I own a new 2026 Audi A6 Prestige that I just purchased and have 320 miles on so far. The vehicle is experiencing a driver assistance system malfunction. The instrument cluster repeatedly displays “Driver assistance: limited,” along with warnings that Lane Assist and High Beam Assist are unavailable. The warning messages and audible chimes occur repeatedly while driving, approximately every few seconds or minutes. The alerts and beeping repeatedly interrupt driving and create a distraction that takes the driver’s attention away from the road. This is a big safety issue. The vehicle has been taken to an authorized Audi dealership. The dealer confirmed the issue but advised that the fix is a software update that has not yet been released by the manufacturer. Because the update is not yet available, the vehicle continues to operate with driver assistance safety systems disabled and with repeated warning alerts occurring during normal driving. The concern is that the repeated alerts and chimes during driving create a driver distraction and affect safe operation of the vehicle. The manufacturer has indicated a software update may be released in the future, but there is currently no repair available. This is a safety concern as it constantly takes me away from driving and looking at the constant alerts and beeps. These includes items such as: - alerts repeat while driving - driver-assistance safety systems unavailable - warning tones and pop-ups repeatedly distract the driver I do not blame the dealership as they have done everything they can do, but how can Audi not make this a top priority to be fixed. I am told that this is impacting almost all new Audi cars including the A5 and A6s. Thanks for your help. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Audi A6 lane assist problems
15 of the 1,664 owner complaints about the Audi A6 describe lane keeping assist jerks the wheel, most of them for the 2019 model year.
- owner complaints
- 15
- worst model year
- 2019
By model year
- 20261
- 20212
- 20201
- 201910
- 20161
Often reported together
Collision warning 8Adaptive cruise 6Transmission failure 4Engine failure 4Power steering loss 2Loss of power 2Headlights 2ABS 2
What owners say
Vehicle had electrical system malfunction. Vehicle provided an electrical system malfunction and vehicle starting system malfunction warning message a few days prior to the incident. Vehicle has approximately 20.5K miles on odometer. Before I was able to bring it to service, the electrical system malfunction message became more severe and turned from yellow to red. While driving, the vehicle progressively shut down ABS, lane departure, and other systems and gave a transmission warning message. Eventually, the car lost power and I was left stranded at the side of the road.
I am the original owner of my vehicle and have had my vehicle maintenance done at Niello Audi in Sacramento, CA. In May 2023, the forward facing camera on my 2016 Audi A6 stopped working. The dashboard error message was "ACC and Audi braking guard Unavailable". As a result, the automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, and cruise control stopped working. In June of 2023 I took the vehicle in to the above named dealer and they indicated that the front facing camera would need to be replaced but they could not do so because the part in on back order. The part number is 4H0907217FX. Ever since June 2023, the dealer has indicated that the part is still on back order and unavailable. Today March 28, 2024, I contacted AUDI USA and was informed that Audi stopped making that part and it is no longer available. I have been waiting almost a year for Audi to correct this to no avail. The part in question is tied to several safety systems (emergency braking, collision warnings, etc.) and I feel that my vehicle is unsafe to drive. Obviously, this concerning safety issue affects all Audi owners in the United States and I think Audi should immediately be required to fix this safety issue.
Car flashed several warning signs, electrical system malfunction, steering malfunction, lane assist malfunction, and finally powertrain system malfunction where car was barely driveable at very slow speed, died and I luckily was able to pull over and coast into a parking spot.
On my way to work, my car alerted me to an electrical malfunction and told me to call for service. When I called my Audi dealership, they told me to bring it in for service the following week. After asking if the car was safe to drive, they told me they wouldn't know unless they looked at the car. After pleading with them, they agreed to an appointment that day. On my way to the dealership - about 10 minutes into the trip on a highway, driving at highway speed, all electrical systems in the car started shutting down, and quickly - air conditioning, all safety features like lane keep assist, collision avoidance, etc. The steering became very heavy, the brakes were underperforming. After slowing down safely, the car shut down and was completely immobile and inoperable.
Starter warning followed by electrical system malfunction, these were followed by Multiple warning lights (Lane departure, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, etc) then 1 minute later transmission failure and engine failure imminent.... pull over immediately and contact dealer. I turned into a road off main highway within a minute of the last two warnings and as I turned, my center MMI went blank then my electronic dash went blank, transmission went into neutral and the engine died all within a few seconds. Fortunately I was able to coast to a stop.
