VW Touareg Steering Column Adjustment Failure Fix

Having dealt with a similar electric steering adjustment issue on my 2007 VW Phaeton, I can share some relevant experience regarding the steering column problems. My steering column adjustment also completely failed. After some initial worrying about a complete steering failure, the workshop diagnosed it as a faulty wiring connection in the steering column electronics. The cables had worn through due to constant movement, causing intermittent connection issues before complete failure. The repair involved accessing the steering column wiring harness and replacing the damaged cable section along with the connector plug. Total cost was 95€ including diagnostics and labor. Since the repair 2 years ago, the electric adjustment has worked flawlessly. To better assist with your specific case, could you share: Have you noticed any grinding or unusual sounds when trying to adjust? Did the adjustment stop suddenly or gradually become harder to operate? Does the steering wheel show any resistance when trying to adjust manually? Has the car been in any minor accidents that could have affected the steering column? These details would help determine if your issue matches the common adjustment issue pattern I experienced or points to a different steering column problem.

Thanks for sharing those details. My car has done 146591km and was last serviced 3 months ago when they did not flag any steering issues. Your electric steering wiring fix sounds promising and much more affordable than I feared. In my case, the column adjustment stopped working suddenly with no warning signs or sounds. The steering wheel shows no resistance when attempting manual adjustment, it simply does not respond to the controls at all. This matches what you described about the electronic steering wiring fault. Good to know the repair was straightforward without needing major steering column replacement. Will get it checked by the workshop to confirm if its the same wiring issue you encountered.

Good to hear your case matches my experience with the wiring-related adjustment issue. The sudden failure without warning signs strongly points to an electrical fault in the steering column adjustment system, just like what I encountered. The kilometers on your car align with when these wiring problems typically surface. Since your steering wheel moves freely without resistance, this further confirms the mechanical components are likely fine, and the fault lies in the electrical adjustment system. My repair involved accessing the steering column wiring harness where movement causes the most wear. The workshop found frayed wires near the main connector, a common mechanical fault point. They replaced the damaged section and connector for 95€, which sounds reasonable compared to a full steering column replacement. One tip from my experience: have them check the entire wiring run while they are in there. I had them replace slightly worn sections proactively to prevent future adjustment issues. The extra wire cost was minimal compared to paying for labor twice. Since your symptoms match mine exactly, I am quite confident you are dealing with the same electric adjustment failure. Get it checked soon to prevent any additional wire damage from normal steering movement.

Thanks for the helpful responses. After getting the car checked at the workshop today, it turned out to be exactly the same electronic steering wiring issue as described. They found worn cables near the main connector of the steering column adjustment system. The total repair came to 120€ including parts and labor. They replaced the damaged wiring section and connector, plus checked the rest of the column adjustment wiring as suggested. The electronic steering controls now work perfectly again. Really glad it was just a straightforward wiring fix rather than a complete steering column replacement. The workshop confirmed this is a common adjustment issue they see on these models as they age. For anyone else facing similar steering column problems, definitely worth checking the wiring first before assuming worst case repairs are needed. Thanks again for sharing your experiences. The information helped me understand the likely cause and gave me confidence to get it sorted quickly.