NHTSA Complaint #11306618 — 2018 AUDI Q5

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.