Technical Service Bulletin
74 Damage assessment guidelines for textile seat covers
74 23 26 2071893/1 October 25, 2023.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

All Audi models

2008 – 2023

All

With textile seat covers

Condition
Damage assessment guidelines for textile seat covers
Damage patterns in the area of seat covers can be classified and only certain patterns may be claimed under the
normal warranty if applicable:
1. Fur-like fluffing of the textile surface / pulled threads:
Through misuse by the customer, e.g. due to open Velcro fasteners, cleaning with hard brushes, chafing from
rough bottoms of baskets or boxes. As a result long fibers (approx. 5-10 mm) are pulled out of the textile material,
which can then stand up or form matted fibers and knots.
These are not warrantable defects and cannot be claimed under warranty (Figures 1-12).
2. Internal or external knotting:
Always occurs due to the insufficient wear resistance of the upholstery material. Short fibers are pulled out of the
textile, which then form small knots due to further chafing (internal knotting). If these knots are formed from
external fibers, for example, customer clothing, this is referred to as external knotting.
These complaints may be claimed under the normal warranty if applicable (Figures 13-14).
3. Surface greying or lightening
Surface greying or lightening is also caused by the insufficient wear characteristics of the upholstery material.
Individual fibers are chafed or damaged, but not pulled out of the material. The spliced fiber ends appear as
greying or lightening of the surface, which can easily be mistaken for dirt.
These complaints may be claimed under the normal warranty if applicable (Figures 15-16).

All the damage listed can be amplified by pronounced contours, such as with sports seats.
Clean the seat covers with a neutral cleaner and a soft cloth.
1. Fluffing
Description

Possible cause/damage location

Warrantable

Fibers protrude from the upholstery fabric like fur,
long fibers become matted or form knots, always
large and long-fibred (5-10 mm).

Mechanical damage caused by
sharp-edged objects, for example.

No

© 2023 Audi of America, Inc.

Seat bolster area.

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intellectual property rights of Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are 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

Figure 1. Fluffing

Figure 2. Fluffing

Fibers protrude from the upholstery fabric like fur,
long fibers become matted or form knots, always
large and long-fibred (5-10 mm).

Chafing with the hook side of a
Velcro fastener.
Backrest area, rear seat surfaces
(trouser pockets, mobile phone
pouches).

Figure 3. Fluffing

Figure 4. Fluffing

Fibers protrude from the upholstery fabric like fur,
long fibers become matted or form knots, always
large and long-fibred (5-10 mm).

Cleaning with a brush.

© 2023 Audi of America, Inc.

No

No

Various areas.

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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 are 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

Figure 5. Fluffing

Figure 6. Fluffing

Fibers protrude from the upholstery fabric like fur,
long fibers become matted or form knots, always
large and long-fibred (5-10 mm).

By pushing a box or a wicker
basket.

Figure 7. Fluffing

No

Rear seat bench or front passenger
seat surfaces.

Figure 8. Fluffing

Fibers protrude from the upholstery fabric like fur,
long fibers become matted or form knots, always
large and long-fibred (5-10 mm).

Mechanical damage caused by
cleaning (check for stains on the
backside).

No

Various areas.
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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 are 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

Figure 9. Fluffing
Alcantara
Fibers protrude from the upholstery fabric like fur,
long fibers become matted or form knots, always
large and long-fibred (5-10 mm).

Mechanical damage caused by
incorrect cleaning agent/cleaning
method.

No

Various areas.

Figure 10. Fluffing on Alcantara seat covers

Figure 11. Fluffing on Alcantara seat covers

Pulled Threads

Mechanical damage caused by
sharp-edged, pointed objects, for
example.

Single or multiple threads protrude from the
upholstery fabric, either as a single thread or as a
loop.

© 2023 Audi of America, Inc.

No

Various areas.

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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 are 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

Figure 12. Pulled threads
2. Knotting
Description

Possible cause/damage location

Warrantable

Small fiber knots that are firmly attached to the
surface.

Wear characteristics of fabric not in
accordance with specifications.

Yes

Please remove the knots with a dry
safety razor.
Various areas.

Figure 14. Knotting

Figure 13. Knotting
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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 are 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
3. Surface lightening
Description

Possible cause/damage location

Warrantable

Lightening/greying of surface, spliced fiber
ends.

Wear characteristics of fabric not in
Yes
accordance with specifications, not to be
confused with dirt.
On prominent, heavily used areas of the
seat.

Figure 16. Lightening/greying of surface
Figure 15. Lightening/greying of surface

Technical Background
Not applicable.

Production Solution
Not applicable.

Service
Not applicable

Warranty
© 2023 Audi of America, Inc.

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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 are 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
This TSB is informational only and not applicable to any Audi Warranty.

Additional Information
All part and service references provided in this TSB (2071893) are subject to change and/or removal. Always
check with your Parts Department and/or ETKA for the latest information and parts bulletins. Please check the
Repair Manual for fasteners, bolts, nuts, and screws that require replacement during the repair.
©2023 Audi of America, Inc. All rights reserved. The 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 are 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.

© 2023 Audi of America, Inc.

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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 are 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.