What this code means
Digital tachographs constantly read from and write to the driver card inserted in slot 1 — activity, events and faults are all recorded there during the shift. Code 41, card fault, means an attempt to read or write to the card failed.
According to the VDO DTCO 4.1 instruction manual, this is described as x1 card fault xx: "During reading or writing of the tachograph card a communication malfunction has occurred — typically caused by dirty contacts. Some driver data may not have been written." The manual rates the severity as Medium.
On a Stoneridge SE5000, the equivalent workshop diagnostic code is 041 — card communication error, slot 1 (driver card). If the same problem affects the co-driver's card in slot 2, it is logged as 059.
Card fault 41 means the tachograph struggled to communicate with a card that is still inserted — cleaning the contacts usually clears it. Card error 50 is more serious: the card is rejected and ejected outright. Card not closed 44 is different again — it means a previous card session was never closed properly, not a communication problem with the current one.
What to do now
The manual gives a short procedure for x1 card fault xx:
- Confirm the message on the tachograph display.
- Clean the card contacts with a dry cloth and reinsert the card.
- If the fault keeps recurring, the card should be replaced.
If your unit is a Stoneridge SE5000: the same event is logged as DTC 041 (slot 1, driver) or 059 (slot 2, co-driver). The fix is the same either way — clean the contacts on both the card and the reader slot, then reinsert.
If the same fault keeps recurring across several drivers or vehicles, tachograph analysis software shows it for the entire fleet in one place.
Your tachograph logs this fault — TAGRA reads it
TAGRA doesn't repair a card fault — cleaning the contacts, or replacing the card if it recurs, is down to you or the workshop. But once code 41 is written to the tachograph's memory and to your driver card, TAGRA finds it in your downloaded data, evaluates it and documents it — exactly what you need at a roadside check to show you followed the correct procedure.
Stop looking up codes by hand — try TAGRA TRUCKER free for 30 daysWhy it happens
According to the manual, card fault 41 is typically caused by:
- dirty or oxidised contacts on the driver card itself;
- dirty or worn contacts inside the card reader slot; or
- the card being inserted incorrectly, or removed while a read/write cycle is in progress.
Because the fault interrupts a read or write operation, some driver data for that session may not be saved to the card — a reason to check your card's activity at the end of the shift if the fault occurred.
Can you keep driving?
The manual rates card fault 41 as Medium severity — it is not a stop-fault. Confirm the message, clean the contacts, reinsert the card and continue the shift.
Because the read or write attempt failed, some of that session's data may be missing from the card, so check it at the end of your shift. If the fault keeps recurring and the card genuinely can't be read reliably, Regulation (EU) No 165/2014, Article 29 requires you to apply for a replacement card within 7 calendar days of it becoming defective; until the new card arrives, Article 29(5) lets you keep driving without the card for up to 15 calendar days, provided you make the printouts required by Article 35 at the start and end of each day (longer if needed for the vehicle to return to its operating centre).
Also displayed as
Drivers across Europe see the same fault under different on-screen wording. These are the real search terms used for code 41:
- Fahrerkarte Fehler 41 — German
- Kartenstörung 41 — German (VDO)
- Awaria karty 41 — Polish
- Eroare card 41 — Romanian
- Kártyahiba 41 — Hungarian
- Card fault 59 — Stoneridge, co-driver slot
Related codes
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between card fault 41 and card error 50?
Card fault 41 means the tachograph and an inserted card had a communication problem, usually caused by dirty contacts — cleaning them and reinserting the card normally clears it. Card error 50 is more serious: the tachograph rejects the card and ejects it outright. If cleaning the contacts doesn't stop code 41 recurring, treat it as a sign the card itself may need replacing.
What does DTC 041 mean on a Stoneridge SE5000?
DTC 041 is the Stoneridge SE5000 workshop code for a card communication error on slot 1, the driver's card. The same fault on slot 2, the co-driver's card, is logged as DTC 059.
Can I keep driving with card fault 41?
Yes — the manual rates it Medium severity, so you confirm the message, clean the contacts and continue. Because the read or write attempt failed, check your card's data at the end of the shift, and if the fault keeps recurring, apply for a replacement card.
What causes card fault 41 on a digital tachograph?
According to the manual, it is typically dirty or oxidised contacts on the driver card, dirty or worn contacts in the card reader slot, or the card being inserted incorrectly or removed mid-session. See also ejection not possible (code 34).