2018 Audi Q5

THE VEHICLE CAN, AT TIMES, SOUND ALARMS INDICATING A RISK OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN THERE IS NO RISK PRESENT. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR WHILE STOPPED. MY GUESS IS THAT THIS IS DUE TO SIMILAR SAFETY SENSORS INSTALLED ON OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WHICH MY CAR MAY MISTAKE FOR SIGNALS FROM ITS OWN. I HAVE NOTICES THIS OCCURRING AROUND TESLAS MOSTLY, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED AROUND OTHER MAKES/MODELS AS WELL BUT THOSE ARE MORE RARE. THIS PROBLEM HAS SPECIFICALLY HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAS HAPPEND ALSO WHILE SITTING STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE NOT MOVING. I WAS NOT (IN MY OPINION) DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO OTHER VEHICLES AT THE TIME. HOW THE CAR REACTS IN THIS SITUATION IS TO BEEP LOUDLY, HALT ALL AUDIO (E.G. RADIO), AND CHANGE THE CENTER CONSOLE VIEW TO A MODE WHERE THE CAR IS ATTEMPTING TO SHOW HOW CLOSE OBJECTS ARE TO IT. THIS VIEW IS NORMALLY DISPLAYED WHILE PULLING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND IS NOT NORMAL FOR IT TO TRIGGER WHILE DRIVING, OR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THIS MAY BE RELATED TO A FEATURE CALLED PRE-SENSE BUT I AM UNSURE IF THAT IS THE CASE. IT MAY SIMPLY BE SENSORS FROM OTHER CARS THAT TRIGGER CERTAIN SAFETY WARNINGS IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T BE TRIGGERED IN THIS MANNER. I HAVE NOT KEPT A LOG OF THESE INCIDENTS, SO I DO NOT HAVE EXACT SPEEDS OR DATES TO LIST (I PUT ONE ON THE FORM SINCE IT WAS REQUIRED.) BUT EVERY TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED IT HAS BEEN A FALSE POSITIVE. I HAVE HAD A SERVICE SHOP AT THE AUDI DEALER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT. I DOUBT THEY WOULD BUT I WANTED SOME DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOWED I HAD OBSERVED ODD BEHAVIOR IN THE PAST IN THE EVENT THAT THE CAR TAKES AN EVASIVE ACTION ON MY BEHALF THAT RESULTS IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD - ESPECIALLY IT IT WAS DONE IN ERROR.

A FEATURE CALLED REAR CROSS-TRAFFIC ASSIST TRIGGERS ERRONEOUSLY SOMETIMES. THE FEATURE IS DESIGNED TO DETECT OBJECTS SUCH AS CARS OR PEDESTRIANS THAT MAY BE MOVING BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHILE IT IS REVERSING. THE DEFAULT ACTION IS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, WHICH IS A VERY JARRING EXPERIENCE AND LEADS THE DRIVER TO BELIEVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. OF THE TIMES THIS SYSTEM HAS TRIGGERED, OVER 50% SEEM TO BE FALSE POSITIVES; HOWEVER, SOMETIMES IT DOES TRIGGER AS INTENDED. IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT CONDITIONS MUST BE PRESENT FOR A FALSE POSITIVE TO OCCUR. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE REVERSING IN PARKING LOTS, EITHER INTO OR OUT OF SPACES. SPEEDS ARE USUALLY AROUND 1-6 MPH. IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR, BUT I HAVE NOT KEPT A LOG INDICATING HOW OFTEN OR OTHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME. I HAVE ASKED MY AUDI SERVICE CENTER ABOUT THE ABILITY TO DISABLE THIS AND IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THERE'S A WAY TO SELECTIVELY TURN THIS EXACT SAFETY FEATURE OFF. THE OWNERS MANUAL ADMITS THAT IT'S NOT A FOOL PROOF SYSTEM.

1.I HAD AN ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45 A.M. ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 IN THE PARKING LOT FOR THE MEDICAL OFFICES LOCATED AT 2000 SOUTH MAYS STREET, ROUND ROCK, TEXAS. 2.I PARKED IN A SPACE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS PART OF THEIR PROPERTY. 3.MY NORMAL HABIT IS TO PLACE THE CAR IN 'PARK' WHEN I STOP IN A PARKING SPOT. 4.SINCE IT WAS VERY WARM, I LEFT THE MOTOR RUNNING SO I'D HAVE AIR CONDITIONING AS I PLACED THE SUN SCREEN OVER THE WINDSHIELD. 5.THE SUN SHADE IS ONE PIECE AND TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO PROPERLY INSTALL. 6.WHEN I COMPLETED INSTALLING THE SUN SHADE, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS MOVING BACKWARDS AT LESS THAN 5 MPH. 7.I TRIED REPEATEDLY TO STOP THE CAR BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AND SLAMMING ON THE BRAKE. 8.WHAT WAS HAPPENING MADE NO SENSE TO ME; IT WAS SURREAL. WHY WAS THE CAR MOVING BACKWARDS AND WHY COULDN'T I STOP THE CAR? 9.THE CAR STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A PARKING LOT LIGHT POLE ON MY LEFT REAR AND THE LEFT FRONT OF A TOYOTA ON MY RIGHT REAR. 10.THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH EVERY PRE SENSE, DRIVER ASSISTANCE, AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM AUDI OFFERS; HOWEVER, ALL SYSTEMS FAILED TO DETECT OR AVOID THE COLLISION. 11.THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY SOME WEIRD PROBLEM WITH MY 2018 AUDI Q5. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO IN THE TIME I HAD WITHOUT THE BRAKES WORKING.

WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL FROM STOPPED (OR NEAR STOPPED) POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO RESPOND BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. THIS MOST FREQUENTLY OCCURS WHEN PULLING ONTO OR CROSSING A STREET, AND I'M CONCERNED IT WILL EVENTUALLY BE THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER HAS CHECKED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT SAYS THAT THE RECORDER SHOWS NO PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY TIME, AND NO DEFAULT IS RECORDED, BUT IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR EVEN AFTER ALMOST TWO YEARS. DEALER HAS A NUMBER OF SERVICE REQUESTS FOR THIS ISSUE, ALL MARKED AS NTF. I ALSO HAVE COPIES OF 10 OR MORE EMAIL COMPLAINTS TO DEALER THAT CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE IS REQUESTED. ONLY THE LATEST DATE IS NOTED BELOW - IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY WEEK. *TR *AS 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB *TT

ON THE MORNING OF APR. 24, I WAS ON MY WAY TO DROP OFF MY KIDS AT THEIR SCHOOL WHEN I HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND REALIZED THE REAR WINDOW OF MY CAR SHATTERED AND LEFT GLASS ON MY SON'S LAP AND ALL OVER THE BACKSEAT AND FLOORBOARD. I WAS DRIVING ON SE 20TH ST., SAMMAMISH, WA AT ABOUT 30 MILES/HR. THERE WAS NO ROCK TO CAUSE THE EXPLOSION. THANKFULLY, MY SON WAS FACING HIS SISTER, TALKING TO HER, WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED. OTHERWISE, THE GLASS MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN INTO HIS EYES. MY KIDS WERE EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED BY THIS TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, AND I HAD TO CONSOLE AND REASSURE THEM. I WAS FRIGHTED BUT RELIEVED THEY WERE NOT INJURED. I WENT TO AUDI BELLEVUE AND TOLD THEM THE WINDOW EXPLODED BY ITSELF. THEY SUGGESTED ME LEAVE THE CAR WITH THEM. THEY CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO SAY THE AUDI FACTORY DECLINED TO COVER THE COST. THEY TOLD ME THERE MUST HAVE BEEN AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE TO CAUSE THE EXPLOSION, WHICH IS NOT THE TRUTH. THE WINDOW EXPLOSION SCRATCHED THE PAINT OFF THE REAR DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND HAD AUDI FIX THE WINDOW. I PAID FOR THE $500 DEDUCTIBLE. UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN WITH THE WINDOW REPLACED, I DON'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE MY KIDS IN THE CAR. FURTHERMORE, MY KIDS WORRY ANOTHER WINDOW MIGHT EXPLODE ON THEM. THERE WAS NO SAFETY CHECK PERFORMED FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT ON THE OTHER WINDOWS. ON MAY 7, I WENT TO GERBER COLLISION AND GLASS IN BELLEVUE FOR AN ESTIMATE ON THE BODY DAMAGE. THE COST IS ESTIMATED AT $1800. THE PROBABILITY IS THAT AUDI HAS DEFECTIVE WINDOWS AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AND DANGEROUS. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH AUDI. WE HOPE THEY WILL ULTIMATELY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND WISH FOR THIS NEVER TO HAPPEN TO ANOTHER FAMILY OR RISK INJURY TO CHILDREN.

THE AUDI PRE SENSE WAS ACTIVATED WITHOUT ANY VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN IT WAS AT SPEED ~50 MILES/HOUR. THE ROAD WAS EMPTY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CAR BROKE REALLY HARD AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO LESS 20 MILES/HOURS IN 1-2 SECOND. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE DRIVER BEHIND WOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO RESPOND TO THE SUDDEN BREAKING. THE CAR HAD ONLY ~1000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

5)ESTABLISHING A BLUETOOTH CONNECTION IS INTERMITTENT WITH A SAMSUNG GALAXY S9. OFTEN THE MMI WILL INDICATE THAT IT CAN'T CONNECT. IF THE CAR IS IN REVERSE WITH THE PARKING ASSIST DISPLAYING THE REAR VIEW CAMERA, THE BLUETOOTH CONNECTION SCREEN CAN SUDDENLY APPEAR REPLACING THE REAR VIEW IMAGE WHILE THE CAR IS ACTIVELY BACKING UP. THE REAR VIEW CAMERA IMAGE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN REARWARD MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

1)AUDI PRE-SENSE ACTIVATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IN DRIVE, WITH DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE WAITING IN THE LEFT TURN LANE OF A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE SEAT BELT PRE-TIGHTENED SUDDENLY, AND FORCEFULLY. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE OCCUPANTS COULD BE EXPECTED TO BE LEANING OVER, LOOKING IN THE GLOVE BOX ETC., AND THE PRE-TIGHTENING OF THE SEAT BELT COULD CAUSE AN INJURY. THIS IS ALSO STARTLING, SINCE IT SEEMS INDICATIVE OF A COLLISION, AND COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO REMOVE THEIR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE PRE-SENSE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO ONLY BE ACTIVE ABOVE 20MPH. ITS ACTIVATION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED IMPLIES A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. COULD THIS DEFECT CAUSE OTHER SAFETY RELATED SYSTEMS TO ACTIVATE INCORRECTLY LIKE THE AIR BAGS?