Technical Service Bulletin

Audi

66 Paint flakes off radiator grille or license plate holder
66 16 55 2038652/5 August 2, 2016. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 66 number 15-53 dated May 7,
2015 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

A4,A5,Q5

2013- 2016

All

Not Applicable

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

5

-

Revised header data (Added model years)
Revised Warranty (Added time for license plate trim replacement on vehicles with
parking aid sensor)

4

5/7/2016

Revised Production Solution (Added information about improved paint process)

3

1/20/2015

Revised Warranty (Updated Service Number and Labor Operations)

The paint is flaking off of the radiator grille
or front license plate holder (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Example of flaked-off paint.

Page 1 of 4
© 2016 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights arc reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin

Audi

Technical Background
The surfaces of these components were too smooth (due to high-gloss polishing tools), which led to weak
adhesion of the paint during production. Only components with color index T94 are affected.

Production Solution
Polishing tools have been modified to create a rougher surface for better paint adhesion. The painting application
has been improved as the supplier is now using a new paint facility. The improved components that have been
produced were installed on vehicles being built around May 1, 2015.

Service
Replace the components according to the instructions in Elsa at Repair Manual» Body » Body Exterior» 66
Exterior Equipment » Radiator Grille/Front Trim.

Page 2 of 4
© 2016 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights arc reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin

Audi

Warranty
Claim Type:

Use applicable claim type. If vehicle is outside any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin
is informational only.

Service Number:

Use one of the following:

•
•

6683 (For license plate trim only)
6605 (For radiator grille only OR both radiator grille and license plate)

Damage Code:

0030

Labor Operations:

License plate trim replacement only:

For A4, allroad:
License plate trim remove+reinstall (without parking aid
sensor)

6683 1900

20 TU

License plate trim remove+reinstall (with parking aid sensor)

6683 1999

30 TU

License plate trim remove+reinstall (without parking aid
sensor)

6683 9999

20 TU

License plate trim remove+reinstall (with parking aid sensor)

6683 1999

30 TU

License plate trim remove+reinstall (without parking aid
sensor)

6683 1901

20 TU

License plate trim remove+reinstall (with parking aid sensor)

6683 1999

30 TU

For AS:

For QS, SQS:

Radiator grille only OR both radiator grille and license plate:
For A4, AS:

Radiator grille remove + reinstall (without parking aid sensor)

6605 1950

20 TU

Radiator grille remove + reinstall (with parking aid sensor)

6605 1951

30 TU

Front bumper cover remove + reinstall

6329 1900

70 TU

License plate trim replacement (if needed)

6683 1999

10 TU

6605 1952

40 TU

For allroad:
Radiator grille remove + reinstall

Page 3 of 4
© 2016 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights arc reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin

Audi

Front bumper cover remove + reinstall

6329 1910

70 TU

Fog light adjusted (if necessary)

9464 1600

20 TU

License plate trim replacement (if needed)

6683 1999

10 TU

Radiator grille remove + reinstall (without parking aid sensor)

6605 1950

40 TU

Radiator grille remove + reinstall (with parking aid sensor)

6605 1951

50 TU

Front bumper cover remove + reinstall

6329 1900

90 TU

License plate trim replacement (if needed)

6683 1999

10 TU

Radiator grille remove + reinstall

6605 1956

20 TU

Front bumper cover remove + reinstall

6329 1900

90 TU

License plate trim replacement (if needed)

6683 1999

10 TU

GFF

No
allowance

0TU

Road test prior to service procedure

No
allowance

0TU

Road test after service procedure

No
allowance

0TU

For Q5:

For SQ5:

Diagnostic Time:

Technical diagnosis at dealer's discretion
(Refer to Section 2.2.1.2 and Audi Warranty Online for DADP allowance details)
Claim Comment:

As per TSB #2038652/5

All warranty claims submitted for payment must be in accordance with the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures
Manual. Claims are subject to review or audit by Audi Warranty.

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2038652) are subject to change and/or removal. Always
check with your Parts Department and service manuals for the latest information.

Page 4 of 4
© 2016 Audi of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights arc reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.