Jul 28, 2025Electrical system
Monday, July 21st, 2025. 4 pm …On the freeway, in the mountains, while I was driving at 75 mph, on the 2nd lane from the left on a 5 lane freeway, the car’s electrical system suddenly died, I lost all power, all acceleration, EVERYTHING shut down, and ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, LIMITED VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WARNING SIGN FLASHING and the steering wheel started shuddering and vibrating. I nearly had a catastrophic crash. Luckily, I managed to glide the car to the shoulder, dodging trucks and cars that were barreling down. I’m v lucky to be alive. 7 hours after this catastrophic event, the steering wheel was still vibrating! My life was definitely at risk, as well as others I could have crashed into. The car is 6 months old, with only 3500 miles on the odometer, and under warranty. The car was towed to the Audi dealer. On the 2nd day, Audi contacted me to let me know that they had contacted Audi of America’s technical assistance and engineering department, and they would be guiding the diagnostic and repair process. Today, on July 28, 2025, a week later Audi informed me that it was an issue with the “Gateway Control Module” which was being replaced. There were no warning messages or symptoms prior to this failure.
NHTSA ODI 11676776
Jul 18, 2025Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemSpeed control
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle experienced an electrical malfunction that caused it to shut off or switch into an inoperable gear while in motion, without driver input. A “Central Locking: Malfunction” message appeared on the dashboard at the time of failure. Yes, the vehicle is currently with Audi North Atlanta and is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle lost power and became unresponsive while I was actively driving, putting me and others at risk of collision. In one instance, I was turning in an intersection on a busy road when the vehicle became undrivable. On another occasion, my child was in the back seat, and the car shut off despite both of us being fully restrained. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The service manager at Audi North Atlanta confirmed that he experienced the same issue when the vehicle switched into an inoperable state after he shifted his weight in the seat while driving through the parking lot. He has acknowledged this as a potential seat sensor or occupancy detection issue and is currently conducting further research. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes. The vehicle is currently under investigation by Audi North Atlanta, and Audi’s Technical Field Manager for the Atlanta region has been involved in the review process. No police or insurance representatives have inspected the vehicle at this time. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. A “Central Locking: Malfunction” warning message appeared on the dashboard at the time of the incidents. There were no prior warnings before the vehicle lost power and became unresponsive. The issue has occurred multiple times since.
NHTSA ODI 11674537
May 21, 2025Driver assistanceLane Departure
The entire ADAS system malfunctioned while driving and has been in the shop for the past 30 days. Despite replacing multiple modules, the dealership has not identified a viable solution. There were no prior warnings before the system failure.
NHTSA ODI 11662253
Mar 3, 2025Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system
High-voltage electrical system malfunction - within a week of purchase, car gave this warning, dealership said this is related to a software update, which is not going to be available until Q3 2025. Dealership said the "warning" is no longer being displayed and the car is drive-able, and if the issue persists, car should be turned off and turned back on in a few minutes.
NHTSA ODI 11646017