Technical Service Bulletin
53 Creaking or knocking noises from rear of vehicle
53 24 09 2071019/2 June 11, 2024. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 53 number 23-08 dated July
25, 2023 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

Q4 e-tron, and
Q4 e-tron
Sportback

2022 - 2023

All

Not Applicable

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision

Date

Purpose

2

-

Revised header (Add Q4 e-tron models 2022 - 2023)
Revised Service (Add photo / video requirement)

1

07/25/2023

Initial publication

Customer states: There is a creaking or knocking type noise heard from the rear of the cabin when driving on
rough pavement or thrusting the vehicle while cornering.
Workshop findings: The noises can be replicated in these driving conditions. The noises are diagnosed as
originating specifically in the rear cargo area from the sheet metal overlap of the left rear side panel and the left
rear cross panel.

Technical Background
To rule out noises generated by the contact points of the rear lid to adjusting buffer please refer to TSB 2068691
(55 Noises from rear of vehicle / rear lid while driving) and make the corrections described in 2068691 should
your diagnosis determine these areas as the source of the noises. If these corrections have already been made
and the rear lid noises have been resolved or if the rear lid to adjusting buffer contact is not the source of the
noises, proceed with the repair described as follows.

© 2024 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

Figure 1. Area of cargo area where noises are generated.

Production Solution
The panel joining process has been optimized in production.

Service

The following repair requires tools, materials, and training only available at an Audi certified collision
center. As such, this repair must be performed at an Audi certified collision center.
1.

Detach the left rear luggage compartment side trim panel according to the work procedure in Elsa: Repair
manual>>Body>>Body Interior>>70 Interior Trim>>Luggage Compartment Trim Panels>>Luggage
Compartment Side Trim Panel, Removing and Installing.

2.

Figure 3 shows the exposed area where the work is to be performed.

3.

It will be necessary to drill 3 holes using an 8 mm spot weld drill bit (e.g., VAS6322A/2).

4.

Attach the drill bit to a drill motor. Figure 5 shows the spot weld that need to be removed.

5.

Figure 6 shows the 3 overlapping panels. For the purposes of illustration, they are numbered 1 through 3
with 1 being the support panel, 2 being the left rear cross panel and 3 being the left rear side panel.

© 2024 Audi of America, Inc.
Internal

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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
6.

Drill the first hole directly into the upper spot weld. Drill the second hole just to the right of the first
hole. Drill hole 3 on the other side of the radius of the support panel as shown in figure 7. All 3 of these
holes must not penetrate panel 3 (left rear side panel).

7.

Grind the area as these 3 holes will now be welded.

8.

Grind out the holes with a deburring tool to remove any residual primer from the surfaces to be welded.

9.

Push the support panel as close to the overlapping panels comprised of the left rear side panel and the left
rear cross panel as possible using a drift. Isolate and protect the surrounding area to prepare for welding.

10. If necessary, perform a test weld to ensure proper settings for an optimum weld application.
11. Weld all 3 holes such that they are completely closed.
12. Prepare and clean the welded surfaces as necessary. Thoroughly restore all corrosion protection
appropriately. The corrosion protection will need to be applied using a brush.
13. After the curing time is complete, seal the entire work area with cavity wax (D 308SP5M1 or equivalent e.g.
3M™ 08852) both on the inside and outside. Test drive the vehicle to confirm resolution of the
noises. Reinstall the luggage compartment trim.
14. Please take photos of the customers’ concern and upload them into DOC-IT with the repair order. Photos
should
• Have a date stamp and VIN reference.
• Be taken in focus and with sufficient light.

Warranty
Claim Type:

• 110 up to 48 Months/50,000 Miles.
• If the vehicle is outside of any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin is
informational only.

Service Number:

5368

Damage Code:

0020

Labor Operations:

Sublet labor operation listed in Outside
Labor

A0001600

240 TU

Diagnostic Time:

GFF

No allowance

0 TU

Road test prior to the service procedure

0121 0002

10 TU

Road test after the service procedure

0121 0004

10 TU

Claim Comment:

© 2024 Audi of America, Inc.
Internal

As per TSB 2071019/2

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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
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.

Required Parts and Tools
Always check with your Parts Department and/or ETKA for the latest information and parts bulletins.
Part
Number

Part Description

D 308SP5M1

Quantity
0.3

Anti corrosion wax
-OR3M™ 08852

Shop Supply
(accounting under warranty/goodwill is not
permitted).

© 2024 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
Cavity wax
N/A

Listed as MATERIAL in Outside
Material

Tool Number

Quantity 1 each ($12)

Tool Description

VAS6322A

Spot Weld Breaker

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB (2071019) are subject to change and/or removal.
©2024 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.

© 2024 Audi of America, Inc.
Internal

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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.