VW Taos Steering Column Stuck, Help With Electric Fix

I faced a similar electronic steering issue with my 2021 VW Tiguan last winter. With some experience working on VWs, I recognized the symptoms immediately. The electric adjustment system completely failed, showing the same behavior, no movement in any direction. After checking basic fuses, I took it to a workshop where they diagnosed a faulty connection in the wiring harness near the steering column. The repair involved replacing damaged cables and a connector that had developed corrosion. Total repair time was about 2 hours and cost 95€. The mechanical parts of the steering system were fine, it was purely an electrical adjustment issue. The technician mentioned these connection problems are somewhat common in this steering system design. Before suggesting more specific solutions, could you share: Have you checked the fuse box? Are you getting any specific error codes? Did the failure happen suddenly or gradually? Do you hear any sounds when trying to adjust? This would help determine if your steering failure matches what I experienced or points to a different underlying problem.

Last service was at 85000km and they did not mention any steering column issues. They verified the electronic steering was working fine during inspection. After reading your description, I checked the fuse box yesterday but all fuses related to steering look good. The failure happened suddenly while parking. When trying to adjust, there is no sound at all from the motors. The error code shown is P1234 but I have not found detailed information about it. The steering wheel itself works normally, just the adjustment is completely dead. No warning lights on the dashboard except for the general error indicator. Looking forward to getting more insight from others who dealt with similar adjustment issues.

Based on what you described, this sounds exactly like what happened with my Tiguan. The sudden failure without warning and complete silence from the motors matches my experience perfectly. Since you checked the fuses and found them okay, and given there is no motor sound, I suspect you are dealing with the same steering column adjustment electrical connection issue I had. The P1234 error code often points to a communication fault in the steering adjustment module. In my case, water had seeped into the wiring harness connector near the steering column over time, causing corrosion and ultimately failure. The lack of gradual symptoms or warning signs is typical for this type of electrical fault. After my repair, the workshop showed me the corroded connector, it was not visible without removing some trim pieces. They had to disconnect the battery, replace the damaged section of the wiring harness, and reset the steering column module. One key lesson from my experience: if you hear any unusual noises from the steering column adjustment before complete failure, get it checked immediately. Early intervention can prevent more extensive electrical damage. Would definitely recommend having a professional diagnose this, as accessing the wiring near the steering column requires specific knowledge of safety procedures and proper reassembly.

Thanks for sharing those details about your experience with the electrical connector issue. The sudden failure matches my situation exactly. I plan to take it to the workshop next week since it sounds like this requires some specialized work around the steering column. Was helpful to learn about the wiring harness problem you encountered, at least now I have a better idea what might be wrong with my electronic steering system. Good to know the repair time was reasonable at 2 hours. Will make sure to ask them to check specifically for corrosion in the connectors and wiring near the steering column. I will post an update once I get the actual diagnosis and repair completed. Hoping its just the wiring connection like in your case and not something more complex with the steering adjustment mechanism itself.