A SiriusXM update caused certain Audi displays to enter a continuous forced-reboot cycle for several months.

      Audi

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      This week, a reader informed us that the infotainment system in their 2020 Audi A4 had been “rebooting every five minutes all year.” It appears that the issue was due to a compatibility problem with an update to the SiriusXM app. Audi has informed us that the matter has been resolved, but it highlights a significant challenge in modern vehicles—numerous apps interacting with various in-car software systems.

      Our reader isn’t the only Audi owner affected. Reports of “randomly restarting” Audi infotainment screens have been seen on Reddit, Audiworld forums, and other platforms for several months. Audi’s recall notice and related service action were only issued this summer.

      It seems this specific issue arose when the satellite radio app released an update that was meant to be compatible with the latest version of Audi’s infotainment software, while not all vehicles were equipped with that version. Then SiriusXM rolled back the update, which apparently did not resolve the issue for every owner.

      Audi now claims that the problem originated with the SiriusXM app and has been fixed, but the automaker shares a significant portion of the responsibility as well.

      Just as Apple holds all of its App Store applications to a compatibility standard before allowing downloads to iPhones, automakers must adopt similar measures and thoroughly test every update, even minor ones, before they are made available to vehicles. The reality is that with modern car systems being so intricately connected, even a small radio issue could disrupt the entire human-machine interface. This should not be acceptable for any car, especially not for a premium brand like Audi.

      The A4 driver who reached out to us seemed to have had a particularly frustrating experience—they mentioned that their Audi dealer suggested they “buy a new $4,700 5F module” (which is Audi's term for its main infotainment cluster) until the recall announcement was made two months ago.

      In the official service action regarding this issue (included below), dated mid-August, Audi stated:

      “Some customers have reported unexpected reboots of the infotainment system.

      “Following a thorough investigation, Audi determined that this change originated outside of Audi and was triggered by a broadcast change made by SiriusXM, which interacts with the infotainment software in a manner not anticipated in the original system design.

      “Audi is providing a software update to correct the infotainment system behavior and prevent further reboots. This software enhances system robustness, includes multiple bug fixes, and offers additional performance improvements.

      “SiriusXM implemented a temporary broadcast adjustment to help stabilize system performance while updates are being applied.”

      I reached out to our contacts at Audi for clarification on how and why this occurred, and they provided this additional information:

      “Earlier this year, SiriusXM performed a programming update that was addressed through a software update to the MMI. However, since not all customers updated their cars and SiriusXM subsequently reverted to the previous category numbering, a MMI update is recommended as the two versions seem to be causing the issue.”

      We also contacted a press representative at SiriusXM and will provide updates if they share further insights into what exactly went wrong.

      So, while it reflects poorly on Audi that another brand's failure is causing issues for them, the German automaker must also share some responsibility for not adequately overseeing the updates that were being sent to their customers’ vehicles. I hope this leads to changes in their operational protocols.

      I believe we will see more occurrences like this in the future across the automotive industry. Regardless of public statements, every car manufacturer is striving to cut costs and generate recurring revenue. As vehicles become more interconnected and computerized, the potential for a small glitch to impact critical systems will only increase.

      Nevertheless, there are benefits to connected cars. Soon, you might be able to watch advertisements instead of focusing on the road while driving!

      Here’s the relevant Audi service action we’ve referenced:

      Audi-Service-Action-MC-11022659-0001 Have a tip? Send us a note at [email protected].