2021 Audi A5 Instrument Cluster Blank Display TSB

Audi has released Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 90 21 16 2063913/3 to address a specific issue affecting the instrument cluster in certain 2021 Audi A4, A5, S4, S5, RS 5, Q5, and SQ5 models. This bulletin, published on October 13, 2021, supersedes an earlier TSB, Group 90 number 21-11 dated July 26, 2021, and focuses on resolving instances where the driver information system (DIS) display is blank.

Symptoms

Owners of affected vehicles may notice that the "Instrument cluster driver information system display is blank." Specifically, the TSB notes that "The driver information system (DIS) in the instrument cluster (PR Code 9S7) is blank." Despite this, critical gauges such as the speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, and coolant temperature bar graphs will continue to function normally.

Technical Background

Audi has identified that the root cause of the blank DIS display is a hardware defect within the instrument cluster itself. This defect prevents the driver information system from displaying correctly.

Production Solution

To prevent this issue in newly manufactured vehicles, Audi has implemented an optimized instrument cluster hardware design in its series production. This change ensures that newer vehicles are not affected by this particular defect.

Important Warnings for Technicians and Owners

Audi provides specific instructions regarding the software update process. If the update does not complete successfully on the first attempt, technicians are advised to try again. Should the update fail a second time, the vehicle must be put into bus sleep mode for at least 30 minutes before another attempt. Crucially, the TSB states: "Please attempt the update up to 12 times before replacing parts." This emphasizes that multiple attempts are expected before considering hardware replacement.

Repair Procedure Summary

The primary repair for the 2021 Audi A5 instrument cluster blank display involves a software update. Technicians are instructed to follow the guidelines provided in TSB 2011732, which details the procedures for Software Version Management (SVM) operations. The instrument cluster, identified as control unit J285 (address word 0017), needs to be updated using SVM action code 17A036.

Affected Software and Part Numbers

The TSB specifies the old and new software part numbers and versions for the instrument cluster update:

Model	Old Software Part Number	Old Software Version	New Software Part Number (or higher)	New Software Version (or higher)	SVM Code Input
A4/A5	8W5920***K	0761	8W5920***K	0762	17A036
	8W5920***L	0759	8W5920***L	0762
Q5	80A920***L	0761	80A920***L	0762	17A036
		0759

Warranty Information

This software update is typically covered under Audi's warranty. The claim types are 110 for vehicles within 48 months or 50,000 miles, and G10 for Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles, requiring owner verification. If the vehicle is outside of warranty, this TSB serves as informational guidance. The service number for this procedure is 9025, with a damage code of 0039. The labor operation for the software update, including DTC checks, is 0151 0000.

Owner Action

If you own a 2021 Audi A4, A5, S4, S5, RS 5, Q5, or SQ5 and are experiencing a blank driver information system (DIS) display, you should contact an authorized Audi dealership. Inform them about the 2021 Audi A5 instrument cluster blank issue and reference TSB 90 21 16 2063913/3. The dealership will perform the necessary software update to resolve the problem.

---

Source: NHTSA ID: 10202594