On XXX while driving my 2024 Audi A3 at highway speeds on a live freeway, the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic electrical system failure. The dashboard immediately displayed critical warning indicators, including "Electrical Malfunction" and "Battery Malfunction” and “Drive system Malfunction.” Without further warning, the vehicle's engine completely stalled and shut down while moving in active traffic. Due to the total loss of electrical power, the vehicle immediately lost all power steering assistance and power braking assistance, causing the steering wheel and brake pedal to severely stiffen and become nearly unresponsive. I was forced to navigate a rolling, unpowered vehicle across highway lanes without steering or braking assistance to reach safety, creating a severe and life-threatening hazard to myself, my [XXX] son that was in the vehicle and other motorists. The vehicle currently has approximately 60,000 miles. This sudden shutdown mirrors the well-documented Belt Starter Generator (BSG) and alternator manufacturing defects that Audi has previously acknowledged and recalled in other model lines, but which are clearly actively failing in 2024 model year vehicles as well. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11766708
- Incident
- Sep 15, 2026