VW’s dieselgate ‘technical fix’ has damaged engines, owners claim

The recall has left many VW drivers with poor fuel consumption and slow acceleration

VW’s dieselgate ‘technical fix’ has damaged engines, owners claim
Hundreds have left complaints about the VM's modification following the emissions scandal recall.

Volkswagen owners have said the technical fix to correct the so-called “defeat devices”, used by the VM to cheat air emissions tests, has left them with unreliable cars.

Owners claim that the fix, which alters the software and involves modifying an air sensor, has resulted in poor fuel consumption, difficulties starting as well as reduced power and acceleration.

Some have voiced their concerns to the Common’s transport committee, which is investigating VW over the scandal.

The German car-maker has confirmed that it will investigate all complaints free of charge and insists that the cheat devices were not fitted to cars sold in the UK but said it is applying the “technical fix” to UK cars to give drivers “peace of mind”.

However, the transport committee believes it is “not credible” that VW would be prepared to recall more than one million cars at great expense if there was nothing wrong with them.

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21 Comments

  1. I had the “fix” fitted to my engine. Soot collected by the DPF increased 3 fold after the fix. Now the fan often stays on after I switch the engine off. I’m worried what all this extra soot and regeneration will do to the DPF and EGR in the long run. Any thoughts?

    Reply
  2. I had the “fix” fitted to my engine. Soot collected by the DPF increased 3 fold after the fix. Now the fan often stays on after I switch the engine off. I’m worried what all this extra soot and regeneration will do to the DPF and EGR in the long run. Any thoughts?

    Reply
  3. I have had the fix done on my car and its ruined it. The power is gone, the torque curve is ruined, the DPF filter keeps going, i have had multiple warning lights coming on that are not logged on the ECU and the car goes in and out of ‘limp mode’
    Since having it done the car has had to be recovered by RAC twice and one of them times i had driven less than 3 miles from collecting it.
    My car is back with Audi and with no sign of me getting it back or any understand as to what is wrong with it.

    Reply
  4. I have had the fix done on my car and its ruined it. The power is gone, the torque curve is ruined, the DPF filter keeps going, i have had multiple warning lights coming on that are not logged on the ECU and the car goes in and out of ‘limp mode’
    Since having it done the car has had to be recovered by RAC twice and one of them times i had driven less than 3 miles from collecting it.
    My car is back with Audi and with no sign of me getting it back or any understand as to what is wrong with it.

    Reply
  5. I work in an independent garage and have had customers complain the car didn’t feel right after the update

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  6. I work in an independent garage and have had customers complain the car didn’t feel right after the update

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  7. I have a Q5 which failed 4 days after the software fix. They quoted £2200 to fix the turbo, dpf and egr cooler which we refused to pay after we saw many others out there with the same problems. The dealerships are quoting people to pay up and then not doing anything about assisting loyal customers until they raise a complaint with head office. It’s leaving customers really stressed and in some cases without cars for weeks. VW keep blaming KBA but they need to start advising customers about the ‘side effects’ of having the fix. The update is supposedly voluntary but when customers, like myself, receive their 5th letter with ‘action required’ and accredited by the Driving Standards Authority you are led to believe you are doing something wrong if you don’t carry out the update. I have my car back after 8 weeks and it pulls off like a tank. The whole situation is a complete mess and they need to buy back these broken vehicles. #vwfixfail (please share the hashtag people. Disgrace!

    Reply
  8. I have a Q5 which failed 4 days after the software fix. They quoted £2200 to fix the turbo, dpf and egr cooler which we refused to pay after we saw many others out there with the same problems. The dealerships are quoting people to pay up and then not doing anything about assisting loyal customers until they raise a complaint with head office. It’s leaving customers really stressed and in some cases without cars for weeks. VW keep blaming KBA but they need to start advising customers about the ‘side effects’ of having the fix. The update is supposedly voluntary but when customers, like myself, receive their 5th letter with ‘action required’ and accredited by the Driving Standards Authority you are led to believe you are doing something wrong if you don’t carry out the update. I have my car back after 8 weeks and it pulls off like a tank. The whole situation is a complete mess and they need to buy back these broken vehicles. #vwfixfail (please share the hashtag people. Disgrace!

