After two previous visits to the local VW dealer with Travel and Emergency Assist issues, they have confirmed that my GTI's steering wheel is faulty and needs replacing.
Initially, they tried to fob me off with the old "we've taken it for a long drive and it performed faultlessly" but I refused to accept that explanation. I said that I was at the end of my tether and that I could produce video footage of the recurring but intermittent issue, if they wished to see proof. At that point, they admitted that the fault had shown up on their system, during the diagnostic, and that it was a common issue So the part is now on back order from Germany and they're going to contact me to book the car in when it's on the way. Hurrah!
I had a long chat with the sales staff, while I was waiting for my car, and they were a lot more open with me than their service staff colleagues. They were not a bit surprised with the new steering wheel outcome because it's a well know defect. They also told me how disappointed and frustrated they were with the quality of the software on all of VW's current range of products, especially on their electric cars. It's causing them a lot of grief from customers, apparently.
I'm shocked and stunned by this news. Who would have believed that launching a product, before it was ready for the market could have caused so much negative feedback? 🤔