Scirocco Electrical Failure, Dead Shifter & Cruise Systems

Had the exact same electrical fault symptoms on a 2011 VW Golf GTI. Multiple systems failing simultaneously pointed to a central electrical issue rather than the clutch switch. The main problem was a damaged cable harness connector near the steering column. This caused intermittent power loss to several control modules including the gear selector display and cruise control systems. Car stalling occurred when the connection deteriorated further. The safety mechanism in modern VWs will shut down multiple systems when detecting major electrical faults. This explains why several functions stopped working at once. The repair required replacing the damaged connector and rewiring a small section. While not extremely costly, the diagnostic process was crucial since the symptoms could mislead toward simpler component failures. Would strongly suggest getting the error code read first. If multiple electrical systems are affected, prepare for a thorough electrical diagnostic rather than focusing on the clutch switch alone.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Golf GTI electrical issues. Your car stalling and ignition problem symptoms do sound very similar to what I experienced. Can you remember roughly how much you paid for the diagnostic and repair of the cable harness? Also curious if you had any recurring electrical problems since getting it fixed? My Scirocco is still having intermittent gear selector display failures and I want to assess if this repair cost would be worth it versus trying the clutch switch replacement first. Just trying to avoid throwing parts at it without a proper diagnosis.

Took it to a VW specialist last week and thankfully the issue was simpler than my initial cable harness problem. The clutch pedal switch was indeed faulty, causing the ignition problem and those electrical system failures. The clutch switch acts as a safety mechanism for starting the car, and when it fails, it can trigger multiple system errors. The repair was straightforward, just 95€ to fix a bad connection at the clutch switch plug. Since the repair, all electrical systems are working perfectly. The gear selector display is back to normal and the car starting issues are completely resolved. No recurring problems in the past week. Would definitely recommend getting the clutch switch checked before exploring more complex electrical diagnostics. Its a common failure point and much cheaper to fix than a full harness replacement. The safety systems in these cars are quite sensitive, a single faulty clutch switch can trigger multiple system shutdowns as a precaution. Getting the error code read will confirm this, but based on your symptoms, it sounds exactly like what I experienced.

Had the car checked at a local VW shop after reading your experience. The mechanic found you were spot on, it was indeed the cable harness causing all the electrical system failures. The connector near the steering column was damaged and corroded. The diagnostic fee was 120€ and the complete repair including parts and labor came to 580€. While not cheap, its better than continuing to have car starting problems and risking more electrical issues. They had to remove several panels to access and replace the damaged section of the harness. The gear selector display, cruise control and all other affected systems are now working perfectly. No safety mechanism warnings or electrical fault codes showing up anymore. Really glad I got proper diagnostic work done rather than just replacing the clutch switch first. The thorough inspection saved me from spending money on unnecessary parts. Its been two weeks since the repair and everything is working as it should.