guenterschwarz1
VW Transporter Air Suspension Pump Failure Emergency
4 comment(s)
guenterschwarz1 (Author)
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hearing about similar air suspension malfunction issues is helpful. I am dealing with nearly identical symptoms on my 2012 Transporter, the failing load leveling and error codes. Did you ever find out if it was just the connections or did any other suspension components need replacing? Also curious what the total repair cost ended up being and if you have had any related problems since getting it fixed?
annifire6
Glad to provide an update on my air suspension repair outcome. After taking it to the mechanic, it turned out the issue was simpler than initially feared. The air suspension compressor failure was traced to faulty cable connections at the control module, similar to what your Transporter is experiencing. The repair involved cleaning and fixing the electrical connections, which resolved the load leveling problems completely. Total cost came to 95€ for the connection repair, much less than expected since no other suspension components needed replacement. The system has been working flawlessly for the past 8 months. The air struts maintain proper pressure now, and the load leveling functions as designed. No more error messages or uneven ride height issues since the repair. Based on my experience, would suggest having your connections checked first before assuming major suspension components need replacement. Often these systems fail due to simple electrical issues rather than mechanical problems with the air suspension setup itself.
guenterschwarz1 (Author)
I took my Transporter to my regular mechanic last week after getting helpful advice here. The diagnosis confirmed it was mainly an electrical issue causing the air suspension problems. The connections to the compressor had corroded, leading to the ride height issues. The repair involved cleaning and replacing the worn connectors at the control module. Total repair time was around 4 hours. Cost came to 280€ including parts and labor, more reasonable than I expected given the complexity of air suspension systems. All suspension components are working properly now. The load leveling maintains even ride height and the error messages are gone. Headlights are properly aligned again. Really relieved it didnt require replacing the entire air struts assembly. Good lesson learned about addressing suspension issues quickly before they cause additional damage. Thanks for helping point me in the right direction with the electrical connections check.
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annifire6
Had the same suspension problems on my 2015 VW Passat 2.0 TSI. The ride height dropping was caused by failing connections to the suspension pump, creating air leaks in the system. The main symptoms matched yours, uneven suspension, error codes, and misaligned lights. The load leveling system completely stopped working on the passenger side. After inspection, the mechanic found corroded plug connections at the air suspension control module. The fix required replacing several suspension components including electrical connectors and cleaning the control module contacts. Not a quick job, took about 6 hours of labor since they needed to access components deep in the suspension system. This is a known weak point in these VW models. The air suspension setup is complex and when connections fail, it affects the entire load leveling capability. While expensive to fix, ignoring it risks damaging other suspension components from the uneven load distribution. Recommend having it properly diagnosed at a shop familiar with VW air suspension systems. The repair is involved but necessary to restore proper suspension function and prevent further issues.