Audi S8 Steering Controls Dead, Electrical Fault Alert

Having some experience with electrical issues, I dealt with a similar problem on my 2015 Audi S7. The multifunction steering wheel completely stopped responding, showing malfunction indicator messages on the dash. After vehicle diagnostics, it turned out to be a faulty cable connection in the steering wheel, not the control module itself. The cables that connect the steering wheel buttons to the main unit had worn out due to constant rotation. The repair cost was 95 Euro and took about an hour to complete. To better assist with your specific case, could you share: Have you noticed any warning lights before the buttons stopped working? Does this happen intermittently or is it completely non-functional? Can you hear clicking sounds when pressing the steering wheel buttons? Did you recently have any work done on the steering system? These details would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced. The symptoms sound very similar, but these models can have different control module setups despite being from the same manufacturer.

Thanks for replying. My vehicle has 115149 KM on the clock, with the last service done 2 months ago. No warning lights appeared before the issue started. The buttons stopped working completely without any clicking sounds. The problem began suddenly during normal driving and has been consistent since then. No recent work was done on the steering system before this happened.

Same issue happened to my S7 at around 120000 KM. Based on what youre describing, complete failure without warning and no clicking sounds, it definitely matches the cable connection problem I encountered. The lack of tactile feedback (clicking) is particularly telling. In my case, the wiring harness inside the steering column had worn down from regular use. The constant rotation eventually caused the internal wires to fail. Since your symptoms are identical and theres no prior warning lights or intermittent issues, Id bet its the same electrical fault. The good news is that its a relatively straightforward fix that doesnt require replacing the entire steering wheel or control module. Quick tip: When you take it in, ask them to specifically check the wiring harness connection points first. This could save diagnostic time and costs. If the shop immediately suggests replacing the whole multifunction steering wheel unit, get a second opinion. The cable repair is much more cost effective than a full unit replacement.

Thanks for the detailed information. That matches my situation perfectly, same symptoms and similar mileage. Good to hear its likely just the wiring harness and not a more serious control module issue. Quick follow up question, did you notice if the repair shop needed any special tools or programming to fix the cable connection? Just want to make sure I take it to a place that can properly handle the electrical fault diagnosis and repair. Also wondering about typical repair time, was your car in the shop for just the day or longer? Need to plan around work schedule. Grateful for your help in narrowing down the likely cause. Will definitely mention the wiring harness possibility when I take it in rather than assuming I need the whole steering wheel replaced. These electrical issues can be tricky to diagnose but you've given me a solid starting point.