VW Passat Hybrid's Navigation & Dashboard System Issues

Having experienced similar automotive electrical problems with my 2017 VW Golf GTE Hybrid, I might be able to help. My level of experience with car electronics is moderate, mainly from dealing with my own vehicle issues. Your symptoms sound very familiar. My car displayed identical behavior with the dead navigation system and Transport Mode warning. This is often related to the car configuration settings and typically occurs after certain software updates or when the immobilizer system needs recalibration. Since your vehicle is from 2019, this should be covered under warranty. In my case, the dealer service center performed a complete system reset and reconfigured the vehicle electronics. They had to use their diagnostic computer to properly reset the car configuration and clear all error codes. The engine start system also needed recalibration. The fix was straightforward but required dealer-specific tools. I paid nothing as it was warranty work, which should be the same in your case. To provide more specific guidance, could you share: Current mileage on your vehicle, When was the last software update performed, Are there any other warning lights on the dashboard, Did these issues start after any specific event (battery replacement, service, etc)

Thanks for the detailed response. Latest service was just done at 96848km and everything was fine until yesterday. No recent software updates or battery work done. The only other warning light is the check engine light, which came on simultaneously with the electrical issues. The key fob also seems a bit sluggish now, takes multiple presses to unlock sometimes. Really hoping it is just a vehicle setting or immobilizer issue like in your case. Will try to get a service appointment scheduled ASAP. Based on your experience, should I expect them to keep the car for multiple days to run diagnostics and system resets?

Good news, your symptoms match my experience exactly, including the sluggish key fob response. Based on my case with the Golf GTE, this strengthens the likelihood of an immobilizer system issue requiring recalibration. The check engine light appearing simultaneously is typical for these hybrid systems when the car configuration gets disrupted. In my case, the service center needed about 2 days total, one day for running comprehensive diagnostic checks and another for implementing the fixes and testing. The key fob behavior you mentioned is particularly telling. When my car had this issue, the inconsistent key fob response was directly linked to the immobilizer system needing a reset. The dealership had to resync the key fob as part of the overall system recalibration. Since your mileage is still relatively low and the issue appeared suddenly without any prior work being done, it points to an electronic control unit that needs reconfiguration rather than a hardware problem. The transport mode warning is often triggered when these systems lose their proper settings. Just make sure to mention all symptoms to the service advisor, especially the key fob issue, as this helps them pinpoint the problem faster.

Thank you for the helpful information about the service timeline. Your explanation about the key fob connection to the immobilizer makes a lot of sense. I just called the dealership and they can take the car tomorrow morning. Good to know it might take 2 days, will arrange alternative transport mode options. The service advisor seemed familiar with these symptoms when I mentioned the transport mode warning and key fob issues. They confirmed they will start with a full diagnostic scan of the engine start and immobilizer systems. Hopefully the car configuration reset fixes everything like in your case. Will definitely update the forum once I get the car back and know exactly what caused these automotive electrical gremlins. Really appreciate the detailed insights about your similar experience, helped me better understand what to expect at the workshop.