2G0959442K Steering Wheel Button Set Genuine OEM GTI Multimedia Control for VW Polo AW

About this part

The 2G0959442K steering wheel button set is the new genuine OEM switch pack for the three-spoke multifunction wheel of the Volkswagen Polo AW — the left and right button pods, joined by the flat ribbon that runs behind the airbag, that clip into the spoke carriers either side of the horn pad. The left pod carries the volume rocker with mute in the middle; the right pod carries OK with page-up and page-down, the voice key, the phone key and the two track keys. On this wheel the keys are not sold separately: each pod is one sealed membrane unit on its own plastic carrier, so a single dead key means replacing the whole pod.

This is the set to order when the audio, phone or menu keys stop responding but the horn and the airbag are fine — the usual failure on a car past 80,000 km, or on any wheel that has had a drink spilled over it.

Which build this is — K, not N and not M

Three button sets were used on the Polo AW wheel and they are not interchangeable in function, only in shape. 2G0 959 442 K is the early set, built for cars from 11/2017 to 11/2019 with PR code 8T0 (no cruise control) or 8T9 (speed limiter only): it has no cruise keys and no VIEW key, and the two track keys sit where the VIEW key appears on later cars. 2G0 959 442 N is the later set with a VIEW key, still without cruise. 2G0 959 442 M adds the cruise keys, and 2G0 959 442 L is the adaptive cruise version.

The practical consequence: if your car has cruise control on the wheel, or a digital cockpit with a VIEW key, this set is wrong for you — the missing keys simply do nothing and the car logs a databus fault in address 16 after fitting. Check the old pod before ordering: volume rocker printed with + and − and track keys at the bottom of the right pod means K; a VIEW key at the bottom centre means N or M.

Which cars it fits

Built for the Polo AW and shared across the MQB-A0 family where the same round-boss three-spoke wheel was fitted. The wheel must be the multifunction type with the button recesses moulded into both spokes — this set cannot convert a plain non-multifunction wheel, because the carrier and the wiring are not there. PQ25 cars (Polo 6R and 6C) and the Golf 7 use a different carrier shape and a different number.

Cars built after 11/2019 usually carry the later VIEW-type set, so the year split in the table is not a guarantee. Do not order from a photograph of the wheel alone — send the VIN, or a photo of the back of the old pod, and we will match the number. Unused sets can be exchanged, but not once the ribbon connector has been plugged in.

Fitting

Disconnect the battery and leave the car for at least ten minutes before touching the airbag — the module holds enough charge to fire it. Release the airbag from behind the wheel with a thin hook through the two holes in the rear cover, unplug the yellow connector and then the horn lead, and lift the airbag clear face up onto a clean surface. The pods are held by Torx screws from behind plus plastic clips along the top edge; release the clips evenly with a plastic wedge, because they go brittle with age and snap if you lever one corner first. Feed the new ribbon through the hub the same way the old one ran, seat each pod, press until both clips click audibly, then check the shut line against the spoke before the airbag goes back.

Coding and retrofit notes

Replacing a failed set with the same number needs no coding — plug it in, clear the stored fault in address 16 (steering column electronics) and the keys work. Retrofitting buttons to a car that never had them is a bigger job: the wheel needs the multifunction carrier, the airbag harness has to carry the LIN lead, and address 16 must be coded for multifunction steering wheel before the pods are recognised at all. Diagnostics with VCDS or ODIS are required; a generic OBD2 reader cannot reach address 16 or clear the airbag fault you will create by disconnecting it.

Symptoms this part fixes

Typical failures: volume or track keys stop working while the horn still sounds; the OK key needs a hard press or double-press; the phone key will not answer a call; the page keys skip two menus at a time; backlighting flickers or drops out on one side only; or the keys die in cold weather and come back once the cabin warms up. Before ordering, rule out the clock spring — a worn slip ring gives exactly the same symptoms on both pods at once and is a separate part.

Condition & warranty

Brand-new genuine Volkswagen Group part, never fitted, in the original satin black finish with crisp legends and no polishing from use. 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects. Electrical parts are non-returnable once the connector has been plugged in, so please confirm the number and the cruise question before installation.

Wholesale

Tiered pricing for 1 pc, 5 pcs and 20 pcs is shown below. Early Polo AW cars are now well out of warranty and these pods are a steady workshop seller, so mixed orders combine shipping happily. Export documentation and consolidated pallet rates available on request.

Fitment

Compatibility depends on model year, market, engine and the coding of the car. The table below lists the applications this 2G0959442K is normally fitted to. Send us your VIN before ordering and we will confirm fitment for your VW Polo AW.