I'm looking for some advice or shared experiences regarding a major infotainment issue I encountered today. My car is a 2020 Skoda Octavia MK4 Combi (1.0 TSI), currently out of warranty.

While driving, the infotainment system started "acting possessed." It began with random reboots, followed by severe "ghost touching"—the menu jumps around, music turns on and off, and I hear constant phantom clicking sounds as if someone is tapping the screen rapidly. Eventually, the system overloads and crashes again. I also get a "Park Assist unavailable" error when this happens.

I've read that this is a known issue with early MK4 models, but I'm curious about the fix. For those who had this: was a software update (e.g., to version 1941) enough to solve it, or did it require a full display or 5F module replacement? Since I'm out of warranty, any information on potential costs or goodwill repairs from Skoda would be greatly appreciated.

The last time I had this issue with a touch screen it was caused by fine grit / dirt getting trapped in the surround of the screen support. Try clearing it out with your finger nail.

I got this issue, and loads more with the infotainment system. After much nagging, 9 months of “It’s fixed so it must be your iPhone” from the service manager, they replaced the entire head unit free of charge. It is a common problem but Skoda don’t want to admit it.

It happened on my wife’s Fabia and my son’s brand new Fabia. The service centre disconnected the DAB aerial and that fixed the issue in their cars.

Mine has started doing it again but only when the temperature is hot, on cold days there isn’t an issue.

I got some advice that the slider strip, for volume control, under the head unit has poor connectivity so when it gets hot it starts increasing volume as some of the connections expand in the heat. Apparently taking the strip out and cleaning with isopropyl alcohol resolves the issue. Another fix I have been recommended is to take out the fuse, fuse 30 is for the head unit controls, and simply use the volume button on the steering wheel to control volume - the touch screen works as normal.

I’m going to try both this weekend.

1 hour ago, dp59 said:

I got this issue, and loads more with the infotainment system. After much nagging, 9 months of “It’s fixed so it must be your iPhone” from the service manager, they replaced the entire head unit free of charge. It is a common problem but Skoda don’t want to admit it.

It happened on my wife’s Fabia and my son’s brand new Fabia. The service centre disconnected the DAB aerial and that fixed the issue in their cars.

Mine has started doing it again but only when the temperature is hot, on cold days there isn’t an issue.

I got some advice that the slider strip, for volume control, under the head unit has poor connectivity so when it gets hot it starts increasing volume as some of the connections expand in the heat. Apparently taking the strip out and cleaning with isopropyl alcohol resolves the issue. Another fix I have been recommended is to take out the fuse, fuse 30 is for the head unit controls, and simply use the volume button on the steering wheel to control volume - the touch screen works as normal.

I’m going to try both this weekend.

Hi!

I am experiencing the exact same problem with my car—it acts up specifically when the cabin temperature gets hot. I've read everywhere that this is a very common mistake unfortunately. I dont know why Skoda acting like this, but i will bring my Skoda to the skoda service and will see whats gonna happen. They said they want to check the error codes first and then they want to update the sw for the newest one

I can guarantee that it isn’t the software, I had the running updates for 3 months and nothing changed. Problem went away for a few days then volume started randomly maxing out.

Mine does it every spring. Then it’s bad for a couple weeks and then it gets slowly better before being fine again until the next spring.

When it does it i often get trouble with the sos module too, and sometimes the car thinks its left hand drive for a little while too and stops me overtaking cars on the left when cruise is on.

I thought I’d fixed it the other week by pulling fuses. It was better for 12 hours then came back.

I tried disconnecting the 12v battery, made no difference. Infact it was a little worse after this.

The next thing i tried seemed to work instantly, though i think I’m crazy as its maybe a coincidence, but i sprayed wd40 along the touch pad volume control and wiped it down, let a little get in the cracks too. It seemed to help on that occasion.

Is getting better now, just like last year. I can’t believe it’s only temp related, as it’s done it on cool mornings and its been fine on really hot days.

I believe it’s something to do with vw servers.

I was told I’d have to wait months for an appointment at skoda

Good luck, let me know if you get any joy with any of the above.

Edited 10 May10 May by Benjybobs
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Guys,

There is plenty of coverage elsewhere in these forums about this issue to do with the early Octavia mk4 infotainment system malfunctioning in various ways, particularly in hot weather eg radio coming on spontaneously and rising to max volume, screen constantly and rapidly rebooting and multiple warning symbols and sounds.

