'Wheel of Fortune' contestant Charlene gets her Audi after narrowly missing out on show

Charlene got her Audi!

After the "Wheel of Fortune" contestant narrowly missed out on winning a brand-new Audi Q3 in the final round of the game show because of a timing rule, the car maker stepped in to make it happen anyway.

"You all did it! You helped #GiveHerTheQ3. Charlene, welcome to the Audi family!" Audi tweeted Thursday alongside a picture of Charlene next to the car holding a key fob. "We are so happy to see you in the driver seat."

Charlene appeared on a Dec. 21 episode of "Wheel of Fortune" when she lost her chance to go home with the Audi because of a rule.

Previously: 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant wins Audi after narrowly missing out: 'We tracked down Charlene!'

The final category was "What are you doing?" After lucking out with some help from the standard "RSTLNE" letters filled in – and guessing the bulk of the rest of the letters to fill out the puzzle – she tried saying the incorrect answer "choosing the right card." While she ultimately said the right answer, "choosing the right word," she apparently didn't meet the show's standard "pause" length in between guesses.

"This one's tough because you said all the right words, including the word 'word' but as you know, it's got to be more or less continuous," host Pat Sajak said. "We'll allow for a little pause but not four or five seconds. I'm sorry, you did a good job in getting it but we can't give you the prize and it was the Audi."

"Wheel" fans were not happy and Audi took notice. The company fired back on Twitter the next day in an effort to get Charlene the car.

"You're a winner in our eyes, Charlene," Audi wrote Dec 22. on Twitter. "Now, let's get you a prize. Time to #GiveHerTheQ3."

The company followed up later that night letting the world know it tracked down Charlene (no doubt with the assistance of "Wheel" producer Sony Pictures Television): "There's no community like the Audi community. With your help, we tracked down Charlene! More to come as we help #GiveHerTheQ3."

"Wheel" fans are often vocal on social media, whether it's calling out rules they don't like or making fun of wrong answers.

Some viewers were puzzled by contestant Eric’s win on Dec. 28, a week after a strict ruling kept Charlene from winning the Audi. During that show, Eric appeared to hesitate before giving his final answer during a bonus round puzzle, but his response was still considered correct by Sajak. The category was "Food & Drink." Per the bonus round rules, Eric could only choose three more consonants and a vowel.

He chose "H," "W," "P" and "A." The board then filled up and only left one obvious space open. The phrase was "Whole Wheat Pasta," and Eric solved the puzzle correctly.

Eric walked away with a Mazda MX-30 as his game-winning prize. In addition to the new car, he left the show with $59,150 in winnings.

"Hold up!! Eric added 'I think' before solving the final puzzle after Pat told him not to add anything and still won. Wth? Rules are rules, right?" Twitter user @TroyTrotter2 wrote.

More 'Wheel': Fans upset game show forgot Pat Sajak's 40th hosting anniversary

Contributing: Edward Segarra

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Audi gifts 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant car after rule controversy