2021 Audi A6/A7 Wheel House Parts Update SM 35-2020

Purpose of Special Notice SM 35-2020

Audi has released Special Notice SM 35-2020, a parts circular dated June 10, 2020, addressing inventory management for specific wheel house components. This notice is primarily directed at parts managers and aims to ensure that dealers maintain an up-to-date inventory of parts. The goal is to improve the quality of parts reaching customers by transitioning to newer, superseded versions.

This special notice outlines the procedures for dealers to return existing stock of certain wheel house parts and reorder the updated versions. This process helps streamline the supply chain and guarantees that any necessary repairs or replacements for the 2021 Audi A6 wheel house parts, and those for the A7, utilize the latest available components.

Affected and Superseded Wheel House Part Numbers

To facilitate the transition to improved components, Audi has identified specific wheel house part numbers that need to be returned and replaced with their superseded equivalents. The original part numbers that dealers were instructed to return are:

• 4K0-821-172-K (Wheel House)
• 4K0-821-172-L
• 4K8-821-172-M

Dealers are required to re-order new materials using the following updated part numbers:

• 4K0-821-172-N (Wheel House)
• 4K0-821-172-P
• 4K8-821-172-N

Important Dealer Inventory Return Procedures

Audi has provided specific claims procedures for dealers to follow when returning the superseded wheel house parts. These steps are crucial for dealers to receive proper credit and manage their inventory effectively. The deadline for returning these parts was July 15, 2020.

Dealers were instructed to:

1. File a separate "Claim with Return," selecting "Dlr Sup. Req. Return" under the item type. They needed to complete dealer comments with the Special Notice Number SM 35-2020 and the Parts Circular number.
2. Review "Parts On Command" the following day for the Delivery List document. Any problems or delays required contacting their facing PDC.
3. Enter the 40000XXXXX delivery document number on a YELLOW DEPOT REQUEST RETURN label.
4. Adhere the YELLOW DEPOT REQUEST RETURN label to the package(s) containing the returned parts.
5. Include one copy of the Delivery Document with the returned part(s).

Important Warning: Items returned after the specified date of July 15, 2020, WILL NOT be accepted on any type of return or buyback. This strict deadline ensures timely inventory updates.

What This Means for Audi Owners

While Special Notice SM 35-2020 is primarily an internal communication for Audi dealerships regarding inventory management, it ultimately benefits owners of the 2021 Audi A6 and A7. This type of update ensures that any replacement or service work involving the wheel house components will use the most current and potentially improved parts available. Owners can be confident that their vehicles are being maintained with the latest manufacturer-approved components, contributing to the overall quality and longevity of their 2021 Audi A6 wheel house parts and other systems.

Source: NHTSA ID: 10176454