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louissilver4

VW Touran Cruise Control Failure, DIY Fix Tips

My cruise control suddenly stopped working and the warning light stays on. Already checked and confirmed an error is stored. Car is a 2011 VW Touran 1.4 TSI with 56444km. Concerned about potential repair costs at the mechanic after previous bad experience. Has anyone dealt with similar cruise control issues? Could it be a simple fix like a blown fuse or speed sensor, or something more serious? Need advice before taking it to the shop.

4 comment(s)

ottofuchs7

Had the same issue on a 2014 VW Golf 1.4 TSI. The cruise control warning light came on and stayed illuminated on the dashboard. The problem turned out to be a combination of two issues: 1. A faulty brake pedal switch that was no longer sending the correct signals 2. A damaged clock spring in the steering wheel that affected the cruise control buttons The brake pedal switch is a common failure point, it stops detecting when you press/release the brake, which is a safety feature that disables cruise control. The speed sensor was tested but worked fine. This was not a quick DIY fix as it required specialized diagnostic equipment to properly test the components. The clock spring especially needs careful handling since it connects to the airbag system. While not the most expensive repair, it needed proper diagnosis since cruise control issues can stem from multiple components, from simple electrical connections to more complex control modules. Having it properly diagnosed helped avoid replacing parts unnecessarily. Most important is getting it fixed since faulty cruise control can be a safety concern, especially if other systems like speed sensors are involved.

louissilver4 (Author)

Thanks for sharing that experience. Had similar symptoms with my VW Touran and initially suspected a blown fuse or throttle position sensor issue. The garage found it was indeed the brake pedal switch, just like in your case. Did you keep track of the total repair costs? Also wondering if youve had any other cruise control or steering wheel related problems since getting it fixed? My mechanic mentioned these issues sometimes come back if the root cause isnt properly addressed.

ottofuchs7

Thanks for asking about the follow-up. After getting the repair done, my cruise control has worked flawlessly with no recurring issues. The mechanic found a loose cable connection near the clock spring that was causing the malfunction. The fix was straightforward and cost 95€ for the entire repair. The dashboard light that was constantly illuminated disappeared right after they fixed the connection. No throttle position problems or other steering wheel related issues have shown up since then. The diagnostic showed it was purely an electrical connection problem rather than a component failure. Its been running perfectly for months now, which confirms the mechanic found and fixed the actual root cause. Having proper diagnostic equipment really helped pinpoint the exact issue without replacing parts unnecessarily. Much better outcome than initially feared, especially since problems with cruise control systems can sometimes lead to more expensive repairs if multiple components are involved.

louissilver4 (Author)

I finally got my cruise control issue sorted. Took the car to my regular mechanic last week after reading about similar experiences here. The diagnostic test confirmed it was the brake pedal switch, exactly what others mentioned might be the cause. The repair was surprisingly quick and cost 180€ total, including parts and labor. The dashboard light went off immediately after they fixed it. Best part is the cruise control works perfectly now, and no warning lights have come back on. Definitely glad I checked here first instead of worrying about worst-case scenarios. The mechanic confirmed these switches commonly fail on these models. Having some knowledge beforehand helped avoid unnecessary parts replacement and kept the cost reasonable. Just wanted to close the loop and share my experience. The steering wheel controls and everything else are working normally now, so it really was just that faulty switch causing all the trouble.

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