A system includes a stop-start module that determines, based on characteristics of a vehicle, whether to deactivate an engine of the vehicle, that selectively deactivates the engine based on the characteristics, that, subsequent to deactivating the engine, selectively reactivates the engine based on the characteristics, and that generates an indication signal corresponding to the determination. A driver alert module receives the indication signal and selectively generates, based on the indication signal, a masking sound to be played by an audio system of the vehicle while the engine is deactivated.