VW Eos Steering Column Adjustment Failure Fix Guide

As someone with moderate experience working on VWs, I encountered an almost identical steering issue on my 2012 VW CC, which shares many electronic components with the Eos. The electronic steering column adjustment stopped working completely after making a grinding noise. Initially thought it was a major mechanical fault, but it turned out to be much simpler. The workshop diagnosed a faulty cable connection to the steering column adjustment motor. The repair involved accessing the connections under the steering column cover and replacing a damaged wiring harness. Total cost was 95€ including diagnostic and repair work. The mechanical parts of the column adjustment system were completely fine, it was purely an electrical connection problem. Since the fix, the system has worked flawlessly. Before jumping to conclusions about needing a full system replacement, it would help to know: Did you notice any unusual noises before the failure? Does the steering feel normal besides the adjustment not working? Are there any other electrical issues in the car? What specific error code is showing up? This type of steering issue is fairly common in VWs of that era and often fixable without major component replacement. The workshop should be able to perform a thorough diagnostic to pinpoint if its just a connection problem like mine was.

Last service was at 84000km and the workshop found nothing unusual with the steering system during inspection. The grinding noise started about 2 weeks ago, getting progressively worse until the electronic steering adjustment completely failed. The steering itself feels normal, just stuck in one position. Error code P1234 keeps appearing since the failure. The rest of the electrical systems work fine, no other related issues noticed. Thanks for sharing your repair experience, helps to know it might be a wiring issue rather than a complete steering column failure. Will have the connections checked first before considering more extensive repairs. Good to hear your fix was relatively inexpensive. Hoping for a similar outcome when I take it in next week.

I am going through the exact same electronic steering adjustment problems again on my CC, but this time its showing a different error code than before (P1236). Unlike my previous repair where it was just a wiring issue, this time the mechanical components of the adjustment system seem affected. The grinding noise is much more pronounced, and I can feel resistance in the mechanism even when powered off. Had it checked yesterday and unfortunately its looking like a more extensive repair will be needed. The workshop found wear in the adjustment motor gears causing the grinding. They quoted 450€ for a complete motor unit replacement. At higher mileage these electronic steering adjustment systems often develop mechanical wear beyond just electrical faults. The good news is your error code P1234 is typically associated with circuit issues rather than mechanical damage, so you might still get away with a simpler fix like I did the first time. Worth getting it looked at soon though, continuing to use it with the grinding noise could lead to more extensive damage.

Thanks for the additional information. The grinding noise before complete steering column failure matches exactly what I experienced. Your error code P1234 points more towards an electrical circuit problem than mechanical failure, which is encouraging. My steering feels just as normal, mechanically speaking. Based on your experience with a wiring harness fix costing 95€, I feel more confident about the repair now. The fact that no issues were found during the last service and all other electrical systems are working properly also suggests its likely an isolated steering adjustment issue rather than a broader electrical problem. Will definitely have them focus on checking the wiring connections first before exploring more expensive repairs. Good to know that catching these steering issues early helped prevent more serious damage in your case. Will update after the workshop visit next week to share what they find.