VW Up Audio System Goes Silent Despite Working Display

Had exactly this issue on my 2013 VW Polo. As someone with some experience working on car audio systems, I can share what happened in my case. Initially thought it was a Bluetooth issue or volume control problem, but after checking the basic stuff like fuses and connections, my workshop found a defective bass speaker that was causing the entire sound system to fail. The speaker had internally short-circuited, which triggered a safety cut-off in the amp. The repair took about 2 hours and cost 280€ including parts and labor. Since then, no more sound distortion or issues, everything works perfectly again. Before you head to the shop, could you share: Whether the problem started gradually or suddenly, If you hear any static or popping sounds, Whether the steering wheel audio controls still respond, If you notice any error messages on the display, Whether all speakers or just some are affected This info would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced with my Polo. These VW audio systems are pretty similar across models from that era, so there might be a common solution.

Latest service was done at 137000km, just 2 weeks ago. The issue was completely sudden, no warning signs at all. No static or popping sounds before or after. The steering wheel controls seem to respond on the display, but with no audio output. All speakers are affected, and I see no error messages anywhere. The USB audio connection also shows as connected when I plug in my phone, and the head unit display shows tracks playing, but there is simply no sound coming through the system. The volume control reads normal on screen but produces zero sound output regardless of the level. Would definitely appreciate any additional advice before taking it in, as the sound quality was genuinely perfect until this total failure occurred.

This definitely matches what happened with my Polo, same exact symptoms right down to the head unit appearing to function normally while experiencing complete radio silence. Since your system failed suddenly with no warning signs, and given that all inputs are affected (radio, USB, Bluetooth) while the display remains functional, this strongly points to either the amplifier or a speaker issue like I had. The fact that your steering wheel controls still register on the display further confirms this, as it shows the head unit is communicating properly. Based on my repair experience, here is what to expect: Diagnostic check will likely focus on the amp and speaker circuits, Labor time typically runs 1-2 hours, Parts cost varies but my speaker replacement was 180€, Total repair should be in the 250-350€ range One quick check you can try: listen very carefully near each speaker while audio is playing at max volume. In my case, one speaker was making a very faint buzzing sound even though the sound system appeared completely dead. The good news is that once fixed, these VW sound systems tend to remain reliable. I have not had any sound distortion or audio issues since my repair.

Thanks for the detailed info about the symptoms. The fact that everything displays normally but produces complete radio silence while all connections appear to work definitely narrows things down. I will get it checked at the shop, focusing on the amplifier and speaker circuits as you suggest. The sudden failure without any degradation in sound quality does match your experience with the speaker short circuit. Will try that speaker check at max volume before taking it in. The price range you mentioned helps set realistic expectations for the repair costs. Good to hear these systems stay reliable once fixed, hoping for a similarly straightforward solution to restore proper volume control and audio output. Will update the thread once I know what caused the sound system failure in my case. Really appreciate the detailed comparison with your Polo issue since it seems to match my symptoms exactly.