The Volkswagen Arteon is VW's flagship luxury 4-door coupe sedan, launched in the US market for the 2019 model year (Europe 2017+) as the replacement for the discontinued VW CC (Comfort Coupe). Built on the MQB (Modulare Querbaukasten) platform shared with the Atlas, Tiguan, Golf MK8, and Audi A3, the Arteon offers fastback coupe styling, premium interior, and the 2.0L TSI turbocharged inline-4 engine producing 268 hp in US trim. The Arteon competes in the entry-luxury segment with the Audi A5 Sportback, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, and Mercedes CLA Coupe.
The clock spring (also called spiral cable or SRS coil) is a safety-critical component mounted on the steering column under the steering wheel. The clock spring contains a coiled flat ribbon cable inside a plastic housing, with the central hub rotating with the steering wheel while the outer housing remains fixed to the steering column. This design maintains electrical connection between the steering wheel and the vehicle wiring throughout the full steering range of motion. Critical circuits carried through the clock spring include: driver's airbag deployment signal, horn signal, multifunction steering wheel controls (cruise control, audio, phone, voice command), paddle shifters where equipped, and heated steering wheel where equipped.
The most common reasons Arteon owners replace the clock spring are: airbag warning light on the dash (broken airbag deployment circuit triggers an SRS fault code, posing serious safety concern since the airbag would not deploy in a crash), intermittent or completely non-functional horn (broken horn signal wire, often the first symptom), failed multifunction steering wheel controls (cruise control buttons, audio controls, phone controls stop working), heated steering wheel no longer warming (broken heater power circuit), paddle shifter failure on R-Line or Trim with paddle shifters, or complete steering wheel function loss in severe cases.
Clock spring cable breaks typically occur after extensive steering rotation cycles, sometimes from a single hard turn that puts excessive stress on already-aged cable, sometimes gradually from normal accumulated wear. The flat ribbon cable inside the clock spring has a finite flex life and eventually develops broken conductors. The clock spring is not field-repairable, so failure means replacement. Our new OEM-specification clock spring at $129 saves significant money over $280 to $450 dealer pricing. The airbag deployment circuit is the critical safety reason to address clock spring failures promptly rather than postponing service.
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| OEM Specification (this listing) | Designed to factory specification for Arteon MQB platform. Includes all circuits the Arteon requires (airbag, horn, controls, heated wheel, paddle shifters). Pre-centered for direct installation. Tested for continuity across full rotation range. Best safety assurance for the critical airbag circuit. |
| Generic Aftermarket Clock Spring | May fit physically but missing circuits or with incorrect connector pinouts. Risk of incomplete steering wheel function or non-deployment of airbag in crash. Not recommended for the safety-critical airbag application. Cheap clock springs sometimes fail prematurely. |
| Used or Salvaged Clock Spring | Variable condition with unknown remaining life. The flat cable degrades with rotation count, used clock springs may be near end of life. Generally not recommended for safety-critical component when new is available at fair price. |
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| INCLUDED | The complete clock spring assembly with internal coiled cable, plastic housing, central hub mechanism, electrical connectors, pre-centering position (do not rotate during install), and mounting features. Pre-tested for continuity on all circuits. |
| NOT INCLUDED | Steering wheel (separate part), driver airbag (separate safety component, transfer original or order new), horn pad (typically integrated with airbag, transfer original), multifunction control buttons (integrated with steering wheel, transfer original), mounting hardware (reuse originals or source from VW dealer), SRS reset tool or service. |
| Tools You Need | T30 Torx for steering wheel center bolt, panel pry tool for trim removal, basic hand tools, masking tape for marking centered position before any wheel rotation, VAG-COM/VCDS or VW dealer for SRS reset after install. Always disconnect the battery and wait 10 minutes before any airbag-related work for safety. |
The Volkswagen Arteon airbag clock spring is compatible with the following Arteon variants. Confirm year and trim before ordering.
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Arteon SE (2019 to current) | Base trim with 2.0T TSI engine |
| Volkswagen Arteon SE FWD (2019 to 2021) | Front-wheel drive base trim |
| Volkswagen Arteon SEL (2019 to current) | Mid-trim with 2.0T TSI |
| Volkswagen Arteon SEL R-Line (2019 to current) | R-Line sport trim with paddle shifters |
| Volkswagen Arteon SEL Premium R-Line (2019 to current) | Top trim with heated steering wheel and all options |
| Volkswagen Arteon 4MOTION (2019 to current) | All-wheel drive variant of all trim levels |
| Volkswagen Arteon European Markets (2017 to current) | European variants may have minor option differences |
Not compatible with the discontinued VW CC (predecessor, 2009 to 2017) which uses a different clock spring design. Also not directly interchangeable with other MQB-platform vehicles (Atlas, Tiguan, Golf, Jetta) without confirming exact part number, since the Arteon clock spring includes specific Arteon-trim circuits. Always confirm by Volkswagen part number or VIN call for cross-compatibility. Modern Audi A4/A5 share some MQB clock spring components, but verify before ordering.
Not sure if this Volkswagen Arteon clock spring fits your car? Call (240) 301-0095 with your year (2019 to current US, 2017+ Europe), trim level (SE, SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL Premium R-Line), heated steering wheel equipment, paddle shifter equipment, and original Volkswagen part number if available. Our team confirms the right clock spring for your specific Arteon configuration before we ship. After installation, plan for an SRS scan tool reset at a VW dealer or independent shop with VAG-COM/VCDS to clear the airbag warning light.
These new OEM-specification Volkswagen Arteon clock springs are inspected before shipping. Quality control includes:
Each clock spring ships pre-centered for direct installation. Critical safety note: do not rotate the clock spring housing during shipping or installation, this can damage the internal cable. Install with the steering wheel and column at the straight-ahead position. After installation, perform an SRS scan tool reset to clear any stored airbag fault codes. The airbag system is safety-critical, follow proper procedures throughout the work.
| Application | Volkswagen Arteon luxury coupe sedan |
|---|---|
| Year Range | 2019 to current (US) | 2017+ (Europe) |
| Platform | MQB (Modulare Querbaukasten) |
| Predecessor Vehicle | Volkswagen CC (Comfort Coupe) | discontinued 2017 |
| Engine | 2.0L TSI Turbo I4 (268 hp US | 280 hp Europe) |
| Drivetrain | FWD or 4MOTION AWD |
| Part Function | Maintains electrical connection during steering rotation |
| Circuits Carried | Airbag deployment | horn | controls | heated wheel | paddle shifters |
| Construction | Plastic housing with internal coiled flat cable |
| Mounting Location | Steering column under steering wheel |
| Connector Types | OEM Tyco/AMP and VW-specific connectors |
| Trim Variants Supported | SE | SEL | SEL R-Line | SEL Premium R-Line |
| Safety Note | Airbag system component | follow proper safety procedures |
| Programming Required | SRS scan tool reset typically required after install |
| Reset Cost Estimate | $75 to $150 dealer | $50 to $100 independent with VCDS |
| Warranty | 15 day replacement on manufacturing defects |
| Shipping | Free UPS or FedEx Ground to all 50 states |
To file a claim, contact us within 15 days of delivery at (240) 301-0095 or support@vazautosolutions.com with the original order number, photos of the installed clock spring, scan tool reports if available, and a description of the symptom. We process most warranty replacements within 48 hours.
