VW Fox Passenger Seat Controls Dead, Fix Options

Had a similar issue with my 2011 VW Polo TDI last month. The passenger seat adjustment system failed completely with the same error message. After inspection, the problem turned out to be more complex than just a faulty seat switch. The main issue was corrosion in the seat harness connectors under the passenger seat, which also affected the control module. The seat adjustment motor was intact, but the electrical connections had degraded over time. This is a known weak point in these models. The repair required: Complete removal of the passenger seat, Replacement of the main seat harness, New seat control module installation, System recalibration This was a serious repair that took several hours to complete. Water exposure from floor dampness often causes these issues, so its worth checking if your carpets show any signs of moisture. The seat switch itself rarely fails completely, when it does, it usually shows intermittent function first. Would recommend having a professional diagnostic scan done first, as the error code will point to the specific component causing the failure. Fixing this sooner prevents potential damage to other seat adjustment components.

Thanks for sharing your repair experience. This matches what happened with mine almost exactly, I had to replace the wiring harness and connectors on my Fox too. The power seats gave up completely after months of acting weird. Just wondering, how much did the whole repair end up costing you? And has everything stayed working properly since the fix? My passenger seat has been good for 6 months now, but I keep worrying the seat motor might fail next since the mechanic mentioned it was showing some wear.

After taking it to the repair shop, I got the passenger electric seat working again, but the root cause was different than expected. The battery was severely discharged, affecting multiple electrical systems including the seat adjustment functionality. The total repair came to 290€, which covered the battery replacement and system diagnostics. Since fixing the discharged battery, all the seat adjustment controls have worked flawlessly for over a year now. The seat wiring and seat motor were both tested and found to be in good condition, despite the initial concerns. This is actually a fairly common issue, when the battery starts failing, electric seat functions are often among the first systems to show problems. The seat switch and control module can appear faulty when really they just need proper power supply. No need to worry too much about future seat motor failure if your mechanic has already checked the system thoroughly. These motors are generally quite durable when the electrical system is working correctly.

After dealing with all the back and forth about my seat troubles, I finally got it sorted last week. Took it to a certified shop that specializes in electrical issues. The mechanic found the real problem within an hour, turned out the seat harness had significant water damage from a small sunroof leak I never noticed. Total bill came to 420€ which included: New seat wiring harness, Connector replacement, Labor for removing and reinstalling the seat, Full system diagnostic check The power seats work perfectly now. The mechanic also sealed the leak point and checked the rest of the electrical components just to be safe. Really glad I got a second opinion instead of just replacing the seat motor like the first shop suggested. Saved me from throwing money at the wrong fix. Been driving for two weeks since the repair with zero issues. The seat adjustment is actually smoother than it was before, probably because all the connections are new and clean now.