Audi S1: Electronic Parking Brake Failure Fix Guide

Had a similar electronic brake issue with my 2014 Audi S3. The brake control system started acting up with the same symptoms, warning light and complete parking brake failure. With some experience working on Audis, I knew this needed professional attention. The workshop performed brake diagnostics and found the electric motor in the brake calliper was defective. These electronic brake systems are quite sensitive, and when the motor fails, it triggers a complete system shutdown as a safety measure. The repair involved: Full diagnostic scan, Replacement of faulty brake calliper motor, Recalibration of the electronic parking brake system, Testing of all brake functions Total cost came to 505 Euro, including parts and labor. The repair took about 4 hours to complete. What transmission does your S1 have? Also, have you noticed any grinding sounds when engaging the parking brake before it failed? These details could help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced. Would strongly recommend getting it checked soon, as electronic brake issues can develop into more serious problems if left unaddressed.

Last service was done at 115000 KM and mechanic mentioned no brake issues back then. Since the initial post, I checked additional error codes which point towards a faulty brake switch. The system glitch appears consistently when trying to engage the parking brake. Will have it inspected next week and share the results here. Worth noting that no grinding sounds were present before the brake control system failed, and my S1 has the 6-speed manual transmission.

Thanks for the additional details about your S1. In my case with the S3, after seeing similar vehicle safety alerts, I also initially suspected the brake switch. However, the deeper diagnosis revealed the motor issue I mentioned earlier. Since your service history shows no prior brake issues and the error points to the switch, you might be looking at a simpler fix than I needed. The brake switch is typically less expensive than a full motor replacement, when mine failed, the switch alone cost around 85 Euro plus labor. The consistent system glitch during parking brake engagement is a classic symptom of either the switch or motor problem. Without the grinding noise I experienced, the switch theory seems more likely in your case. This could explain why the parking brake system triggered the brake fault warning while still appearing mechanically sound. Looking forward to hearing what the inspection reveals. If it turns out to be just the switch, you might avoid the more extensive repair I needed.

Thanks for the update regarding the brake switch issue. After researching more about the error codes, it looks like the parking brake problems might not be as severe as initially feared. Since the previous service showed no brake issues and there were no grinding sounds, a faulty brake switch seems the likely culprit causing this system glitch. My transmission type being manual probably helps narrow down the diagnostic path, as these parking brake faults often present differently in automatic models. The consistent brake fault warnings during engagement attempts without any mechanical symptoms definitely points more toward an electrical switch issue rather than a motor failure. Will update the thread next week after the inspection results come in. The workshop should be able to confirm if its just the brake switch or if theres a deeper issue with the parking brake system. Hoping for the simpler fix, but good to have insight from others who dealt with similar electronic brake problems.