2021 Audi e-tron Electrical Problems

Which parts fail

• Propulsion system › Charging › Module › Accessory
  1

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Audi e-tron owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2021 Audi E-Tron. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a message displayed reading "Electrical System Malfunction: Safely Stop the Vehicle," after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V867000 (Electrical System) and the VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,000.

This issue occurred with my Audi a year after purchasing it and the vehicle had 19,282 miles on it at the time. I received an "Electrical System Malfunction - Please contact service" error message (in yellow) on my 2021 Audi etron vehicle display. The message was displayed for a few minutes as I was traveling home from work and then disappeared. The following day, I was on my commute into work on the highway, traveling 70 mph, and received an "Electrical System Malfunction - Safety stop vehicle" error message. The vehicle immediately started displaying other error messages and the motor turned off, while the vehicle was in motion. Luckily, I was able to move to the shoulder of the highway safely. The experience was frightening as I was traveling 70 mph and experienced a complete vehicle shut down with little to no warning. The Audi etron had to be towed to the dealership to be repaired. …

There are 2 active/open recalls for my 2021 Audi etron vehicle. The recalls were initiated by the manufacturer 2 months ago and there currently are no repairs available for either recall. Both recalls present a severe safety risk to consumers and present risks to their homes. Dec 20, 2023 Manufacturer Recall Number. 93V2 NHTSA Recall Number 23V867 A potentially critical self-discharge condition exists in certain high-voltage battery modules that, in some instances, may lead to thermal overload, possibly resulting in smoke or a fire. A high-voltage battery overheating increases the risk of a fire. Affected high-voltage batteries may experience a loss of range and/or performance as an early indication. Safety Risk A high-voltage battery overheating increases the risk of a fire. …

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - While on highway the vehicle loosed all Power indicating Electrical Malfunction How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? It happened on I-35 Freeway twice putting me in danger of 18 wheelers around me. I am afraid to be in the vehicle even if they return it to me. Based on records this issue has been present on the car since it rolled off manufacturing. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes and Dealer has reproduced it and has the car with them for 5 Plus months. Have replaced many components and are not able to resolve it. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? …

My Audi E-tron has a consistant problem with the MMI (Multi Media Interface, the main computer for the car). When I am driving, all the screens will go blank, I cannot see my speed, I have no HVAC controls, I am basically driving blind. To fix the issue, I have to pull over, turn off the ignition, open the driver door, close the driver door, put my foot on the brake, start the car again. Sometimes this happens in the first few minutes of driving, othertimes it happens when I am on the highway which poses a huge safety risk. This saftey issue has presented itself at least 5 times in the last 12 months. I have told Audi about this issue several times and they completely deny it exists. This is my 3rd Audi in 15 years and like every other Audi issue I have had, Audi will completely deny there is a problem until there is a recall forced on the company. …

My vehicle has 13,090 miles on it. I have had two electrical issues that affected the A/C button not working on the panel display, which were both fixed by the dealership. Last week, after dropping my children off at school, a warning sign came on my display that said "Electrical system malfunction - Safely Stop the Vehicle." I wasn't in a spot to stop the vehicle safely so I started to drive to a parking lot where I could. While trying to take off at an intersection after the red light turned green, the car completely stopped with the nose of my car sticking out into the crosswalk/intersection. The accelerator would not respond and I could not move. I had to ask some people standing by to help me push my car off into a parking lot where I had the vehicle towed to the dealership. …

Twice in the span of 3 months my 2021 Audi eTron with less than 25K miles shutdown while driving with an error message "Electrical system: malfunction! Safely stop vehicle." At this point the drive train is completely disengaged and all that can be done is coast to a stop with limited ability to steer or control the vehicle. The vehicle must then be towed to a dealership. If this had happened on a busy multi-lane highway, there is a high probability of an accident occurring putting occupants of the car and other cars at risk. In both cases there was no prior warning of any problem with the vehicle. The first repair in July required Audi to replace the master controller located in the battery pack and replace the front engine due to a fluid leak. This took 6+ weeks to complete. I had the car back 5 weeks after the first repair when it happened again. …

Moisture build-up in the high-voltage electrical system through a faulty seal on the charging socket, which can cause a short circuit and significantly increase the risk of a vehicle fire. If you get a warning light saying "electrical system: fault," you should stop driving immediately, park outdoors away from structures, and not charge the vehicle. Braking problems caused by sub-standard welding within the ABS rotor and shaft. High-voltage battery modules that may overheat, also increasing the risk of fire. An infotainment unit that can become internally damaged when the vehicle is shut off, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera display a federal safety standard violation. This clearly shows the vehicle was badly manufactured, during a chip shortage in 2020. This vehicle is a complete failure by Audi and puts so many innocent peoples lives at risk.

The contact owns a 2021 Audi E-Tron. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V867000 (Electrical System). The part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the battery module had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was opened. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Vehicle traveling when electrical systems malfunction message came on. Said pull over safely and call for service. After car was slowed to a stop, the vehicle was disabled with no forward or reverse drive possible. The car was stranded close to the middle right of the street. Car had to be towed to the nearest dealership around midnight. Problem has been confirmed with the dealer and they are still looking into the problem. Prior warnings messages of headlamp malfunction, Audi emergency assist unavailable, high beam headlight faulty were present about a month prior but did not disable the vehicle.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Electrical complaints in other e-tron years