VW Touareg Comfort Systems Total Failure Fix Guide

As an amateur mechanic who has worked on VWs, I had a similar issue with my 2013 VW Tiguan. The symptoms were nearly identical, climate control failure, mirror heating issues, and problems with washer nozzles. The automotive sensor system was indeed the culprit. After scanning, the workshop found a faulty cable connection to the humidity sensor, which was causing multiple electrical issues across the comfort systems. The repair involved resolving a loose connection and replacing a corroded plug. Total cost was 95€ for diagnostics and repair. Before jumping to conclusions though, could you share: Which engine variant you have? Are there any dashboard warning lights? Did these issues start gradually or all at once? Have you noticed any water leaks in the cabin? These details would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced. The humidity sensor plays a crucial role in various comfort features, and connection problems can cascade into multiple system failures. Getting proper diagnostics is important since similar symptoms can sometimes stem from different root causes.

Last service was 2 months ago at 18205km. All these problems started right after a particularly cold night. After reading up on the symptoms, I am pretty sure you nailed it with the humidity sensor malfunction theory. The systems all failed simultaneously, and I do have a general systems warning light on the dashboard. Have not noticed any water leaks, but there is a definite electrical burning smell coming from behind the dashboard. Thinking about getting it checked at a workshop soon before more automotive sensors start failing.

Based on my experience with the same issue on my Tiguan, that burning smell you mentioned is concerning and definitely changes my initial assessment. While the humidity sensor was the root cause in my case, the burning odor suggests this might be more serious, possibly an electrical short affecting multiple systems. When electrical issues create a burning smell, it often indicates overheating wires or components behind the dashboard. The cold weather could have accelerated the deterioration of wiring insulation. The climate control and other comfort systems shutting down might actually be a fail-safe response to prevent further damage. The dashboard warning appearing at the same time as the electrical smell strongly suggests you should get this checked immediately. Continuing to drive with potential electrical issues could lead to more extensive damage to the visibility and climate control systems. Your mileage is relatively low at 18205km, so this type of electrical issue is unusual. Could be worth checking if this would be covered under any extended warranty. The repair cost in your case might be higher than the 95€ I paid, as it sounds like you may need wiring harness work rather than just a sensor replacement. Would recommend having the full electrical system diagnosed rather than just focusing on the humidity sensor. Better to catch any potential fire hazards early.

Thanks for the detailed feedback about the electrical burning smell, that definitely sounds more serious than I initially thought. Will get it to the workshop this week instead of waiting. The cold weather timing makes sense, and I appreciate the insight about the wiring harness potentially being the bigger issue rather than just sensor calibration. Given the dashboard warning and windshield fogging issues that started showing up, I agree it's better to have everything checked properly. The climate control system is completely dead now anyway, so I'd rather fix it all at once even if it costs more than the 95€ basic sensor repair. Better than risking more electrical problems or ending up stranded somewhere. Thanks for helping me understand the likely causes, will update once I get the actual diagnosis.