The ONLY way to effect a permanent cure is to get the infotainment screen replaced. Early mk4 Octavias were particularly prone to the problem and some screens were changed under warranty. Many still haven’t been, which is probably why there appears to be so relatively few of this particular model on UK roads today.

When the infotainment problems appear, even though dealers know the probable cause, Skoda dealers are compelled go through procedure laid out by Skoda ie. Software updates, reboots, master resets etc, to exhaust all possible faults (other than the screen) before they’ll change it for a new updated one, otherwise the warranty claim, including the dealer’s labour charge involved, won’t get paid.

If you’re out of warranty then it’s really up to you about how much you’re prepared spend to let dealer’s try to fix the issue ( I was told software updates are not covered under warranty by the way!) before insisting, albeit at your own expense, that a new screen is fitted. I should add that the new screen looks identical to the old one but carries a different manufacturing number on the label at the back of the screen to distinguish it from the old model.

I bought extended warranty after I got the car, but still spent nearly 3 years putting up with many attempts by Skoda dealers to fix the problem before I was ‘lucky’ enough to have the car’s infotainment system go berserk whilst on their premises. That clinched it for a new screen, and after 13 months I’ve had no further problems irrespective of the weather.

Sorry to have banged on at length about this, but it infuriates me and breaks my heart to hear of so many Octavia mk4 owners distressed, and still having this problem six years after the car was released.

Skoda are certainly fully aware of the problem by now, and yet never had the decency to own up to it and issue a recall, and they are still making money out of people’s ignorance of the real reason why their Octavia mk4s are letting them down. It’s really shameful of Skoda.

I hope at least some of you get your screen replaced and can get back to enjoying what is an otherwise excellent car.

ChubbsH

9 minutes ago, ChubbsH said:

Guys,

There is plenty of coverage elsewhere in these forums about this issue to do with the early Octavia mk4 infotainment system malfunctioning in various ways, particularly in hot weather eg radio coming on spontaneously and rising to max volume, screen constantly and rapidly rebooting and multiple warning symbols and sounds.

The ONLY way to effect a permanent cure is to get the infotainment screen replaced. Early mk4 Octavias were particularly prone to the problem and some screens were changed under warranty. Many still haven’t been, which is probably why there appears to be so relatively few of this particular model on UK roads today.

When the infotainment problems appear, even though dealers know the probable cause, Skoda dealers are compelled go through procedure laid out by Skoda ie. Software updates, reboots, master resets etc, to exhaust all possible faults (other than the screen) before they’ll change it for a new updated one, otherwise the warranty claim, including the dealer’s labour charge involved, won’t get paid.

If you’re out of warranty then it’s really up to you about how much you’re prepared spend to let dealer’s try to fix the issue ( I was told software updates are not covered under warranty by the way!) before insisting, albeit at your own expense, that a new screen is fitted. I should add that the new screen looks identical to the old one but carries a different manufacturing number on the label at the back of the screen to distinguish it from the old model.

I bought extended warranty after I got the car, but still spent nearly 3 years putting up with many attempts by Skoda dealers to fix the problem before I was ‘lucky’ enough to have the car’s infotainment system go berserk whilst on their premises. That clinched it for a new screen, and after 13 months I’ve had no further problems irrespective of the weather.

Sorry to have banged on at length about this, but it infuriates me and breaks my heart to hear of so many Octavia mk4 owners distressed, and still having this problem six years after the car was released.

Skoda are certainly fully aware of the problem by now, and yet never had the decency to own up to it and issue a recall, and they are still making money out of people’s ignorance of the real reason why their Octavia mk4s are letting them down. It’s really shameful of Skoda.

I hope at least some of you get your screen replaced and can get back to enjoying what is an otherwise excellent car.

ChubbsH

Hi! Thank you for your well detailed help about my issue. I got a software update/new SOS module antenna and next month i will get a 3 round SOS module update. The screen restarts, phantom touches are gone for now but i cant login, nor make any profile for the main. Thats why they should update the SOS system too because the sw is so outdated.

For now my car funcions are perfect except this issue and i hope all gonna remaining the same