has issued specific guidance regarding this condition:

• "If the warning is lit up permanently in the instrument cluster, this service info does NOT apply." This TSB only addresses temporary warnings. A persistent warning indicates a different issue that requires diagnosis.
• "Do not perform any repairs. Any repairs for this concern may be denied." Audi explicitly states that no repairs should be attempted for this temporary warning, as it is considered normal operation. Attempting repairs may result in denied warranty claims.
• "This TSB is informational only and not applicable to any Audi Warranty." This bulletin serves to inform technicians and owners about normal system behavior and does not cover any warranty claims for this specific temporary warning.

Diagnosis / Trigger Conditions

The appearance of the "Audi pre sense - restricted function icon is displayed after engine starts" is a result of the driver assist system sensors performing a self-initialization sequence. After the ignition is turned on, systems like Audi pre sense and active front assist, along with their associated sensors, require a brief period to power up and calibrate. During this time, they may not be fully available, and the instrument cluster displays an initialization light to inform the driver. The front camera for the driver assist system (R242) typically takes about 20 seconds to start up. The duration of this initialization can vary, and in some models, the vehicle must be moved for the warning light to extinguish. This is the expected behavior for the Audi e-tron pre sense icon and related driver assistance features.

Repair Procedure Summary

No repair procedure is necessary for the temporary display of the "Audi pre sense - restricted function icon is displayed after engine starts" message. Audi confirms that this is a normal operational characteristic of the vehicle's driver assist systems. Technicians are instructed not to perform any repairs for this concern. Instead, the customer should be informed that the temporary warning is due to the front camera (R242) and other driver assist systems powering up, which is normal behavior.

What Owners Should Know

If you own a 2023-2025 Audi model and observe the "Audi pre sense - restricted function icon is displayed after engine starts" message temporarily after ignition, you should generally not be concerned. This is a normal part of your vehicle's advanced driver assistance systems initializing.

• No Repair Needed: Do not seek repairs for this temporary warning, as it is not indicative of a fault.
• Warranty: This specific condition is not covered under warranty because it is considered normal operation.
• Persistent Warning: If the warning light remains illuminated permanently, or if the "Audi pre sense - restricted function icon is displayed after engine starts" message does not disappear after approximately 20 seconds or after moving the vehicle, then it may indicate an actual fault that requires professional diagnosis. In such cases, consult your authorized Audi service center.

Source Citation

NHTSA ID: 11011274