Audi SQ5 Power Seat Failure: Common Fixes Revealed

Having some experience with automotive repairs, I faced a similar issue on my S4 from around the same period. The passenger seat motor and adjustment controls completely died, showing similar symptoms to yours. The root cause was a heavily discharged battery causing system voltage drops, which damaged the seat control module. After checking the seat wiring and fuses like you did, I took it to a workshop. The repair involved testing the seat motor, replacing the control module, and addressing the battery issue. Total cost was 290 Euro including diagnosis, parts, and labor. A few questions to better assist: What year is your SQ5? Did the passenger seat adjustment stop working suddenly or gradually? Are other electrical functions working normally? Does the seat make any noise when trying to adjust it? The automotive seat systems in these models are quite similar, so knowing these details would help identify if you are dealing with the same issue. These premium vehicles often have complex seat wiring systems where one faulty component can disable the entire seat adjustment mechanism.

Latest service was performed at 94000 KM, just 900 KM ago. The seat stopped working gradually over a week, making a grinding noise before completely failing. I noticed the passenger power seat would occasionally get stuck mid-adjustment before the total failure. However, no other electrical issues in the car, all other functions work perfectly. When pressing the adjustment switch now, there is absolutely no sound from the seat motor. I checked the voltage at the connector and its reading normal, which makes me think its not a power supply problem like in your case. Would be helpful to know the typical lifespan of these seat motors and if there are any warning signs to watch for on the driver side to prevent the same issue.

Thanks for those details, that grinding noise before failure is quite telling, and quite different from my battery-related issue. Based on the symptoms, especially the gradual failure and grinding, this sounds more like a worn out seat motor rather than an electrical fault like I had. These electric seat motors typically last 100000-150000 KM, so your timing fits the usual wear pattern. The grinding noise followed by complete failure is a classic sign of motor burnout in these seat adjustment systems. When my passenger seat control module failed, it was sudden with no warning sounds. Your case points more toward mechanical wear, which is actually good news since motor replacement is usually more straightforward than electrical issues. The driver side seat motor should be fine since it has likely seen less use. But keep an ear out for any grinding or stuttering during adjustment. These seat adjustment systems usually give some warning before complete failure. For preventive maintenance, regular lubrication of the seat tracks can help reduce motor strain. Current replacement costs for just the motor run around 200 Euro, plus labor. Much less than the control module replacement I needed. Based on what you describe, I would skip the electrical diagnosis route I went through and have the shop focus directly on the seat motor replacement.

I want to thank you for that detailed explanation, and the grinding noise information really helps understand what to expect with these seat motors. The timing makes sense since my car is nearing 100000 KM. The no-sound versus grinding noise difference is a crucial detail that points to the seat motor being the culprit rather than electrical problems. Nice to know the driver side seat harness and motor should still have plenty of life left, and I will definitely watch out for any grinding sounds there. Good tip about the seat track lubrication, I have never done that maintenance. The 200 Euro motor replacement cost sounds much more reasonable than I feared. I will get it checked out next week and specifically mention the grinding noise progression and complete seat motor failure symptoms you described. Will probably do the preventive lubrication on the driver seat adjustment system while I am at it. Really helped to understand the difference between electrical control issues and mechanical seat motor failures before heading to the shop.