VW Golf Audio System Dies, Complete Sound Failure

Had a similar problem with my 2020 VW Passat Hybrid last winter. Coming from someone with reasonable experience working on VW electrical systems, these issues can be tricky to diagnose without proper tools. The symptoms matched exactly, complete audio failure, dashboard controls unresponsive, and error codes pointing to the head unit. The static noise started first, then the volume control stopped working completely. After checking basic things like fuses and faulty wiring connections, I took it to my regular workshop. They found the display unit was defective, causing communication issues with the entire infotainment system. The repair required a complete head unit replacement and recoding. Total cost was 725€ including parts and labor. Workshop time was about 4 hours. Before suggesting specific solutions, could you share: Have you noticed any warning signs before the complete failure? Does the screen still light up at all? Are other dashboard controls working normally? Did you recently install any aftermarket audio equipment? This information would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced or potentially something simpler to fix.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My car has 39306km and just had its annual service last month. I had some early warning signs before the complete failure, intermittent speaker crackle when using Bluetooth and the head unit occasionally rebooting itself. The screen does still light up but stays stuck on the VW logo. All other dashboard controls work fine and everything is stock, no aftermarket audio equipment installed. The diagnostic codes specifically point to the audio system interface. After reading your experience, I am wondering if I am facing a similar head unit failure. My concern is that replacing the entire unit might be overkill if this is just a software issue that can be resolved with a reset or update. Would be great to hear if anyone else had success with less expensive fixes before going the full replacement route.

The symptoms you describe match my experience almost exactly, especially the speaker crackle and head unit reboot issues that preceded the total failure. In my case, I initially hoped for a simple software fix too, but it turned out the head unit had a hardware fault. The stuck VW logo screen is particularly telling, this was the exact same behavior I encountered before the complete failure. While the dashboard controls remained functional, the head unit communication was clearly compromised. My mechanic first attempted a software reset and update, which cost about 90€, but the issues persisted. The diagnostic tests showed internal component failure in the head unit itself. There was no avoiding the full replacement in the end, and trying cheaper fixes first actually ended up adding to the total cost. Given these identical symptoms and the fact your car is stock like mine was, I strongly suspect you are dealing with the same head unit defect. The faulty wiring possibility seems less likely since your other dashboard controls are working normally. Based on my experience, I would suggest going straight for the head unit replacement to avoid spending money on temporary fixes. The total repair cost should be similar to what I paid (around 725€), and most importantly, it permanently solved all audio system issues.

With your description and insight from my own case, I definitely see the parallels between our issues. The speaker crackle with Bluetooth along with the screen freezing on the VW logo does sound identical to what you experienced with your Passat. After carefully considering the symptoms and learning about your repair journey, I think I will move forward with getting the head unit replaced rather than trying cheaper temporary fixes first. It makes sense to address the root cause directly, especially since my car is showing the exact same failure pattern you described. I will contact a few reputable shops tomorrow to get quotes for the head unit replacement. The 725€ cost reference is really helpful for setting expectations. Would much rather invest in the proper fix now than waste money on partial solutions that might not work. Thanks again for the detailed breakdown of your experience. It has helped confirm that the audio quality issues and dashboard controls problems I am experiencing likely need the same comprehensive repair approach you took.