Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI PHEV GTE Connected Series common faults.

2014–2019, estate, hybrid, 156 HP.

The fault list covers: DGEB, CUKC engine, DQ250 transmission.

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5 fault write-ups. 2 important. 6 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

2 important faults

expensive2

DQ250 (6 speed wet DSG): mechatronics and clutch pack

expensive

The solenoids of the mechatronics unit wear out: slow or harsh shifting, then limp mode. A characteristic sign is the partial or complete loss of reverse. Wear of the clutch pack or the wrong spring force causes jerking and slipping. Because of the wet design it fails less often and at higher mileage than the dry DQ200, but when it does fail, it is expensive.

above 150,000 km

What to check

Pull away slowly from standstill and watch how smooth the 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 shifts are
Select reverse several times, cold and warm: is it delayed, does it engage at all
Under load (on a slope) watch whether the clutch slips

2 more steps in the write-up

EA211 (1.0 to 1.5 TSI): water pump and thermostat module leak

expensive

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

Check the level in the expansion tank, and ask whether it needs topping up
After a cold start smell the engine bay: a sweet smell means coolant
Look for dried, whitish pink deposits on the exhaust side of the cylinder head

2 more steps in the write-up

comfort2

B8 Variant: powered tailgate

comfort

The powered tailgate of the estate is a common complaint: the lifting motors, the microswitches and the closing mechanism can all fail. The tailgate stops halfway, does not close properly, or opens again on its own.

What to check

Open and close the powered tailgate five times in a row
Watch whether it stops halfway or opens again
Try it from the key and with the gesture under the bumper too, if fitted

1 more steps in the write-up

B8: infotainment freezing and Bluetooth dropouts

comfort

The head unit freezes, restarts, or shuts down entirely; the Bluetooth connection drops regularly, and the wireless charger does not recognise the phone. It happens as early as 10,000 to 30,000 km. It is often software, but a hardware fault can be behind it too: the slow response of the navigation and the outdated map are part of the same thing. Cars built up to 2016 still have the first generation (MIB1) head unit, and most of the faults fall on the 2014 to 2016 model years. Intermittent loss of the reversing camera belongs to the same group.

What to check

Cycle the ignition three times and check whether the screen comes up every time
Pair a phone over Bluetooth and leave it connected for ten minutes during a test drive
Try the wireless charger if fitted: does it recognise the phone

2 more steps in the write-up

cheap repair1

DSG selector lever: failure of the P position switch

cheap repair

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.

Show the rest

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

Watch the dash after starting: the message is intermittent and can be missed on a short loop
Move the lever from P to D and back several times, then get out and lock the car
Ask whether the selector lever switch has been replaced already, and ask for the invoice

2 more steps in the write-up

Official recall6 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

Most recent: 22 May 2019

19V389000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS22 May 2019 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.

The authority's notice

A12/00188/24Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

The thermal protection between the brake force booster and the emissions control device in front of the coupling support with the brake fluid reservoir may not have been correctly fitted. The coupling support could melt, leading to a leak of brake fluid, which could ignite if it comes into contact with hot components. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.