What this code means
Smart tachographs have an ITS data interface — an internal Bluetooth component for the unit’s wireless communication functions. Code 98, ITS fault, means, according to the VDO manual, a fault in the internal Bluetooth component (ITS data interface). Only this communication module is affected — not the part of the tachograph that records driving, work and rest time.
The VDO DTCO 4.1 has two similarly named but different faults: ITS fault (display 098, the Bluetooth component) and DSRC comm. fault (the separate radio module used for remote roadside checks). Both concern different components, even though both are about "remote communication".
What to do now
- Acknowledge the message on the display.
- Keep driving normally — no further immediate action is needed.
- Report the fault to an approved workshop and have it repaired as soon as circumstances permit — the low priority rating doesn't remove the Article 37 repair obligation.
- Consult an approved workshop if the message keeps recurring, or if you rely on ITS-based extra functions.
Your tachograph logs this fault — TAGRA reads it
TAGRA doesn’t repair an ITS fault — only an approved workshop can fix the Bluetooth component. But once code 98 is written to the vehicle unit’s memory, TAGRA finds it in your downloaded data, evaluates it and documents it — exactly what you need at a roadside check, and when you raise it with the workshop.
Stop looking up codes by hand — try TAGRA TRUCKER free for 30 daysWhy it happens
The manual names only one cause: an internal fault in the Bluetooth hardware or firmware of the ITS interface. In practice, this is usually the component ageing or a one-off software hang after a firmware update — rarely a sign of a bigger problem with the unit.
Can you keep driving?
Yes, without restriction. The fault only affects the Bluetooth/ITS communication function, not the recording of driving time and rest periods. Article 37 of Regulation 165/2014 still applies: report it to an approved workshop and have it repaired as soon as circumstances permit — the low severity rating doesn't remove this repair obligation, it only means the fault itself won't stop you at a roadside check.
The fault is logged in the vehicle unit’s mass memory and shows up in a 90-day evaluation, but has no effect on recorded driving and rest time. At a roadside check it typically won’t trigger a violation, as long as it’s addressed promptly — at the latest at the next scheduled workshop visit. If it’s left unresolved for many months, though, an inspector can still ask for proof of repair, since the Article 37 obligation formally remains in force; a short note in the workshop log is normally enough as evidence.
Also displayed as
Drivers across Europe see the same fault under different on-screen wording. These are the real search terms used for code 98:
- ITS-Störung 98 — German
- Błąd ITS 98 — Polish
- ITS-storing 98 — Dutch
- Defecțiune ITS 98 — Romanian
Related codes
Frequently asked questions
Does ITS fault 98 affect my driving time and rest periods?
No. The fault only affects the tachograph’s internal Bluetooth component (the ITS data interface). Recording of driving, work and rest time continues normally, unaffected.
Is ITS the same as DSRC?
No. ITS refers to the tachograph’s internal Bluetooth component. DSRC is a separate radio module used for remote roadside checks. The VDO DTCO 4.1 shows separate, distinct fault messages for each.
Do I need to go to a workshop immediately because of code 98?
No. The severity rating is low, and the fault has no effect on recording. Report it to an approved workshop and have it repaired as soon as circumstances permit — Article 37 still applies regardless of severity.
What is the ITS data interface on a tachograph anyway?
It’s an internal Bluetooth component through which the smart tachograph provides wireless communication functions. It’s separate from the components that handle the actual driving and rest time recording — a fault there has no effect on your recorded data.