VW Crafter Air Suspension Failure & Leaning Issues

Having some experience with air suspension systems, I faced almost the exact same issue on my 2015 VW Transporter. The symptoms you describe match perfectly, uneven vehicle height, error messages, and that distinctive bumpy ride that comes with suspension failure. In my case, the pneumatic suspension had a faulty air bag valve that needed replacement. The diagnostic process revealed an air leak in the system, and the suspension control module was logging consistent errors. After checking the air lines and components, the workshop confirmed the valve was the culprit. The total repair came to 590€, which included: Full system diagnostic, Valve replacement, System pressure test, Calibration of the new components Before you proceed with repairs, could you share: Total mileage on your Crafter, Whether you hear any hissing sounds, If the suspension behavior changes with temperature, When the issue first started This information would help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced with my shock absorber and valve system. Quick action is important with suspension issues as they can lead to uneven tire wear and additional component stress.

Last service was 2 months ago and my mileage is 172192KM. Actually just started hearing a hissing sound from the left side near the wheel well last week. Makes a constant noise when the vehicle is stationary. The suspension issue seems worse in cold weather, the air leak appears more pronounced and the vehicle drops lower overnight. The uneven settling started gradually about 3 weeks back. Initially it would correct itself after starting the engine, but now the pneumatic suspension stays permanently tilted. Really concerned about potential damage to other components if I keep driving it like this. Looking at 590€ for repairs does not sound too bad considering the complexity of the suspension system. Might be worth getting it checked soon before the problem gets worse.

Thanks for providing those details, the symptoms you describe are exactly what I experienced before having my bellows valve replaced. The location of the hissing sound and the temperature sensitivity strongly point to a faulty valve, just like in my case. The gradual onset and cold weather behavior matches the typical air suspension failure pattern. The permanent tilt you mentioned now is concerning, when my valve was failing, the ride height would still try to correct initially. Once it stopped self-leveling completely, the air leak had gotten much worse. Since your pneumatic suspension issue is apparently progressing faster than mine did, I would recommend getting it diagnosed soon. The total repair cost might even be lower if caught early. A failed bellows valve can put extra strain on the compressor as it tries to maintain pressure against the air leak. Regarding the mileage, mine failed around 165000km, so the timing tracks. The good news is that once the valve was replaced, my air suspension has worked flawlessly for the past year with no error messages or uneven settling. Would be interested to hear what your workshop finds and if the repair costs end up similar to what I paid. The declining performance in cold weather is a very telling symptom of valve failure in these systems.

Looking at the mileage and symptoms you described, this definitely seems similar to your experience. The constant hissing from the wheel well really caught my attention, matches exactly what you mentioned about the air leak from a faulty valve. The cold weather making it worse is pretty telling. The suspension drops quite a bit overnight now and stays tilted no matter what. Pretty worrying to see it deteriorating this quickly over just 3 weeks. 590€ sounds reasonable for this type of air suspension repair. Better to fix it now than risk more extensive suspension failure later. Think I will book it in next week before the problem gets any worse. The fact your pneumatic suspension has worked perfectly since the valve replacement is encouraging. Will update once I get the workshop diagnosis, especially if they find the same valve issue at a similar price point. Really hoping to avoid any major shock absorber problems or additional damage from driving it in this condition. Thanks for sharing your experience, it has helped narrow down what I am dealing with.