    Reply
    • I bet the new software is rigged as to not trip engine light , therefore no warranty. My EGR and manifold was plugged. Took a few hours but cleaned it myself. Great youtube video on how to do it. good luck , tim

      Reply
  9. I have a 1.6 ecomotive SEAT Leon that’s been in for the fix. It’s ruined the car!
    The “flow straightener” is a plastic mesh inside a tube that’s added to the inlet trumpet for the air filter and looks like one of those things you get with a protein shake mixer. The software remap will: increase your fuel consumption by 5-10%, reduce your turbo boost by ~15-20% and move the boost further up the rev range, make your car sluggish at low revs and rough at idle, cycle your EGR valve on every run probably leading to premature failure. So DON’T have it done!!! It’s not compulsory

    Reply
  10. I have a 1.6 ecomotive SEAT Leon that’s been in for the fix. It’s ruined the car!
    The “flow straightener” is a plastic mesh inside a tube that’s added to the inlet trumpet for the air filter and looks like one of those things you get with a protein shake mixer. The software remap will: increase your fuel consumption by 5-10%, reduce your turbo boost by ~15-20% and move the boost further up the rev range, make your car sluggish at low revs and rough at idle, cycle your EGR valve on every run probably leading to premature failure. So DON’T have it done!!! It’s not compulsory

    Reply
  11. Appsolute insult by VW. Had my update on the 16 January immediately notice lack of power, car regularly doing re-gens, increase in fuel, irregular engine tick over then the dreaded engine management light. Contacted Sinclare Newport Gwent WHO carried out the update they denied there was any link to the update.
    I took the car to an independent garage who done a diosnostics test (free of charge) who confirmed the EGR valve.
    Contacted Sinclair again who would not accept any responsibility but wanted me to pay £79 + £1200 if the EGR needs changing I declined this offer in the end I payed £595 at a independent garage.
    Still VW are denying any responsibility refusing to refunded my £595 Althought they are now replacing EGR’S free of charge.

    Reply
  12. Appsolute insult by VW. Had my update on the 16 January immediately notice lack of power, car regularly doing re-gens, increase in fuel, irregular engine tick over then the dreaded engine management light. Contacted Sinclare Newport Gwent WHO carried out the update they denied there was any link to the update.
    I took the car to an independent garage who done a diosnostics test (free of charge) who confirmed the EGR valve.
    Contacted Sinclair again who would not accept any responsibility but wanted me to pay £79 + £1200 if the EGR needs changing I declined this offer in the end I payed £595 at a independent garage.
    Still VW are denying any responsibility refusing to refunded my £595 Althought they are now replacing EGR’S free of charge.

    Reply
  13. Had my car “fixed” recently. I’ve noticed the fan continues to run when the engine’s turned off, it’s “pinking” more often, the engine has cut out for no reason when I’ve stopped & the DPF warning light has come on more often. Also regularly billows black smoke.
    I don’t believe a word VW say & can’t wait to get rid of my Polo. ??

    Reply
  14. Had my car “fixed” recently. I’ve noticed the fan continues to run when the engine’s turned off, it’s “pinking” more often, the engine has cut out for no reason when I’ve stopped & the DPF warning light has come on more often. Also regularly billows black smoke.
    I don’t believe a word VW say & can’t wait to get rid of my Polo. ??

    Reply
  15. Oh & I forgot to say when VW “fixed” my car they also sent me a video of things that were wrong with it, amounting to around £550…. Showed my mechanic, who had recently serviced my car & guess what……the work didn’t need doing!!! The whole scandal stinks.

    Reply
  16. Oh & I forgot to say when VW “fixed” my car they also sent me a video of things that were wrong with it, amounting to around £550…. Showed my mechanic, who had recently serviced my car & guess what……the work didn’t need doing!!! The whole scandal stinks.

    Reply
  17. A customer has told me that their car has been ” fixed” by VAG ie the paper work has been ticked and nothing more. It still goes like a bat out of hell and will not rev when tested ….I still go through the motions of an emission test for what? Its going to pass…

    Reply
  18. Customer has reported that his brothers vw has been fixed by the dealer. It still goes like the clappers no loss in fuel economy. Several I have mot’d after the fix will not rev on the emissions test even with the esp off in gear and clutch depressed cheat technology is alive and well. BMW, merc ,pas group you get a small reading on the test result on vag group no reading at all. Our customer was told by a mechanic at vw that they are not doing the fix just the “paperwork ” because of the above problems. If you look on the chassis plate there is a small square with a figure in it usually 0.5 this is what we should be testing to, not the. 5 that the government fudged to. This figure will allow a modern vehicle in reasonable condition to pass the mot test will ALL cats and DOES removed. As an mot tester I can see that the dpf has been opened for “repair” I can tap it and it sounds hollow but there is nothing I can do . I was told by the dvla it might have hit a speed bump etc …up by the manifold ? Let’s keep our heads a little deeper in the sand.

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  19. Sorry government figure should read 1.5

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  20. I had my 2014 golf tdi fixed in the fall. The car died on the road. No engine code was tripped. Called dealer and was told a code must be tripped to get warranty. Took it apart myself . EGR and intake manifold filled with black goo/tar. Cleaned it up , now runs great again.

    Reply

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