My 2025 Audi RS3 unexpectedly shifts into park and engages the electronic parking brake while the vehicle is in motion at low speeds. This issue has occurred multiple times, has been documented on at least nine occasions, and has undergone four (4) separate service attempts within the first 900 miles. The issue remains unresolved. On multiple occasions, the vehicle became immobilized in active traffic. In one incident, the vehicle shifted into park while making a left-hand turn across a busy intersection, leaving the vehicle stopped in the roadway with oncoming traffic approaching at high speeds. The vehicle would not move and required the driver to exit and perform a full restart before normal operation resumed. In another incident, the vehicle again shifted into park while exiting a parking lot and entering traffic, leaving the vehicle partially in the roadway and creating a hazardous condition for the driver and oncoming traffic. A fault related to the electronic parking brake system was identified and a component was replaced; however, the issue persisted after repair. The dealership has confirmed that the issue can be reproduced but stated that the vehicle is operating as designed. The explanation provided was that shifting body weight while seated and properly restrained may cause the system to behave as if no driver is present. The dealership also indicated that similar behavior could be reproduced on other vehicles during testing in a parking lot environment, rather than under normal driving conditions. Despite this explanation, the behavior results in an unexpected loss of vehicle mobility in traffic, which presents a serious safety risk. There were no consistent warning indicators prior to the events. The vehicle remains available for inspection.
NHTSA ODI 11728422