2022-2026 Audi Headlight Lens Visual Concerns

Audi has released Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2073282/1 to address customer reports of various visual concerns with headlight lenses. This bulletin applies to a wide range of Audi vehicles from model years 2010 to 2025, including the 2022 Audi e-tron, and provides guidance for technicians on how to evaluate these complaints.

Symptoms

Owners may notice several visual issues with their vehicle's headlight lenses, which are described as:

• A "rainbow-colored shimmer on the inside" of the clear glass cover of the headlight.
• The clear glass cover appearing "milky on the inside" or "fogged up with a grey-white coating."
• "Rings are visible on the clear glass cover when the low beam is switched on."

These observations are typically visible at the time of service, and customers often describe them as a "visual concern with the headlight(s)." If you are experiencing these issues with your Audi e-tron headlight concerns, this TSB provides important context.

Technical Background

Audi explains the underlying causes for these visual phenomena:

• Rainbow-colored shimmer, milky, or grey-white film: During normal vehicle operation, chemical components within the headlight may outgas over time. Factors such as humidity, temperature, driving behavior, and dirt can influence this process. These chemical compounds react with gases and humidity in the air, depositing a thin white-grey or transparent rainbow-colored shimmering film on the lens surface. Additionally, a rainbow-colored effect can be a side effect of the hard coating applied to the clear glass cover, which is designed to protect it from environmental elements.
• Visible rings: The rings observed on the lens are a result of light reflection within the headlight, caused by the projection of the light source. The film described above (rainbow shimmer, milky, or grey-white coating) can also increase this optical effect.

Crucially, Audi states that these are "unavoidable optical and chemical effects produced over time." The TSB emphasizes that "The functionality, light quality and service life of the headlight are not impaired in any way by this phenomenon."

Important Warnings

Owners and technicians should be aware of specific guidelines regarding these visual concerns:

• If the visual concern is "not visible when the test conditions are met, it can be assumed that there is no defect in the product. It is therefore not permitted to replace the headlight under warranty!"
• This TSB is "informational only and not applicable to any Audi Warranty."

Service / Diagnosis

When a customer complains about a milky, grey-white, or rainbow-colored film on the headlight, technicians must follow specific test conditions to properly evaluate the concern. These conditions ensure an accurate assessment:

• No direct or indirect sunlight should be present.
• No external light sources, such as spotlights or flashlights, should be used.
• Daylight-like conditions are required.
• All light functions (low beams, daytime running lights, etc.) must be switched off.
• Headlights must be cleaned and dried before inspection.
• The component must be evaluated and documented from a viewing angle at the level of the component and at a distance of at least 1 meter.

If a visual concern is to be submitted for warranty consideration, photo documentation clearly showing the defect must be submitted to DOCIT as per TSB 2061922, which outlines how to properly document optical concerns for headlights and taillights. This process helps ensure proper handling of any Audi e-tron headlight concerns.

Additional Information

This TSB 2073282/1 references TSB 2061922/1, titled "94 How to properly document optical concerns for headlights and taillights," for further guidance on documentation procedures.

All part and service references in TSB 2073282 are subject to change and/or removal. Always consult with your Parts Department and/or ETKA for the latest information and parts bulletins.

NHTSA ID: 10251657