VW T-Cross Electric Steering Column Fails to Adjust

I have some experience with repairs and encountered a similar electronic steering adjustment issue on my 2020 VW T-Roc. The steering column completely stopped responding, showing the same error message. After noticing this mechanical fault, I took it to a workshop where they diagnosed a cable connection problem in the electronic steering system. The adjustment issue turned out to be just a loose plug connection near the steering column assembly. The fix was relatively straightforward, they reconnected and secured the cables properly, then reset the system. Total cost was 95€ for diagnostics and repair work. Much better than replacing the entire steering mechanism, which I initially feared would be necessary. To provide more specific advice about your situation, could you share: Does the steering wheel still work normally, just not the adjustment? Are there any unusual noises when trying to adjust? Did the issue start suddenly or develop gradually? Have you had any recent work done near the steering column? These details would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or might be something different.

Thanks for sharing your experience. In my case the steering failure happened suddenly without warning signs or noises. The basic steering function still works perfectly fine, just the electric adjustment stopped working completely. Last service was at 65000km and they did not touch anything related to the steering system. The error message appears immediately when starting the car, suggesting it might indeed be an electronic steering connection issue like you experienced. Good to hear it was just a loose cable in your case, hopefully my repair costs stay around 100€ as well rather than needing a full replacement.

Thanks for those extra details about your steering column adjustment problem. Based on what you describe, it sounds very similar to my T-Roc experience. The sudden failure without warning signs and the immediate error message at startup strongly points to an electrical connection issue, just like what I dealt with. The fact your basic steering still works perfectly while only the electric adjustment is affected further supports this theory. My repair started with a diagnostic check which quickly revealed the cable fault near the steering column, they didnt need to dismantle much to locate and fix it. One thing I learned from my repair is that these electric adjustment systems have multiple connection points that can work loose over time. Even if the connection looks fine visually, corrosion or slight movement can cause electrical contact problems. For your steering failure, Id recommend getting it checked soon, driving with a locked steering column position isnt ideal for long-term comfort. With similar symptoms to my case, theres a good chance its also just a connection problem requiring a simple fix rather than major steering column repairs. Would be interested to hear what they find when you get it looked at. Based on current rates, diagnostic and repair work for this type of electric steering issue should still be in the 100-150€ range.

Thanks everyone for the detailed input. Just got back from the workshop and wanted to share what they found. The electric steering column issue was indeed very similar to what was described, they found a damaged wire in the connection that controls the adjustment motor. The repair was straightforward and cost 120€ including diagnostics. The mechanic showed me where the mechanical fault occurred, apparently these connection points can get stressed from regular column adjustment use. They also mentioned this is a fairly common steering issue they see with newer cars using electric adjustment systems. The car steering is now working perfectly again, with smooth column adjustment in all directions. Really glad it wasnt a major repair requiring full replacement of the steering mechanism. Will definitely keep an eye on any unusual behavior in the future, but for now everything is back to normal. Thanks again for helping me understand what to expect before the workshop visit. The information shared here was spot-on and helped me feel more confident about the repair process.