vinkodex.7 fault write-ups. 3 important. 4 recalls.
If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.
Before you buy
On cars built in 2017 and 2018 the front suspension mounting bolts were not tightened to the specified torque, and they can work loose over time. This affects the stability of the car, so it is safety critical. A recall covers it: tied to the VIN and free of charge.
What to check
A thin wall of the mechatronics valve body can crack, which causes a loss of pressure. The typical signs: jerking and harsh shifting from 1st to 2nd at low speed, a flashing PRNDS display, then a gear engagement fault, intermittently at first.
What to check
In the EA211 the water pump and the thermostat are one plastic module, and the pump is driven not by the timing belt but by a separate toothed belt behind the exhaust camshaft. There are usually two problems with it: the plastic housing warps or cracks (slow coolant loss, a sweet smell, rising temperature), or the drive belt ages (a chirping noise, then an engine left with no cooling). The housing is particularly sensitive if oil reaches it: for example from a leaking crankcase ventilation. The module has to be replaced whole: dismantling it warps it in itself.
What to check
At low revs, mostly when cold and in the lower gears, the engine jerks; in extreme cases it stalls in a roundabout or at a junction. The cause of the phenomenon is the lean mixture used to heat the catalytic converter quickly, so it is software in origin. The maker released an update in March 2020, whose effectiveness owners judge differently.
What to check
The dash shows "Error: Workshop! Only leave vehicle in position P" with an audible warning. The message appears in whatever language the car is set to, for example "Fehler: Werkstatt! Fahrzeug nur in Stellung P verlassen" in German.
The message points at the gearbox, but the fault is not there. A tiny switch sits in the module under the selector lever and signals that the lever is in park (P). Its contact wears and can also burn. That makes the signal unreliable, and the car warns you. The fault codes appear as 617752, P173400 or B116229.
At first it is intermittent. Sometimes the message comes up, sometimes not, so a short test drive easily misses it. Later it becomes permanent, and the gearbox can drop into limp mode.
This fault looks more expensive than it is. The maker released a separate retrofit switch kit for it (5Q0713128A for the black module, 3Q0713128 for the white one), which can be fitted in half an hour. The kit costs 70 to 100 pounds. At a franchised dealer, however, the whole selector lever module sometimes gets replaced, which costs 626 to 1,000 pounds there. So the difference between the two routes is roughly tenfold.
The affected group is post 2013 MQB platform Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda cars with a DSG gearbox. The switch is in these gearboxes, because that is what these cars have in common. The part itself is not part of the gearbox but of the module under the lever.
What to check
The touchscreen system freezes, restarts on its own or does not respond. The stop-start can drop out as early as 15,000 km: the indicator stays lit and the engine does not stop. The parking sensors report a false obstacle, and the automatic light switch drops out. The driver's window stops because of a broken door wiring harness. The boot lock stops because washer fluid gets into the connector.
What to check
The per cylinder ignition coil of these direct injection, turbocharged petrol engines fails. According to the Haynes service material this and similar simple electrical faults account for roughly eighty per cent of workshop visits.
In cold, damp weather, on startup, the engine runs unevenly, misfires under acceleration, and the engine warning light flashes or stays on. Do not keep driving with the light flashing: the unburnt fuel destroys the catalytic converter.
What to check
vinkodex.Checklist
First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.
Before you buy
The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.
The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.
Most recent: 1 October 2018
A12/1757/18Safety recallInjuries1 October 2018 · EU Safety GateIn the event of an impact the battery can get damaged, which leads to lack of power supply. If this occurs, it might not be possible to unlock the doors.
Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 01/10/2018
A12/1206/17Safety recallInjuries7 August 2017 · EU Safety GateThe tightening torque on the steering column bolt may be incorrect, which may result in a failure of the steering system and loss of control of the vehicle.
Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 07/08/2017
A12/0962/17Safety recallFire29 June 2017 · EU Safety GateAn air-conditioning pipe may rupture in the event of a frontal collision. If this happens, the inflammable gas may escape which could lead to a fire.
Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 29/06/2017
A12/1193/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety GateThe driver airbags may not inflate fast enough in the event of activation. As a result, sufficient protection is not guaranteed in the event of an accident, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Importer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown
DADA · 1.5 TFSI COD110 kW (150 HP) · petrol
DQ200 · 7-speed DSG, dry clutchDSG · 7 speed
We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it. More than one engine code is possible. The fault list shows the faults of each.
Variant data
The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.
Air filter
DQ200: lifetime fill by the maker, not in practice
Cabin (pollen) filter
Engine oil and oil filter
Brake fluid change
Coolant (antifreeze) change
Spark plugs, petrol
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.