The capacitative, lefthand steering wheel buttons controlling the adaptive cruise control (ACC) are no longer working, and I'm wondering whether anyone else has had this issue? They were working just fine yesterday (and for the previous 3 years), but today I can't use the ACC. The system is on, the lights are on, but the buttons seem to be misassigned to the wrong functions, so that I can't actually use it. The "set" and "resume" buttons don't do anything, for the most part, the up and down arrows (for increasing/decreasing following distance and speed) don't do anything, and the on/off button only seems to work part of the time. Pressing the center button will sometimes change the following distance.

Again, this all worked perfectly on a long road trip yesterday, and I've never had any issue. I got the car cleaned today, and I'm wondering whether they might have been a little free with the liquid cleaners around the steering wheel area, and whether that might be the culprit?

Has anyone experienced this? Does anyone have any suggestions? I need it for another long road trip tomorrow, and was reeeally counting on the convenience of ACC.

I've already reset the infotainment system. Holding down the SET button on the steering wheel doesn't seem to do anything. Getting desperate here!

2021 Pro AWD ID.4, made in Germany. Thanks for any tips or info anyone might have!

Beneath the capacitive-touch array (that determines which of the buttons you're trying to press) is a single mechanical switch (that determines that you've really pressed something and not just “swiped” something). When you press down on the entire button array, can you feel that mechanical switch actuating? Perhaps some polish or other gunge worked its way under the button array?

 

Beneath the capacitive-touch array (that determines which of the buttons you're trying to press) is a single mechanical switch (that determines that you've really pressed something and not just “swiped” something). When you press down on the entire button array, can you feel that mechanical switch actuating? Perhaps some polish or other gung worked its way under the button array?

That’s not a real switch, it’s a haptic system, like an iPhone… it simulates the feel of a switch with a little motor that vibrates the plastic button panel. The panel never actually moves, although if you push hard enough it might deform.

 

There are some penetrating electronic contact cleaners that can clear up sticky or nonresponse automotive buttons without disassembly. I've used this sparingly on work vehicles with handicapped buttons after too many Covid era Lysol spraydowns. I'll have to ask the fleet maintenance guys for the product name(s), I haven't used them in a while.

 

A recommendation of a specific product would be much appreciated, thank you!

 

I'll report back after the trip, but it seems (knocking on wood here!) like some of the button functionality is coming back. I'm hoping it was just a little bit of moisture that was confusing the capacitative-touch buttons? Anyway, the buttons were "kicking" back haptically before, they just weren't doing the right thing (or anything). Thanks for the input and suggestions!

 

They use real pressure sensors, @JohnnyForElectric does a great job showing how it works here:

It does physically move.

 

Thanks! That explains it - so, it is actually haptic with a vibration motor that simulates presses. And, it doesn't have a physical switch, the movement that @Atlant was feeling was actually just the compression of the little rubber pieces which sit against a pressure sensor. Typical of VW, it seems over engineered for what was needed; but I guess with the contours of the plastic they couldn't sense enough pressure differential to detect the difference between a light tap and a harder press through material deformation, like Apple does with their glass screens. Interesting, and appreciate you sharing.

 

If you think haptics are bad, VW has patented something worse.

VW's New Patent Aims to Remove Buttons In the Worst Possible Way https://share.google/j93RXCR8gKeLo0GPp

 

I'll play devil's advocate here and ask, "Why not?"

I can't read the actual patent because it's in German, but a Medium article from the 25th says: "Supporting Evidence: The patent (DE102024202380A1) itself highlights multiple use cases: HVAC, mirrors, infotainment, lights, and even glove compartments. "

The Car & Driver blurb you quoted say "rather than..." but in reality I see this "in addition to." Why can't there still be buttons and / or a control wheel?

Let's say I want to change radio stations. A quick sideways glance at the frequency and a click of an OK button registers that my control wheel now controls the radio dial (or preset list).

Or I want to navigate to some point on the map, which would otherwise require me to reach up, pinch to zoom, scroll around a little. I can envision a useful system where through eye tracing I can select a general area, scroll wheel to zoom, glance again to place a target, and click to select / begin navigation.

Really, there are a lot of possibilities, and none of them preclude there being physical buttons -- just an alternative means of interaction.

The biggest complaints about haptics and touchscreens is that they don't give the positive feel and feedback of a physical button. If we look at eye tracking technology as a refinement or enhancement to these tactile deficiencies, rather than as a replacement to physical buttons, I can see a future where both are employed, maybe side-by-side.

 

BMW does eye recognition where you glance in the mirror to confirm an automated lane change when in self driving… not sure how well it works, but you can buy a car with it now.

 

“VW’s patent would have drivers look at what they want to interact with…”

like touchscreens, look at anything but the road ahead.

 

If voice controls actually worked well, you wouldn't have to take your eyes off the road.

The first car I ever had with voice controls was a VW - it was awful. I inadvertently activated it once, and i couldn't get it to shut up. It kept telling me to say "cancel" to exit, but the recognition was so bad that it never understood when I said "cancel". I tried some obscenities to see if that would help, but it didnt.