Audi 03331: Backrest Angle Motor, Adaptation Not Set
Audi 03331 is logged in the seat memory module (Address 36) for the backrest angle adjustment motor, and it almost always comes with sub-code 005, meaning the module has not learned the motor's end stops, not that the motor is dead. Most cars are fixed by re-running the seat basic settings, with a failed motor, wiring or the seat memory module itself being less common causes.
Quick facts
- System
- Comfort / Seat Memory
- Severity
- Low
- Can you still drive?
- Yes, safe to drive
- Applies to
- VW Group cars with memory seats, in the seat memory control modules (Address 36, Seat Memory Driver J136, and the matching passenger seat module). Directly evidenced in a Bentle...
Also shown by some scanners as: 03331 - 005, Motor for Backrest Angle Adjustment
Symptoms
- Seat memory buttons do nothing, or only some stored positions recall correctly
- Backrest recline does not move electrically, or moves but the position is never stored
- Seat does not return to the stored position when the key or driver profile changes
- Easy entry or seat move-away on exit stops working
- Fault stored in module 36 with no dashboard warning light at all
Common causes, most likely first
- 1
Basic settings / adaptation never completed or lost
Typically after a battery disconnect, module swap or seat swap. This is the 005 sub-code and needs no parts at all
- 2
Adaptation attempted but interrupted
Motors were not run stop to stop without interruption, so the learn never completed
- 3
Backrest motor, position sensor or seat wiring fault
Motor or its position sensor failed, or the seat loom has broken from repeated seat travel
- 4
Seat memory control module J136 failed
8K0959772 series on Audi B8 platform cars
- 5
Component protection still active
Reported after fitting a donor seat or a used module, which blocks the module until released
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Frequently asked questions
Can I still drive with Audi code 03331?
Yes. This is a comfort system only, it does not affect braking, steering, engine or airbags, and usually no dashboard warning appears. The practical downside is a seat that will not adjust or recall its position, or a seat stuck in one position if the motor has genuinely failed.
Does 03331 always mean the backrest motor is faulty?
Not necessarily. Nearly all cases carry sub-code 005, which points to a missing or lost basic settings adaptation rather than a dead motor. A proper diagnostic read of the sub-code is needed before assuming the motor itself is faulty, since cheaper causes like an interrupted adaptation run are more common.
How do I fix Audi code 03331?
Start with a proper diagnostic read of the sub-code. In most cases, re-running the seat basic settings / adaptation procedure clears the fault with no parts needed. If the motor itself is confirmed dead, or the seat wiring is damaged, or the seat memory control module J136 has actually failed, then the corresponding part needs replacing. WhatsApp us the code and car model for stock and today's price.
Which Audi models does this code apply to?
This applies to VW Group cars fitted with memory seats, read from the seat memory control module (Address 36, J136). It is directly evidenced on a Bentley Continental GT using the same VAG seat memory module, with further owner reports on Audi A4/A5 B8, Q5 8R, Q7 and VW Touareg, though those specific reports could not be independently confirmed. The code is module-scoped, so the same number can mean something entirely different if read from another module.