Circular 69BS

Service Action
Code: 69BS
Subject
Release Date
Front Passenger Seat Belt Load Limiter Software
April 16, 2021
Country
Beginning
Model
Year
Ending
Model
Year
Vehicle
USA
CAN
2020
2020
2021
2021
PASSAT
PASSAT
Affected Vehicles
Vehicle
Count
27,160
2,115
Check Campaigns/Actions screen in ELSA on the day of repair to verify that a VIN qualifies for repair under this
action. ELSA is the only valid campaign inquiry & verification source.
About this Service
Action
Code Visibility

Campaign status must show “open.”

If ELSA shows other open action(s), inform your customer so that the work can also be completed at
the same time the vehicle is in the workshop for this campaign.
Although the front passenger seat belt is compliant with regulatory requirements, Volkswagen
has developed a software update that will (1) adjust the front passenger’s seat belt load limiter
timing and (2) increase the robustness of the system by decreasing the front passenger’s
potential chest acceleration during a frontal crash.
On or about April 16, 2021, the campaign code will be applied to affected vehicles.
Owner Notification
Owner notification will take place in April 2021. Owner letter examples are included in this
bulletin for your reference.
Campaign Expiration
Date
This campaign expires on April 16, 2031. Repairs must be performed on or before this date to
be eligible for payment. Keep this expiration date in mind when scheduling customers for this
action. If a customer wishes to have this service performed after the expiration date, your
dealerships normal parts and labor cost associated with this repair will apply.
Additional Information
Please alert everyone in your dealership about this action, including Sales, Service, Parts
and Accounting personnel. Contact Warranty if you have any questions.
Dealers must ensure that every affected inventory vehicle has this campaign completed before
delivery to consumers.
Fill out and affix Campaign Completion Label (CAMP 010 000) after work is complete.
Labels can be ordered at no cost via the Compliance Label Ordering portal at www.vwhub.com.
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 1 of 11
Claim Entry Instructions
The labor times listed here may differ from the labor operations and labor times listed in ELSA.
After campaign has been completed, enter claim as soon as possible to help prevent work from being duplicated
elsewhere. Attach the ELSA screen print showing action open on the day of repair to the repair order.
If customer refused campaign work:
 U.S. dealers: Submit request via WISE under the Campaigns/Update/Recall Closure option.
 Canada dealers: Upload the repair order [signed by customer] to Volkswagen WIN/Operations/Campaign
Closure.
Service Number
69BS
Damage Code
0099
Parts Vendor Code
Claim Type
WWO
Sold vehicle: 7 10
Unsold vehicle: 7 90
Causal Indicator
Vehicle Wash/Loaner
Mark labor as causal
Do not claim wash/loaner under this action
U.S.A.: Loaner/rental coverage cannot be claimed under this action. However,
loaner/rental may be covered under the Alternate Transportation Program. Please refer
to the Volkswagen Warranty Policy and Procedures Manual for loaner claims
information and reimbursement details.
Canada: Loaner/rental coverage cannot be claimed under this action. Please refer to t
Volkswagen Service Loaner Program to determine loaner eligibility.
Criteria I.D.
01
LABOR
Labor Op
Time Units
Description
2706 89 50
10
Connect battery charger
6953 25 99
Time stated on
diagnostic protocol
(up to 40 TU)
Update front passenger seat belt load limiter
software
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 2 of 11
Customer Letter Example (USA)




This notice applies to your vehicle:   , 
Subject: Service Action 69BS - Front Passenger Seat Belt Load Limiter Software
Dear Volkswagen Owner,
As part of Volkswagen's ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction, we are informing you of our decision to conduct
a service action for certain 2020-2021 model year Volkswagen Passat vehicles. Our records show that you are the
owner of a vehicle affected by this action.
About this Service Action:
Although the front passenger seat belt is compliant with regulatory requirements,
Volkswagen has developed a software update that will (1) adjust the front
passenger’s seat belt load limiter timing and (2) increase the robustness of the
system by decreasing the front passenger’s potential chest acceleration during a
frontal crash.
The software update will take about an hour to complete and will be performed for
you free of charge. Please keep in mind that your dealer may need additional time
for the preparation of the repair, as well as to accommodate their daily workshop
schedule.
What should you do?
Please contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer as soon as possible to schedule
this service. To set up an appointment online, please visit www.vw.com/find-adealer.
This service action will be available for you free of charge only until April 16, 2031.
If you wish to have this service performed after that date, your dealer’s normal costs
associated with this repair will apply.
Lease vehicles and address If you are the lessor and registered owner of the vehicle identified in this action,
changes
please forward this letter immediately via first-class mail to the lessee within ten (10)
days of receipt. If you have changed your address or sold the vehicle, please fill out
the enclosed prepaid Owner Reply card and mail it to us so we can update our
records.
Can we assist you further?
If your authorized Volkswagen dealer fails or is unable to complete this work free of
charge within a reasonable time, or if you should have any questions about this
communication, please reach out to us using your preferred method of
communication at www.vw.com/contact or by calling us at 800-893-5298.
Checking your vehicle for
open Recalls and Service
Campaigns
To check your vehicle’s eligibility for repair under this or any other recall/service
campaign, please visit www.vw.com/owners/recalls and enter your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) into the Recall/Service Campaign Lookup tool.
We apologize for any inconvenience this matter may cause; however we are taking this action to help ensure your
vehicle continues to meet and exceed your expectations.
Sincerely,
Volkswagen Customer Protection
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 3 of 11
Customer Letter Example (CANADA)




