Heater matrix and radiator leak
It does not show up on every car. Check before you buy.
expensive
severity
not available
mileage
1
sources
1 source next to the write-up.
The fault
How you spot it
The two weak points of the cooling system are the radiator and the heater matrix. The latter is inside the cabin: if it leaks, you get a sweet antifreeze smell, the windscreen mists up greasily from inside, and damp stays under the passenger side carpet. The damp goes unnoticed for a long time under the floor covering. And replacing the heater matrix means stripping the dashboard.
Which model
Who it affects
The card opens the generation, the engine or the transmission.
Generations and models
3 generations.

Volkswagen
III
Caddy
Rudolf Stricker / CC BY-SA 3.0
Volkswagen Caddy III
2003–2010
Volkswagen
III.5
Caddy
Volkswagen Caddy III.5
2010–2015
Volkswagen
IV
Caddy
Volkswagen Caddy IV
2015–2020
Checklist
Heater matrix and radiator leak
What you would check for this fault. Take it to the car.
Before you buy
Checklist
What you tick stays on this device only.
Sources
How we know
Information, not an expert opinion
We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.
- A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
- A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
- You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
