Passat Power Seat Failure: Motor and Harness Issues

The electric seat failure combined with a dash warning often points to a damaged seat harness or faulty seat motor. Had a similar situation with my 2015 Passat GTE Hybrid at 48000km. The automotive seat system stopped responding completely, matching your symptoms. Diagnosis revealed corroded wiring in the seat harness where it flexes under the seat. The constant movement eventually wore through the protective coating. The seat adjustment mechanism itself was fine, but the electrical connections needed replacement. The repair involved: Full seat harness replacement, Testing seat motor functionality, Recalibrating seat memory settings, Clearing error codes Labor time typically runs 2-3 hours for this repair. While not a critical safety issue, it requires attention from a qualified technician since proper electric seat operation involves multiple control modules and safety sensors. Consider having both seats inspected even if only one shows problems. The wiring harness deterioration often affects both sides similarly due to age and use patterns.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I had nearly identical issues with my VW Passat power seats last year. The passenger seat stopped working and threw similar error codes. The seat wiring under my passenger seat was also damaged from repeated movement. Did the repair hold up well since then? Also wondering about your final cost, when my seat harness was replaced, labor and parts came to around 450€. Just curious if that lines up with what you paid, since repair costs can vary quite a bit for power seat issues.

The repair has held up perfectly since getting it fixed. The technician discovered the battery was heavily discharged, causing the electric seat malfunction. After replacing the faulty battery for 290€, all the power seats started working normally again, including the problematic passenger seat. Your 450€ repair cost sounds reasonable for a complete seat harness replacement. In my case, the seat motor and wiring were actually fine once the battery issue was resolved. Its worth noting that automotive seat problems can stem from various sources, sometimes its the obvious seat harness or motor, but power supply issues can also cause similar symptoms. The repair took less time than expected since no seat harness replacement was needed. The shop completed the battery swap and power seat testing in about an hour. Having a proper diagnosis definitely helped avoid unnecessary parts replacement.

Thanks for the input. I finally got the seat fixed last week and wanted to share how it went. Took it to a different shop this time that specializes in electrical systems. The mechanic found the same issue with worn seat wiring that others mentioned. The constant seat adjustments had damaged the harness where it flexes. The automotive seat repair took about 2.5 hours total. They replaced the entire seat harness and tested all the electric seat functions. Final bill came to 420€ including parts and labor. The electric seat controls now work perfectly again. The shop also checked the drivers side wiring as a precaution, but it was still in good shape. Really glad I got a second opinion instead of replacing the whole seat motor like my previous mechanic suggested. Much better experience with this repair shop, they took time to properly diagnose the seat wiring issue rather than just guessing. Would definitely recommend getting multiple quotes for electric seat problems since the repair approach can vary quite a bit between shops.