This notice applies to your vehicle:   , 
Subject: Service Action 69BS - Front Passenger Seat Belt Load Limiter Software
Dear Volkswagen Owner,
As part of Volkswagen's ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction, we are informing you of our decision to
conduct a service action for certain 2020-2021 model year Volkswagen Passat vehicles. Our records show that you
are the owner of a vehicle affected by this action.
About this Service Action:
Although the front passenger seat belt is compliant with regulatory requirements,
Volkswagen has developed a software update that will (1) adjust the front passenger’s
seat belt load limiter timing and (2) increase the robustness of the system by
decreasing the front passenger’s potential chest acceleration during a frontal crash.
The software update will take about an hour to complete and will be performed for
you free of charge. Please keep in mind that your dealer may need additional time for
the preparation of the repair, as well as to accommodate their daily workshop
schedule.
What should you do?
Please contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer as soon as possible to schedule
this service.
This service action will be available for you free of charge only until April 16, 2031.
If you wish to have this service performed after that date, your dealer’s normal costs
associated with this repair will apply.
Lease vehicles and address If you are the lessor and registered owner of the vehicle identified in this action, please
changes
forward this letter immediately via first-class mail to the lessee within ten (10) days of
receipt. If you have changed your address or sold the vehicle, please fill out the
enclosed prepaid Owner Reply card and mail it to us so we can update our records.
Can we assist you further? If your authorized Volkswagen dealer fails or is unable to complete this work free of
charge within a reasonable time, please contact Customer Relations, Monday through
Friday from 8AM to 8PM EST by phone at 1-800-822-8987 or via our “Contact Us”
page at www.vw.ca.
We apologize for any inconvenience this matter may cause; however we are taking this action to help ensure your
vehicle continues to meet and exceed your expectations.
Sincerely,
Volkswagen Customer Protection
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 4 of 11
Required Tools
Battery Tester/Charger
Diagnostic Tester
- GRX3000VAS-
-VAS6150X/VAS6160X-
(or equivalent)
(or equivalent)
Repair Instruction
Section A - Check for Previous Repair
TIP
If Campaign Completion label is present, no further work is required.

Enter the VIN in Elsa and proceed to the
“Campaign/Action” screen.
TIP
On the date of repair, print this screen and keep a
copy with the repair order.

Confirm the Campaign/Action is open . If the status is closed, no further work is
required.

Note the Applicable Criteria ID  for
use in determining the correct work to be done
and corresponding parts associated.
CRITICAL REPAIR STEP
STOP!
If multiple software update Campaign/Actions are
open, they must be performed in order of the Start
date . The oldest should be performed
first.

All Safety Recalls must be completed prior
to completing this campaign.

Proceed to Section B.
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 5 of 11
Section B – Update Airbag Control Module Parameters
NOTE
Prior to launching the VAS Diagnostic Tester and starting an update, ensure the following conditions are
met;
The ODIS software is completely up to date.

Refer to the “Alerts” section on ServiceNet home page for the current ODIS version.
The battery charger is connected to the vehicle battery and remains connected for the duration of
the software update.

Battery voltage must remain above 12.5 volts for the duration of the software update. Failure to
do so may cause the update to fail, which could result in damage to the control module. Control
modules damaged by insufficient voltage will not be covered.
The screen saver and power saving settings are off.

Failure to do so may result in the tester entering power save mode during the software update,
which could result in damage to the control module.
The VAS Diagnostic Tester is plugged in using the supplied power adapters.

Under no circumstances should the tester be used on battery power alone during the software
update. Failure to do so may result in the tester powering off during the update, which could
result in damage to the control module.
The VAS Diagnostics Interface MUST ONLY be connected to the tester with a USB cable.

