2021 Audi/VW Parts Return: Special Notice SM 15-2021

Audi and Volkswagen have issued Special Notice SM 15-2021, a parts circular dated February 24, 2021, to address an inventory management issue concerning a specific repair kit. This notice is critical for dealers to ensure the quality of parts supplied to customers and to receive proper credit for affected inventory. The notice applies to various 2021 Audi and Volkswagen models, including the Audi Q8 SM 15-2021.

Affected Parts and Identification

The core of Special Notice SM 15-2021 involves the repair kit with part number 5Q0-253-692-B. Dealers are required to verify that all units of this part in their inventory carry the correct Volkswagen (VW) marking. The notice explicitly states to "Verify parts have Volkswagen (VW) marking. Return all parts with incorrect marking." An image provided in the notice illustrates examples of both "Correct VW Marking" and "Incorrect Marking" to aid in identification.

Important Deadlines and Warnings

To receive credit and improve parts quality, dealers must return their inventory of the specified material number to their facing Parts Distribution Center (PDC) no later than March 17, 2021. This deadline is crucial. The notice includes a significant warning: "Items returned after the above-mentioned date WILL NOT be accepted on any type of return/buyback." This means any parts returned after March 17, 2021, will not be eligible for credit or exchange, impacting dealer inventory and financial reconciliation. This directly affects the handling of the Audi Q8 SM 15-2021 related parts.

Dealer Return Procedure Summary

Dealers must follow a specific claims procedure to return the affected parts and receive credit. This process involves several steps:

1. File a separate claim: Dealers need to file a "Claim with Return" and select "Dlr Sup. Req. Return" under the item type. The dealer comments section must include the Special Notice Number and Parts Circular number referenced in the document.
2. Review Parts On Command: The day after filing the claim, dealers should review "Parts On Command" for the Delivery List document. Any issues or delays should be reported to the facing PDC.
3. Enter Delivery Document Number: The 40000XXXXX delivery document number must be entered on a "YELLOW DEPOT REQUEST RETURN" label.
4. Adhere Label: The "YELLOW DEPOT REQUEST RETURN" label should be securely attached to the package(s) containing the returned parts.
5. Include Delivery Document: A copy of the Delivery Document must be included with the returned part(s) inside the package.

Re-ordering New Materials

After returning the incorrectly marked parts, dealers are instructed to re-order required new materials. These new materials should be ordered using the same part number, 5Q0-253-692-B, ensuring that the replacement parts have the correct Volkswagen (VW) marking.

NHTSA ID: 10187573