Massive safety liability here. My 2019 Audi A6 was on the highway traveling at 75mph on 4/25/2023 at noon when with no prior warning, all of the electrical systems started failing rapidly. In the course of 90 seconds, there was an electrical malfunction warning, quickly followed by malfunction warnings for steering, brakes, and cascading shutdowns of all systems like the transmission, ABS, Collision Warning, Lane Departure, lights, hazard warning lights, instrument screens/clusters, HVAC, windows- literally everything. A complete failure of every component and safety system while driving highspeed is extremely dangerous. Had this happened at night, I would have been bricked in the middle of the road without headlights, hazard lights, airbags, etc. The car had to be towed away to the dealership and is available for inspection. The dealer is aware of this issue and called it a 48 volt starter/ alternator issue which is apparently systemic/ widespread with 2019-21 Audi 48 volt architectures; parts are generally backordered for months. Please take note: There is an extremely high risk that someone will be killed and seriously injured as a result of this defect. The vehicle is awaiting inspection and repair at an Audi dealership. It is under extended manufacturers warranty at 50,700 miles. No other diagnostics/ inspections/ or reports have taken place yet.
I suffered a complete failure of the vehicle's electrical system. First, I received a warning that the electrical system malfunctioned. This warning went away after two power cycles. Two days later the warning came back and a warning that the battery level was low. I was driving the vehicle approximately 1 mile on the highway when the warning became progressively dire. First the Adaptive cruise control systems became failing one by one, adaptive lane keep, lane departure etc. Then I got yellow warnings about failures in the transmission and the engine. Finally those errors became dire that I must stop the vehicle. I next lost all electrical screens within 2-3 minutes of the cascading dire warnings just as I was pulling off the highway onto side streets. Within 30 seconds I lost power steering and most braking force. I was able to pull over into a bus stop, but with difficulty. I lost all hazard lights, all vehicle lights. I lost the ability to unlock the doors temporarily but this recovered. I could not turn the car back on, I could just hear the started struggling to turn over. None of the screens in the vehicle worked. No lights or horn worked. Thankfully this happened in the late afternoon while the sun was still out. The extreme danger posed by not having emergency lights, power steering and minimal braking capability made this an extremely scary situation. I was advised by Audi Queens that this was confirmed alternator/generator failure.
On December 16, 2022, the alternator on the vehicle failed, which prevented the battery from charging. Luckily, I had just parked the car when all the electronics shut off - otherwise I would have been driving on a busy street with the potential for an accident. The vehicle was towed that day to White Allen European Auto Group in Dayton and is still there and available for inspection. Today is Feb. 6, 2023, and they are still unable to get the required alternator parts and we don't have an ETA. To my knowledge the vehicle has only been assessed by their technician, not anyone else. There were electrical issues prior to the failure. I took the vehicle to White Allen on Nov. 22 due to warning lights for Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist turning on and off, as well as issues with the engine shutting off at traffic lights and being unable to get the car to move without turning it completely off and back on again. When I took it to the dealership, they performed many vehicle recalls and repairs including multiple software updates, reworking the transmission wiring harness, servicing the start/stop system, airbag inspection, battery load, control module update, MMI software update, etc. I picked up the vehicle on November 30, 2022. On December 5, 2022, I had to take it back to White Allen because the bottom display screen was not functioning properly. (When starting the car, the top half of that screen was scrambled and the bottom half was dark. After driving for a while, the screen would begin functioning properly). They diagnosed it as a hardware issue with the top screen that controls the lower screen. I was told they would replace the top screen, and the parts should be available by December 29. I asked if the car is safe to drive, and they said I could continue driving it as the lower screen doesn't control anything that might be a safety issue. On December 16, the car stopped working and I had it towed back to the dealership.
Multiple warnings indicating to contact dealer (Lane departure, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, electrical system, start/stop, etc) then 1 minute later transmission failure and engine failure imminent. After a minute or two my center MMI went blank then my electronic dash went blank, transmission went into neutral and the engine died all within a few seconds. Fortunately I was able to coast to a stop in the center median of an expressway and contacted the dealer. Flatbed towed to dealer who stated most likely the generator between the lithium battery bank and gas engine failed. They have seen several in this year for A6 and A7's with mild hybrid engines. I was lucky to be in low volume traffic as there was no power to indicate to drivers around me that my engine quit and not even turn signals worked. After having car towed to Audi dealer, they proceeded to tell me it was the starter/generator and the part was on back order for two to three months.
Related recalls
Lane departure: software
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8, Audi A7, and Audi A6 vehicles previously repaired under recall number 25V900. Due to a software error, the lane departure warning system may be deactivated.
- Risk
- The driver may be unaware that the lane departure warning system is deactivated and rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on March 6, 2026.
Recall number 26V125000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on December 23, 2025.
Recall number 25V900000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: display function
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
Recall number 22V742000 · Recall details
Questions about the Audi A6 lane assist
Which Audi A6 years have lane keeping assist jerks the wheel problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2019 (10 complaints), 2021 (2 complaints) and 2016 (1 complaints).
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