96 High beam assist or traffic sign detection limited, DTC C12B3FD may be stored in the DAS control
module
96 21 63 2059201/4 March 12, 2021. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 96 number 20-53 dated June
17, 2020 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

Q7, SQ7,
RS 7, RS
Q8, and
Audi e-tron
Sportback

2020 - 2022

All

Multifunction camera

RS 6 Avant

2021 - 2022

RS 3

2019 - 2020

All

Multifunction camera

A3, A3
Cabriolet,
S3, A6, A7,
A8, S6, S7,
S8, Q8, and
Audi e-tron
quattro

2019 - 2022

All

Multifunction camera

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision Date

Purpose

4

Revised header (Added A3 (8V))

-

Revised title (Updated For A3)
Revised Condition (Updated For A3)
Revised Technical Background (Updated For A3)
3

06/18/2020

Revised header (Added new model years)

2

04/23/2020

Revised Warranty (Updated Labor Operations)

Customer states:
The following messages appear in the instrument cluster, mostly right after the vehicle is started:
 “High beam assist currently not available. Camera view restricted because of environmental factors.”
And/Or
 “Traffic sign detection: currently not available. Camera view restricted because of environmental factors.”

Page 1 of 4
© 2021 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 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.

Workshop findings:
 For A3, a DTC may not be stored.
For all other vehicles, the following DTC may be stored in the front camera for driver assist systems control
module, J1121 (address word 00A5):
 DTC C12B3FD (front camera for driver assist systems - temporary view restriction) with symptom code
221284.

Technical Background
If the front camera recognizes a visibility restriction for more than 77 seconds, the DTC C12B3FD with symptom
code 221284 is logged, except for in A3 vehicles, where no DTC is stored, and a message appears in the
instrument cluster.
As soon as visibility is restored, the message disappears and the systems are available again. The DTC becomes
sporadic.
For the unobstructed visibility of the camera, a heating element is installed under the cover of the front camera.
The heating element is activated after engine start at low temperatures or when restricted visibility is detected or
the danger of fogging up the glass exists.

Production Solution
Not applicable.

Page 2 of 4
© 2021 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 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.

Service
1. Explain to the customer how the camera heating works.
2. Ask the customers to inspect the
viewing area of the front camera the
next time they have this message.
The viewing area of the front camera
can be fogged up both on the inside
and/or on the outside (Figures 1 - 2).

Figure 1. Viewing area fogged up from outside.

Figure 2. Viewing area fogged up from inside.
3. The customer cannot see this from the interior of the vehicle. Often it is enough to switch on the wiper
system to fix the concern.
4. If the front camera is fogged up from the inside fairly often, it can help to remove its lens hood then to clean
and dry the viewing area of the camera.

Page 3 of 4
© 2021 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 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.

Warranty
Claim Type:

 110 up to 48 Months/50,000 Miles.
 G10 for CPO Covered Vehicles – Verify Owner.
 If the vehicle is outside any warranty, this Technical Service Bulletin is informational
only.

Service Number:

9638

Damage Code:

0010

Labor Operations:

Remove and install camera for assistance
systems (lens hood)

9638 1999

20 TU

Clean and dry windscreen

6410 2999

10 TU

GFF

0150 0000

Time stated on
the diagnostic
protocol (Max 25
TU)

Road test prior to the service procedure

0121 0002

0 TU

Road test after the service procedure

0121 0004

0 TU

Diagnostic Time:

Claim Comment:

As per TSB #2059201/4

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 part and service references provided in this TSB (2059201) 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.
©2021 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.

Page 4 of 4
© 2021 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 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.