VW Transporter Power Seat Failure, Troubleshooting Guide

Having some experience with car electrical systems, I faced a similar issue with my T6 last year (2 years newer than yours). The electric seat harness and controls stopped working completely, showing the same error message. After checking obvious things like the seat switch and visible wiring, I took it to my regular workshop. They diagnosed a heavily discharged battery that was causing electrical system failures, including the seat controls. The low voltage was preventing the seat wiring system from getting enough power to function. The total repair came to 290€, which included: Battery testing and replacement, System diagnostic check, Checking all seat harness connections, Testing seat movement after repair Since your symptoms sound identical, it could be battery-related too. However, to provide more specific advice, could you share: Your vehicle year and exact model, Whether other electrical systems are acting up, If the battery warning light is showing, When the battery was last replaced The car seats might just be the first sign of a failing battery, so best to get it checked soon before other systems start acting up.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My VW is newer, 2020 model with 39194km on the clock. Interesting point about the battery because I am seeing some other small electrical glitches too. The radio sometimes takes longer to start up and the central locking occasionally needs two clicks. No battery warning light yet though. The battery is still original. Going to schedule a diagnostic check to look at the seat wiring and overall electrical system based on your feedback. Hoping its just the battery causing the automotive seat issues rather than a more complex electric seat problem. Will update once I know more about what caused my seat adjustment system to fail.

Thanks for the additional details. Those symptoms you described, delayed radio startup and central locking issues, are typical signs of a weakening battery, very similar to what I experienced before my passenger seat stopped working. Even though your vehicle is relatively new, the original battery can degrade faster than expected, especially with lots of short trips or extended periods without driving. When the battery starts failing, power seats are often among the first systems affected since they draw significant power. A quick voltage test will confirm if the battery is the culprit of your seat adjustment problems. My workshop performed this check before replacing anything else in the seat harness or electrical system. For reference, my repair ended up being relatively straightforward: Battery voltage was at 11.2V (should be around 12.6V), New battery installed: 220€, System diagnostic: 70€, No seat harness or motor replacement needed Consider getting the battery checked soon, as continuing to run on a weak battery can potentially damage other electrical components, including the power seat modules. These seat control units are significantly more expensive to replace than a battery.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I called the workshop and they can check it tomorrow morning. After what you shared about the battery symptoms, I definitely see the connection, my car has mostly been used for short trips lately which probably didnt help the battery life. The automotive seat problem seems to be getting worse, now the passenger seat adjustment is completely unresponsive and the error message stays on permanently. Going to get both the battery and the seat harness connections checked just to be safe. The workshop quoted around 300€ for a full diagnostic and battery replacement if needed. Really hoping its just the battery causing these electrical issues with the seat controls. Will definitely avoid driving too much until its fixed since I dont want to risk damaging the seat motor or other electrical components. Thanks again for helping me understand what might be wrong with my car seats.