VW Touareg Steering Issues Linked to Faulty Sensors

Had a similar issue with my VW Tiguan 2013 gasoline model. Being someone with some hands-on experience maintaining my own vehicles, I initially thought it was just a basic alignment problem. The symptoms matched yours exactly, heavy steering and vibrations. The traction control light also came on intermittently, which was a clear indicator of sensor failure. After attempting basic troubleshooting, I took it to my regular workshop. The diagnostic revealed a coding issue with the steering angle sensor. The repair involved recalibrating and partially reprogramming the sensor system. Total cost was 195€, including diagnostic and labor. The steering returned to normal immediately after the fix. Important to know: the steering angle sensor is part of a complex system that affects multiple safety features. Getting it properly diagnosed and repaired is crucial for safe operation. Before offering more specific advice, could you share: Does your traction control light come on? Have you noticed any warning messages on the dashboard? Did the issue start suddenly or develop gradually? Have you had any recent work done on the suspension or steering? These details would help determine if your symptoms align with what I experienced and whether other automotive sensors might be involved.

Last service completed at 115000km. The traction control light started appearing occasionally last week, along with a brief dashboard warning. The steering column definitely feels loose compared to before. I noticed the vibration gets worse during turns. My local shop quoted 450€ for a complete steering sensor replacement. Given the mileage, wondering if I should just have them check the entire steering system while theyre at it. The alignment problems seem to be getting progressively worse. The symptoms all started about 2 weeks ago, shortly after hitting a deep pothole. No previous suspension or steering work has been done recently. Would really appreciate insight on whether I should proceed with the full sensor replacement or explore other options first.

Based on your description, especially mentioning the pothole incident, your symptoms strongly align with what I experienced. The sudden impact likely affected the electronic stability system, particularly the steering angle sensor calibration. In my case, I initially hesitated about the full sensor replacement too. However, given your mileage and the fact that the symptoms appeared after a significant impact, a complete steering sensor replacement might be the safer choice. When my Tiguan had similar issues, simply recalibrating the existing sensor proved sufficient, but your situation sounds more severe. The quoted 450€ for sensor replacement is actually reasonable. Consider that steering sensor failure can affect multiple vehicle systems, including electronic stability control and power steering assistance. A complete check of the steering system is definitely worth doing while they have it apart. The progressively worsening alignment issues combined with the loose steering column feeling suggest this isnt just a simple calibration problem like mine was. These symptoms, plus the traction control warnings, strongly indicate a more serious sensor failure requiring full replacement. Would you happen to notice if the steering behaves differently at various speeds? This detail helped diagnose my issue more accurately.

The pothole impact definitely seems to be the trigger point for all these issues. Good to know the 450€ quote is within normal range, was worried it might be inflated. And yes, the steering definitely feels different at different speeds, much looser at highway speeds and stiffer during low-speed parking maneuvers. Given the symptoms keep getting worse and considering the safety aspects of the steering system, I think I will proceed with the full sensor replacement. Better to address it now than risk more extensive steering column damage. Will also have them do a thorough check of the entire steering system while they are working on it. The impact on the electronic stability system makes sense given how the symptoms developed after hitting that pothole. At least now I know what to avoid in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience, it really helped confirm that these automotive sensors are likely the root cause of my steering problems. Will schedule the repair for next week. Hopefully, this fixes both the alignment issues and those annoying traction control warnings.