VW Arteon's Steering Controls Dead, Common Fix Inside

As an owner of a 2019 VW Passat who experienced a similar electrical fault with the multifunction steering wheel, I can share my experience. The symptoms were identical, complete failure of all steering wheel controls while basic steering remained functional. The malfunction indicator showed up in the dashboard, signaling a connectivity problem in the steering wheel wiring. After some research and with moderate experience working on VWs, I took it to a certified workshop. They diagnosed a faulty cable connection in the steering wheel, which is apparently a known issue in this model range. The repair involved replacing the spiral cable assembly that connects the steering wheel controls to the main wiring harness. The entire process took about 2 hours and cost 95€ including parts and labor. Since then, all functions have worked perfectly with no recurring issues. To provide more specific guidance for your case, could you share: Has the issue developed gradually or appeared suddenly? Are there any other electrical issues present? Does the malfunction appear consistently or intermittently? Have you had any recent work done on the steering system? This information would help determine if your issue matches the common pattern seen in these models.

Had my last service at 50000km and started noticing this issue shortly after. The control module diagnostic showed fault code U0594. Called a few shops and they quoted between 250-400€ for repair, which seems excessive. The connectivity problem seems to get worse when the steering wheel is turned fully left. Already tried resetting the vehicle electronics by disconnecting the battery for 30 minutes, but the sensor issue persists. The steering column still functions normally for basic driving, but having no access to cruise control and media buttons is really frustrating. Would appreciate any feedback on whether this repair quote range is reasonable or if there might be a simpler fix before committing to a full repair.

Having gone through this exact situation with my VW Passat, those repair quotes do seem high based on my experience, especially since the symptoms match what I encountered, particularly the connection issues when turning left, which points to the same spiral cable fault I had. The fault code U0594 typically indicates a communication error between the steering wheel controls and the main control module. In my case, and likely yours too, this was caused by a worn spiral cable in the steering column, not a complete module failure. The shops might be quoting for a full control module replacement, which would explain the higher costs. Since you mentioned the issue started after service, there is a possibility the problem stems from something that was disturbed during maintenance. My repair ended up being much cheaper at 95€ because the technician correctly identified the specific component failure rather than defaulting to replacing the entire module. Would strongly suggest getting a second opinion from a shop that specializes in VW electrical systems. The sensor issue you are experiencing, combined with the position-dependent malfunction, strongly suggests a cable problem rather than a complete control module failure. This should be a much simpler and less expensive fix, similar to what I experienced.

Thanks for the detailed information about your repair experience. I will definitely seek out a VW electrical specialist before proceeding with any major work. The fact that your spiral cable replacement was only 95€ gives me hope this might be resolved without spending 400€. Based on the symptoms you described matching mine, especially the steering controls failing when turned left, it does sound like we had the same underlying issue. The vehicle diagnostics showing that U0594 communication error makes even more sense now, given your explanation about the cable connectivity. I will make some calls tomorrow to find a shop with specific experience diagnosing steering column wiring problems rather than just replacing entire modules. The malfunction indicator has been frustrating, but at least now I have a better idea of what to ask about when discussing repair options. Really appreciate you sharing the specifics of your repair process, it helped put this issue into perspective and will hopefully save me some money too.