VW Arteon Suspension Failure Causes Rough Ride

I faced a similar suspension failure with my 2019 VW Passat, and being somewhat experienced with suspension issues, I can relate to your situation. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I encountered, deteriorating ride comfort and suspension warning lights. In my case, the vehicle suspension problem stemmed from a faulty wiring connection to the shock absorber control module. The workshop diagnosed this through detailed testing of the adaptive damping system. The repair involved fixing a damaged cable and replacing a corroded plug connection, costing 95€ for the complete service. After the suspension tuning was completed, the car handling returned to normal, smooth ride quality and proper damping response on different road surfaces. The warning lights disappeared completely. To provide more specific guidance for your situation, could you share: Have you noticed any specific driving conditions when the issue becomes more pronounced? Are there any unusual noises accompanying the suspension problem? Did the issue develop gradually or appear suddenly? Which specific error codes were stored? This information would help determine if your Arteon is experiencing the same underlying issue my Passat had.

Thanks for the follow-up. My issues started about 2 weeks after my last service at 119000km. The suspension problems are most noticeable when driving over speed bumps or uneven surfaces. The car damping seems particularly harsh on the rear right side. To answer your questions: The ride feels worst during low-speed city driving, There is a slight knocking sound when going over bumps, The problem appeared quite suddenly after a rainy period, Error code showed DTC C1041 Damping Control Malfunction I am wondering if water exposure might have affected the suspension components, as the car damping was perfectly fine before the wet weather.

I understand your situation better now, and your symptoms actually differ from what I experienced with my Passat. While mine was purely an electrical connection issue, your description points more toward a potential physical problem with the damping control unit, especially given the knocking sound and the specific behavior after rain. That error code C1041 is significant. After my initial wiring repair, I actually encountered it again 6 months later, but this time it was due to a failed damper unit on the rear right side. The telltale signs were identical to yours, harsh ride quality and knocking sounds, particularly noticeable at low speeds. The complete repair in my case required: Replacement of the rear right adaptive damper (450€), Recalibration of the suspension system (120€) The water exposure you mentioned could definitely be a contributing factor. These suspension system components have seals that can deteriorate over time, allowing moisture to affect the electronic damping controls. The sudden onset after service is interesting though. Its worth checking if any suspension work was done during the service that might have disturbed the system. In my experience, proper suspension tuning after any related work is crucial for optimal performance. When the new damper was installed, the difference was immediate, the harsh ride disappeared, and the suspension warning light cleared permanently.

Thanks everyone for the insights. After reading the responses, I booked my car in for a thorough inspection. The workshop confirmed water ingress into the rear right damper unit, matching what was suggested here. They found corrosion in the electrical connections and damage to the seals. The final repair included: New rear right adaptive damper, Replacement of corroded wiring connectors, Full damping control system calibration, New waterproof seals Total cost came to 780€, which seems in line with others experiences. The ride comfort has completely returned to normal, with proper vehicle suspension response over all surfaces. The warning light is now gone and the car damping feels perfect again, especially on uneven roads. Really glad I checked here first, helped me understand what to expect and confirmed my suspicions about the water damage being the root cause. The car handles exactly like it did when new, so definitely worth the investment in proper repairs.