A6923972071692_1

Technical Service Bulletin
69 Driver not recognized / detected, U173E00
69 23 97 2071692/1 October 9, 2023.
Model(s)
Year
VIN Range
Vehicle-Specific Equipment
Q4 e-tron, and
Q4 Sportback etron
2022 – 2025
All
Not Applicable
Condition
Customer states:
• The vehicle cannot be switched from transmission position "P" to “D” or "R".
or
• The vehicle switches from transmission position "D" or “R” back to “P” automatically.
Workshop findings:
The following DTC may be stored in the Data Bus On Board Diagnostic Interface, J533 (address word 0019):
• U173E00: Occupant detection Function restriction due to implausible message
No relevant DTC’s are stored in the airbag control module, J234 (address word 0015).
Technical Background
The driver seat occupant recognition sensor is a pressure sensor located underneath the foam in the center of the
seat. In the case of very light drivers, shifting body weight can cause a driver to no longer exert enough pressure
on the sensor. Therefore, the occupant recognition sensor can no longer detect the driver. For safety reasons, if
the driver is not wearing a seat belt, the transmission position is then switched back from “D” or “R” to “P”. This
safety feature is only active when stationary or at low speeds.
Production Solution
Not applicable.
Service
•
If the driver’s seat belt is fastened, the seat belt recognition has a higher priority than the seat occupant
recognition. Therefore, the driver should always wear their seat belt and the driver's door should always be
closed when driving. With the driver’s seat belt buckled and the driver’s door closed, the transmission position
will not be switched automatically from “D” or “R” to “P”. The transmission will remain in the selected position
even when stationary or at low speeds.
© 2023 Audi of America, Inc.
Page 1 of 2
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may
these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.
Technical Service Bulletin
•
Replacing the seat occupant recognition sensor 4N0963553* is not the solution to this complaint if no DTCs
clearly relevant to the seat occupant sensor are stored in the airbag control module, J234 (address word
0015).
•
Please advise your customers to always wear their seat belt when driving!
•
Parts replacement does not solve this issue. Claims for replaced parts will be subject to review.
Warranty
This TSB is informational only and not applicable to any Audi Warranty.
Additional Information
All part and service references provided in this TSB (2071692) are subject to change and/or removal. Always
check with your Parts Department and/or ETKA for the latest information and parts bulletins. Please check the
Repair Manual for fasteners, bolts, nuts, and screws that require replacement during the repair.
©2023 Audi of America, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained in this document is based on the
latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property
rights of Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies, and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes
at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may
these materials be modified or reposted to other sites without the prior expressed written permission of the
publisher.
© 2023 Audi of America, Inc.
Page 2 of 2
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may
these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.