Audi RS5 Steering Controls Dead: Common Module Issues

As someone with some hands-on experience working on German performance cars, I dealt with a very similar issue on my 2012 Audi RS4. The multifunction steering controls suddenly stopped responding, which was quite frustrating since I use them frequently. After the malfunction indicator showed up, I took it to a workshop where they diagnosed a faulty cable connection in the steering wheel. The problem was traced to worn wiring in the steering column that connects the steering controls to the main system. The repair involved replacing the cable harness in the steering wheel assembly. Total cost was 95 Euro for parts and labor. Since then, all steering wheel functions have worked perfectly with no recurring issues. For your RS5, would you mind sharing: Whether this happened suddenly or gradually, If you notice any intermittent function of specific buttons, Whether you hear any clicking sounds when pressing the controls, If the issue appeared after any recent work on the car This information would help determine if your problem matches what I experienced. The steering control modules in these vehicles are generally reliable, so cable connections are often the culprit when multifunction controls fail.

The issue started gradually in my case. At first, just the volume controls were acting up before all multifunction steering controls completely stopped responding. No clicking sounds and nothing was recently repaired. The buttons feel normal when pressed but zero response. Based on checking forums and diagnostic results, the steering column wiring seems most likely since the sensor issue codes point to connectivity problems rather than a complete module failure. My car has 164685 KM and just had a service last month where they did not notice any steering-related problems. Before taking it to a shop for repairs, I will have them specifically check the cable harness. Not looking forward to the repair bill but at least the steering functionality itself is unaffected. Would you mind sharing how long your repair took? Need to plan whether this requires leaving the car at the shop.

The cable harness replacement on my RS4 took around 3 hours total. The workshop had the parts in stock which helped speed things up. Most of the time was spent carefully removing trim pieces and accessing the steering column area to replace the wiring. Like your situation, my electrical fault also started with inconsistent volume control operation before progressing to complete failure of all steering controls. The gradual nature of the problem is typical of wire harness wear in these models. The fact that your buttons still have normal tactile feel but no response matches my experience exactly. This strongly suggests a wiring issue rather than a faulty control module. The workshop will need to remove the airbag and steering wheel to access the cable harness properly. Based on current labor rates, you should expect repair costs in the 350-450 Euro range including parts. Make sure they perform a full system test after the repair to confirm all multifunction controls are working correctly. I would recommend scheduling a morning appointment so they can complete everything same day. Mine was done by early afternoon despite some initial diagnostic time.

Thanks for the detailed info about the repair timeline. Good to know it can typically be done same-day. Will call tomorrow morning to schedule an appointment and specifically request they check the cable harness first based on the similar symptoms. Since the malfunction indicator and diagnostic codes align with what you experienced, I feel more confident it is indeed a wiring issue and not a complete steering control module failure. Will make sure they test all functions after repair. The 350-450 Euro estimate helps set expectations for the repair cost. While not cheap, it beats having to replace the entire multifunction steering wheel assembly. At least I can continue driving safely until the appointment since the core steering operation is not affected by the electrical fault. Will update once the repairs are complete to confirm if the wiring harness was indeed the root cause of the steering controls failing.