Performing a software update using a Bluetooth or WiFi connection increases the risk of losing
connection during the update, which could result in damage to the control module.
It also greatly increases the time required to perform the update. Requests for additional time
or parts will be denied if the GFF log shows the update was performed using Bluetooth or WiFi.
WARNING
Radiator Fan(s) may cycle ON high speed during the Update Process! There is a serious risk that personal injury
may result if contact is made with spinning fan blades. Keep hands and all objects away from Radiator Fan(s) during
Update Process!
TIP
To Update-Programming using SVM, review and follow instructions in Technical Bulletin 2014603: Software
Version Management (SVM) Operating Instructions.
The SVM Process must be completed in its entirety so the database receives the update confirmation response. A
warranty claim may not be reimbursed if there is no confirmation response to support the claim.
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 6 of 11
NOTE

Damages resulting from improper repair or failure to follow these work instructions are the dealer’s
responsibility and are not eligible for reimbursement under this action.

Diagnosis and repair of pre-existing conditions in the vehicle are not covered under this action.
NOTE

All campaign software updates must be completed during a single, standalone ODIS Diagnostic Session.
You must fully complete this campaign and send all logs before beginning any other campaigns or
operations.

If there are any ODIS “Hot-Fix” patches installed, they must be removed from the scan tool before beginning
this operation. ODIS “Hot-Fix” patches may affect the update process.

Open the hood.

Open the battery cover.

Switch the ignition on.

Apply the parking brake.

Switch off all consumers (headlights, heated
seats, climate control, etc.).

Connect the VAS6150X/VAS6160X Diagnostic
Tester to the vehicle.

Start the ODIS program.

Attach the GRX3000VAS Tester/Charger (or
equivalent) IN POWER SUPPLY MODE to the
vehicle battery.
NOTE
Vehicles with Battery Monitoring Control Module
-J367- and/or an EFB Battery:
When connecting the charger to the battery, connect
the positive cable to the positive terminal of the
battery and connect the negative cable to the
grounding lug on the chassis. DO NOT connect the
ground cable directly to negative terminal of the
battery.

Turn the hazards on.
CAUTION
The procedure may cancel itself if the hazard warning
lights are not switched on. The hazard warning lights
prevent the system from switching to bus sleep mode
during the update.
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 7 of 11

Confirm that scan tool is communicating with the
diagnostic head by USB .
o
If the Bluetooth symbol is shown  then disconnect the diagnostic
head from the vehicle and reconnect the
USB cable to the diagnostic head and
then reattach to the vehicle.

Upon ODIS startup, verify the “Diagnosis”
operating mode is selected .

Once the GFF scan is complete, select “Special
functions” , then “Adapting software”
, then select “Perform test” .

Select the correct option to “Update software via
action code” OR “Software update via measured
code”.
NOTE
The different options to perform the SVM operation
may vary based on model.
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 8 of 11
NOTE
Using Bluetooth or WiFi for this action is
PROHIBITED!
Damage caused to electronic components (e.g. ECM,
TCM, etc.) during the SVM process is not covered.

Enter the corrective action code (SVM code) as
listed below.
SVM code
457C

Select “Accept”  and follow the on screen
prompts.

During the SVM process, this screen appears
when each operation is performed.

Select Complete/Continue  after each
operation is completed.

When the SVM update is complete a
confirmation message is displayed .

Select “Complete/Continue” .
TIP
If the software in the vehicle is already current, a
message may appear indicating this. If this occurs,
complete the ODIS test plan and send the diagnostic
protocol online.
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 9 of 11
NOTE

It is IMPERATIVE that ALL of the ignition
cycle on/off delay requests are fulfilled in their
entirety during this SVM process .

Failing to wait for the ignition on/off timing
cycle to complete (progress bar and
countdown timer ) before cycling
the ignition on/off MAY damage a control
module.

Damage to control modules as a result of
failing to wait the specified time displayed by
the progress bar and countdown timer
 are NOT covered under this
action.

After the software update is completed and
before sending the GFF Log Online:

o
Select the “Control Module” tab.
o
Scroll down and right click on the module
that was updated (0015).
o
Select
“Identify
.
Control
Module”
Exit GFF and send diagnostic protocol online
when prompted.
NOTE
Static faults may store in various control modules
during the SVM operation. These faults can only be
cleared by following one of these steps:

Drive the vehicle a short distance (around the
parking lot, for example).

After selecting “Yes”, turn the ignition off for
30 seconds, turn it back on and repeat the
GFF exit program.

Clear faults using OBD (an additional key
cycle may also be required).

Release the parking brake.

Disconnect the VAS tester.

Switch off and disconnect the battery charger.

Reinstall the battery cover.
Proceed to Section C.
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 10 of 11
Section C – Campaign Completion Label

Fill out and affix Campaign Completion Label,
part number CAMP 010 000, next to the vehicle
emission control information label.
TIP
Ensure Campaign Completion Label does not cover
any existing label(s).
The repair information in this document is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment and training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These
procedures are not intended to be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this document applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To
determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer. 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Volkswagen Canada. All Rights Reserved.
April 2021
69BS Page 11 of 11