RS5 Damping Issue: Bouncy Ride & Warning Light Alert

As someone with low experience working on cars, I dealt with a similar suspension issue on my 2018 S5. Initially noticed the same symptoms, harsh ride comfort and warning lights related to the damping system. After diagnosing, the problem turned out to be a faulty cable connection to the shock absorber control module. The workshop found that moisture had caused corrosion in one of the connector plugs, leading to intermittent communication issues with the suspension system. The repair was relatively straightforward and took about 2 hours. Total cost was 95 Euro for diagnostic work and fixing the connection. The car suspension returned to normal function immediately after the repair, and the warning lights cleared up. To better assist with your case, could you share: Have you noticed if the suspension behaves differently at various speeds? Does the issue occur more on one side of the vehicle? When did you last have any suspension work done? Are there any other warning lights accompanying the damping alert? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if it might be something different in the adaptive suspension system.

I had my last service at 70000 KM and can confirm the suspension becomes notably worse at higher speeds. The car feels unstable during cornering, suggesting deeper issues with the damping control system. The stiffness seems equal on both sides, but the front feels worse than the rear. No other warning lights are present on the dash. The car handling deteriorates especially on uneven roads, and suspension tuning settings through the drive select menu no longer seem to make any difference. Looking forward to your insights based on these additional details.

Thank you for providing those extra details. Based on your description, your situation sounds more serious than my previous connector issue. The fact that suspension tuning settings have no effect and the car handling worsens at speed points to a potential failure in the electronic damping control system. In my case, after the initial connector fix, I actually faced a similar complete system failure about 6 months later. The symptoms matched yours exactly, no response to drive mode changes and consistently harsh ride comfort. The diagnosis revealed a failed damping control module, which was causing the system to default to its firmest setting. The repair required: Replacement of the complete control module, Recalibration of the suspension system, System coding and adaptation Total repair time was around 4 hours and cost 850 Euro including parts. While expensive, it completely resolved the instability during cornering and restored proper suspension function across all drive modes. Given your symptoms affect both sides but are worse in front, and the suspension failure is more noticeable at higher speeds, I strongly suspect you are dealing with a similar control module issue rather than individual damper failures. Would suggest getting it checked soon, as continuing to drive with compromised suspension tuning can accelerate wear on other suspension components.

Thanks for the detailed feedback. After hearing about your similar experience with the damping control module, I am convinced this is likely the same issue I am facing. The symptoms align perfectly, especially the lack of response to suspension tuning adjustments and the degraded handling at speed. I will schedule a repair appointment right away, as I do not want to risk causing additional wear to other vehicle suspension components. The 850 Euro repair cost you mentioned is higher than I hoped, but seems reasonable considering the complexity of the adaptive suspension system and the amount of work involved. One quick follow-up: did you notice any changes in the system behavior leading up to the complete failure? I am wondering if I missed early warning signs that could have indicated developing problems with the damping control module. This would be helpful to know for future reference and proper maintenance of the car suspension.