NHTSA complaint #11256568

Owner complaint summary

UNINTENDED DECELERATION. I AM A CANADIAN WHO WAS DRIVING IN NEW YORK STATE. I HAVE A NEW 2019 AUDI Q5 TECHNIK. WHILE USING ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) SET AT 75 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE ON SATURDAY AUGUST 31, 2019, THE AUDI'S TRAFFIC SIGN RECOGNITION SYSTEM RESPONDED TO A 55 MPH SIGN SOMEWHERE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. IT CHANGED THE ACC SETTING FROM 75 TO 55 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD. I HAD TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REGAIN CONTROL AND ACCELERATE TO AVOID A REAR-END COLLISION. THE AUDI MANUAL STATES ON PAGE 95 THAT "TRAFFIC SIGN RECOGNITION DOES NOT ADAPT YOUR VEHICLE'S SPEED TO MATCH THE SPEED LIMIT!" HOWEVER, ON PAGE 101 THE MANUAL DESCRIBES A PREDICTIVE EFFICIENCY ASSIST SYSTEM WHICH WHEN SWITCHED ON WILL BEHAVE AS I HAVE DESCRIBED. THIS SETTING IS FOUND WITHIN THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. IT WAS NOT POINTED OUT TO ME BY THE SELLING DEALER AND HAD BEEN APPARENTLY BEEN SWITCHED ON WHEN I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE NEW VEHICLE. THIS FEATURE IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE SET TO OFF BY DEFAULT. I WILL NEVER TURN IT ON! THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS ON MY DRIVE THAT DAY WHEN OTHER VEHICLES WERE FOLLOWING ME DANGEROUSLY CLOSELY AND THIS SUDDEN DECELERATION WOULD HAVE CAUSED A REAR-END COLLISION AT HIGHWAY SPEED.