TSB: AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, A3 SPORTBACK E-TRON, A4 ALLROAD, A5, A8, Q3, Q5, Q7, R8 SPYDER (2015–2018)

Bulletin Bulletin Update — August 8, 2018

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDBulletin Update
ManufacturerAUDI
ModelsA3 CABRIOLET, A3 SPORTBACK E-TRON, A4 ALLROAD, A5, A8, Q3, Q5, Q7, R8 SPYDER
Model Years2015–2018
Date IssuedAugust 8, 2018
Date Added to NHTSADecember 10, 2018
ComponentSTEERING
Vehicles Affected29 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

45E3 UPDATE ? Software Update Package (NVLW)_REVISED

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
AUDI A5 2018 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI Q3 2018 060000 ENGINE (PWS)
AUDI Q3 2018 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI Q5 2018 162700 STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
AUDI Q5 2018 175200 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
AUDI Q5 2018 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI A3 CABRIOLET 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI A3 CABRIOLET 2017 103100 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
AUDI A4 ALLROAD 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI A4 ALLROAD 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI A5 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI Q3 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI Q3 2017 060000 ENGINE (PWS)
AUDI Q7 2017 275100 LANE DEPARTURE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
AUDI Q7 2017 264100 FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
AUDI Q7 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI Q7 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI Q7 2017 162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
AUDI Q7 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI Q7 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI Q7 2017 010000 STEERING
AUDI Q7 2017 250000 ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
AUDI R8 SPYDER 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI R8 SPYDER 2017 103100 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
AUDI A3 SPORTBACK E-TRON 2016 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI A8 2016 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI Q3 2016 060000 ENGINE (PWS)
AUDI Q3 2016 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
AUDI A8 2015 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Related AUDI Recalls

CampaignModelYearComponentSummary
SQ5 SPORTBACK 2025 SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 Q5, Q5 Spo...
SQ5 2025 SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 Q5, Q5 Spo...
Q5 SPORTBACK 2025 SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 Q5, Q5 Spo...
Q5 2025 SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 Q5, Q5 Spo...
E-TRON SPORTBACK 2024 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND ... Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Audi ...

What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized AUDI dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (Bulletin Update) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.