Steering wheel lock problem - anybody?

[serdar_18fr]

Hi everyone,

This is about my '25 Cupra Ateca, but I believe it's not a brand or model specific problem.
It could happen in any of the models as they share a lot of parts, including steering columns, locks etc.
So I thought my post could get a lot more exposure if I post it on the SEAT side of the forum.

Let me start with the locking procedure:
- I park the car, turn off the ignition and open the driver's door, in that order.
- At that point (if the ignition is turned off when you opened the driver's door), a click will be heard from the steering lock mechanism.
I think it switches itself to a lockable state.
- Then I could lock the steering wheel by forcibly turn it a little to one side.
No problems so far, everything works as they are supposed to work.

The problem shows itself in the unlocking procedure:
- I open the driver's door and get in the car, and push the engine start button once and turn on the ignition.
- Right at that point, the steering wheel lock is supposed to unlock itself automatically.
It was working without a problem, but in the last couple of months, the unlock attempt of the mechanism started to fail, not always, but occasionally.
I hear the sound of the mechanism, it attempts to unlock, fails, then retries again, sometimes it gets successful, sometimes not.
After three retries, a warning appears on the instrument cluster telling me to unlock the steering wheel, and I unlock it manually.
I couldn't ascertain a reason or a condition where it happens, yet.

Wanted to ask if something like this has happened to anybody.
Thanks & cheers,
Serdar

 

[Syphon]

@James_R ?

 

[James_R]

It's not something I've come across myself. The mechanism within the locking unit is a screw type and can jam up. There used to be an issue on the Tiguans and Passats where a plastic tab would break off the steering column and allow too much travel on the column itself, the lock would then jam and fail as a result.

It sounds like it needs investigating by your local dealership.

 

[serdar_18fr]

It's not something I've come across myself. The mechanism within the locking unit is a screw type and can jam up. There used to be an issue on the Tiguans and Passats where a plastic tab would break off the steering column and allow too much travel on the column itself, the lock would then jam and fail as a result.

It sounds like it needs investigating by your local dealership.

I visited the dealer last week for a brake bleeding problem and in the meantime I mentioned this to my service rep. He said he never heard of something like this (their general attitude) and it needs to be consulted with their technicians. I'll share the outcome of my next visit, thanks & cheers.