VW Arteon Overheating: Faulty Radiator Fan Alert

I faced a similar issue with my 2020 VW Passat last summer. As someone with moderate experience working on VWs, your symptoms sound very familiar. The car radiator was functioning properly and coolant levels were fine, just like in your case. The temperature control system was showing high readings, but the fan blade wasnt spinning. After running diagnostics, my mechanic found that a faulty speed sensor was preventing the fan motor from engaging properly with the cooling system. The repair involved replacing the speed sensor and testing the fan assembly to ensure proper operation. Total cost came to 250€ including parts and labor. Since the fix, the temperature has stayed normal even during hot weather. Before jumping to conclusions about your Arteon, could you share: Does the fan work at all, even at low speeds? Are you noticing any unusual sounds when the engine is running? Have you scanned for specific error codes? When exactly did these symptoms start? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced with the Passat. The symptoms point toward the fan motor assembly, but getting these details would help narrow down the exact cause.

Mileage: 48380km, Last service completed in November. The thermal switch ended up being the root cause in my case. After the fan blades completely stopped spinning, a diagnostic scan revealed error code P0480. My independent mechanic confirmed the thermal switch was not triggering the radiator fan at the correct temperature thresholds. The repair involved replacing both the thermal switch and speed sensor as a preventive measure since they often fail together in the cooling system. Total repair cost was 320€ parts and labor. The car now maintains proper temperature even during extended drives. Worth checking if your fan motor is getting proper voltage when hot. A bad thermal switch will prevent power from reaching the motor even if the fan assembly itself is fine. My problem looked identical to a failed fan but turned out to be the switch.

Thanks for sharing those details about the thermal switch fix. My Passat had nearly identical symptoms with error code P0480, but the root cause was slightly different. In my case, the fan noise was completely absent because the speed sensor failed first, which then caused excessive strain on the thermal switch. The failed sensor meant the temperature control system couldnt properly regulate the radiator fan speeds. My mechanic explained this is a common failure pattern in the cooling system for our VW models. The complete repair in my case included: New speed sensor (180€), Labor for testing and installation (70€) Total came to 250€ as mentioned earlier. Interesting that your repair cost was higher at 320€, but makes sense since you had both components replaced. The car radiator fan has worked flawlessly since the fix. From your description, it seems VW might have a design weakness in how the thermal switch and speed sensor interact in the cooling system. Have you noticed any other temperature-related issues since the repair?

The diagnostic scan giving error code P0480 definitely pointed us in the right direction. After getting the thermal switch and speed sensor replaced, the car overheating issues have completely resolved. The radiator fan now kicks in properly when needed and maintains normal operating temperatures. For anyone facing similar cooling system problems, having both components replaced together was worth the 320€ cost. Testing the voltage at the fan motor helped identify the thermal switch failure before replacing unnecessary parts. The car radiator and rest of the cooling system were actually fine, it was just the switch not triggering the fan. No other temperature control issues have surfaced in the 3000km since the repair. The fan noise is now normal and consistent when the engine gets hot. Would definitely recommend checking the thermal switch first if others experience similar symptoms with their Arteon, especially around the 45-50k kilometer mark. Thanks for sharing your similar experience with the speed sensor. This seems to be a common failure point in the VW cooling system design. Good to know these components can affect each other and often fail as a pair.