Radar sensor malfunction on Seat Altea

I'm hoping someone can offer some insight. I have a 2004 Seat Altea with a diesel engine. I'm getting an error message in the speedometer, and the error memory shows a radar sensor malfunction. This seems to be causing failures in various systems, and a warning light is illuminated. Could a dirty sensor really cause all this, or is it something more serious?

4 comment(s)

Sensor malfunction and multiple system failures? That sounds familiar. I had a similar issue with my old Volvo a while back. Was the adaptive cruise control also affected? Did you notice if the sensor itself looked particularly dirty or obstructed before you got the error?

Adaptive cruise was definitely affected, yes. Where exactly is the radar sensor located? Is it easy to access? I'm wondering if road grime could have built up and caused this.

Adaptive cruise issues are common with a faulty radar sensor. On my Volvo, the sensor was behind the front grill, fairly low down, so it was constantly exposed to road spray. I'd suggest checking yours. If cleaning doesn't fix it, I'd recommend a workshop to properly diagnose the sensor. It could be a faulty sensor that needs replacing.

Just letting you know – it was exactly as you described! After a good clean of the sensor, the error message disappeared. All the driving assistance systems are back online. The cleaning spray cost 45€. Thanks a lot for the help!

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