Audi of America, Inc.

Date: August 7, 2014
To: All Audi Dealership Personnel
From: Audi Product Compliance
Subject: Coming Soon – audiusa.com Recall/Service Campaign VIN Search Tool
Enhancements

Dear Audi Dealer Principal, Service Manager, and Parts Manager:
As you know, Audi’s recall/service campaign VIN search tool has been available on
audiusa.com for several years. On August 20, 2014, new Federal law requires
automakers to provide a free, VIN-based recall search tool on their websites. In
support of this new requirement, an improved recall/service campaign VIN search tool
on audiusa.com will be launching soon.

Audi of America, Inc.
3800 Hamlin Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
+1 248 754 5000
www.audiusa.com

Some of the improvements you will see are:
•

A new, prominent link to the recall/service campaign VIN search tool on the
audiusa.com homepage.

•

Pending recalls will be added and identified with REPAIR NOT YET AVAILABLE.

•

Recalls will display separately from service campaigns.

•

Enhanced recall/service campaign descriptions.

Please see the attached FAQ for more information, and please ensure that this
communication is provided to all dealership personnel so that they are aware of the
upcoming VIN search tool improvements.
If you have any questions or require additional assistance, please contact Warranty.
Audi Product Compliance

08_2014

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
audiusa.com Recall/Service Campaign VIN Search Tool Enhancements
Why is the VIN-based recall/service campaign search tool being updated?
Audi’s recall/service campaign VIN search tool has been available on audiusa.com for several years.
Beginning on August 20, 2014, new Federal law requires automakers to provide a free, VIN-based
recall search tool on their websites.
What change to the search tool will impact dealers the most?
One major change is that the new law requires automakers to provide information on upcoming/pending
recalls. This means that customers may be aware of new recalls prior to the owner notification mailing –
even before repair instructions/parts are available.
Some other changes are as follows:
•

A new, prominent link to the recall/service campaign VIN search tool on the
audiusa.com homepage.

•

Recalls will display separately from service campaigns.

•

Enhanced recall/service campaign descriptions.

How can dealers prepare for customer inquiries on upcoming/pending recalls?
When a new recall is announced, Audi will continue to notify dealers before the affected VINs are
visible in the search tool. Every campaign communication should be shared within your dealership so
that personnel are informed and able to answer customer inquiries.
How will a customer know if a recall/service campaign repair is available at their dealer?
When a customer enters a VIN into the search tool, open recalls and/or service campaigns (if any) will
appear with one of two statuses:
•

REPAIR NOT YET AVAILABLE - Open recall but repair/parts not yet released to dealers.
Repair cannot be scheduled or performed. This status only applies to recalls (not service
campaigns).

•

REPAIR NEEDED - Open recall/service campaign with repair/parts released to dealers. Repair
can be scheduled and performed.

Will customers be able to see recall repair history for their vehicle in the search tool?
No. The search tool will only show open/pending actions; it will not show any completed repairs or
vehicle repair history.
Will the new search tool on audiusa.com replace Elsa?
No. Even though open recall/service campaign information will be available on audiusa.com, Elsa
remains the only valid campaign inquiry/verification source for dealers. Check Elsa when scheduling
customer repairs, and again on the day the campaign work will be performed to verify vehicle eligibility
for the repair in order to receive claim payment consideration (campaign status must show “open” in
Elsa).

08_2014

Will Updates appear in the search tool?
No. Because they are governed by specific warranty parameters, Updates will not appear in the search
tool. As always, dealers should check Elsa and vehicle eligibility prior to performing any Update repair
on a vehicle.
Will the NHTSA also have a VIN-based recall search tool?
Yes. As part of the new Federal law, manufacturers must provide recall information to support NHTSA’s
online VIN search tool for open and upcoming/pending recalls. The agency has scheduled their search
tool to be available on August 20, 2014.

08_2014