VW Beetle Massage Seat Malfunction and Repair Tips

As someone with moderate experience working on VW cars, I had a similar issue with my 2014 VW Golf that also had the premium seat package with massage function. The symptoms were identical, massage setting completely unresponsive while basic seat adjustments still worked. After some troubleshooting, it turned out the seat motor connection had worked itself loose over time, affecting the massage controls specifically. The car upholstery had to be partially removed to access the wiring. The workshop found a damaged plug connection that was causing the system error. The repair was straightforward once they identified the issue. Total cost was 95€ for labor and fixing the connection. No parts needed replacement in my case, just reconnecting and securing the loose cable properly. Would be helpful to know: Have you noticed any clicking sounds when trying to activate the massage function? Does the seat switch feel different when pressing the massage controls? Which error code is showing exactly? Has there been any recent work done on the seats? These details would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced. The seat control modules in VW models from that era often have comparable wiring setups.

Last service was at 29700km and my local shop checked all connections under the seat but found nothing obviously loose. No clicking sounds at all when pressing the massage controls, and the switch feels normal, just completely unresponsive. Error code is B128900. No recent work done on any part of the automotive seats. The electrical issue seems different from your case since checking connections didn't solve it. The car upholstery appears intact with no visible damage to any part of the seat switch or surrounding areas. Starting to think it might be the control module itself rather than just a loose wire or simple switch failure. Would replacing the entire massage seat control unit be the next logical step? Hoping to avoid that expense if possible.

Thanks for those additional details. Your case does sound more complex than my wiring issue. That error code on VW luxury car models typically points to a control module problem rather than just a switch failure. After dealing with my own massage seat repairs, I learned these control units can fail due to voltage spikes or internal component deterioration. Basic seat functions often keep working since they run on a separate circuit. In my case, after the initial wire fix didnt solve it, I did end up having to replace the massage control module. The repair cost was steep, around 450€ for the part plus 150€ labor. The car upholstery had to be removed again to access and swap the module. Since youve already verified the connections and the massage setting remains completely dead without even clicking sounds, a failed control module seems most likely. While expensive, replacing it should fully restore the massage function. Before committing to that repair though, have the shop check the fuse specific to the massage system. Its a less common cause but worth checking given the cost difference.

B128900 matches what others mentioned about the control module. After getting those repair cost estimates, I started checking around and found several shops quoting between 400-600€ for the complete fix including labor. Pretty steep, but at least I know what I'm dealing with now. The seat motor and basic functions still work perfectly, so I might just live without the massage feature for a while. The switch failure is annoying but not critical. Really appreciate the detailed replies about the electrical issue and potential fixes. Will probably get it properly diagnosed first to confirm the control module theory before committing to such an expensive repair. One shop suggested they could try cleaning the connections and checking the car upholstery around the module for any hidden damage first. Might try that as a last resort before replacing the whole unit. If anyone else runs into this same problem, definitely get the error code checked first, seems these massage seat systems are pretty complex and expensive to fix when they fail.