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Before you buy a used Volkswagen Passat B6.

2005–2010 · Petrol / Diesel · 5 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Volkswagen Passat B6, real photo of this generation
Thomas doerfer · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 5 of its engines.

  • A/C not cooling: N280 valveClimate control
    Period mentioned
    2006–2026
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

    Applies if: Only if fitted with the air conditioning system described.

1.4 TSI (EA111)

Petrol

1.8 TSI (EA888 gen 1)

Petrol

  • Timing chain tensionerValve timing
    Period mentioned
    Approx. 2008–2015
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

2.0 FSI / TFSI

Petrol

1.9 / 2.0 TDI PD

Diesel

These also apply, described above: Hard starting and engine management glitches from an earth point (Passat B6)

2.0 TDI common rail (desde 2008)

Diesel

  • Cracked EGR coolerCooling / EGR
    Period mentioned
    Approx. 2010–2020
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

These also apply, described above: DQ250 DSG mechatronic and oil

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Volkswagen Passat B6
EngineDocumented faults
1.4 TSI (EA111)PetrolFewest documented21 with conditions
1.8 TSI (EA888 gen 1)PetrolFewest documented21 with conditions
2.0 FSI / TFSIPetrol32 with conditions
1.9 / 2.0 TDI PDDiesel76 with conditions
2.0 TDI common rail (desde 2008)Diesel32 with conditions

According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.4 TSI (EA111) (Petrol), 1.8 TSI (EA888 gen 1) (Petrol).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Petrol.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

We have no official recalls on record for this model. Our list is not complete: ask anyway, with the chassis number.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Volkswagen dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 11 checked

Valve timing

  • Look out for: Rattle on a cold start, engine light for timing deviation; if the chain jumps, the engine cranks but won't start.

    Ask them to check: Listen to a cold start and read the timing deviation values with VCDS. Ask for an invoice showing the revised kit was fitted.

  • Look out for: Metallic rattle for a few seconds on a cold start, engine light for camshaft/crankshaft correlation; in the worst case the engine won't start after a loud noise.

    Ask them to check: An inspection plug on the lower timing cover shows the tensioner position. Listen to a cold start.

Injection / high-pressure pump

  • Look out for: Power loss or hesitation at full load, fuel pressure codes, high-pressure pump noise; fuel smell in the oil and a rising level if the pump leaks; misfires.

    Ask them to check: Check the high-pressure pump follower at every service, smell the oil and watch its level, and read fuel pressure with a diagnostic tool.

Injection / cylinder head

  • Look out for: Growing noise from the cylinder head, power loss and rough running (cams and lifters); unstable idle, smoke or hesitation (injectors); on the 16-valve 2.0 TDI, coolant loss with no visible leak from a cracked head.

    Ask them to check: Check the oil history (VW 505.01), listen to the head, check injector balance rates with a diagnostic tool and, on the 16-valve 2.0 TDI, read the head part number (03G 103 351) and look for coolant loss.

Cooling / EGR

  • Look out for: Coolant level drops with no visible leak, white smoke with a sweet smell, rising temperature or engine light. In severe cases the engine hydrolocks.

    Ask them to check: Cooling system pressure test and check for coolant in the intake or manifold.

Climate control

  • Look out for: The air does not cool or cools intermittently (for example only at motorway speed), and sometimes the compressor rattles with the A/C on. Codes 01232 (N280 valve), P2612 or 00898.

    Ask them to check: Read the codes and N280 control current with VCDS or ODIS, measure its resistance (about 10 ohms) and check the connector and wiring before replacing parts. If the valve or compressor is replaced, the whole circuit must be flushed.

Electrical and electronic systems

  • Look out for: It is hard to start and the electronic engine management plays up.

    Ask them to check: Have the garage check and clean the earth points in the engine bay before replacing sensors or control units, and ask VW by VIN whether any recall is still open.

  • Look out for: The glow plug preheating fails, which on a diesel usually shows when starting from cold.

    Ask them to check: Have the garage read the preheating fault codes and check the make of the control unit: if it is a Wehrle, the fix is to replace it with a Beru or Bosch one. Check the glow plugs too.

DSG gearbox

  • Look out for: Jerking or shudder when pulling away and at low speed, harsh shifts, gearbox warning or limp mode; codes P17BF, P189C, P0841, P0871 or P0717.

    Ask them to check: Read codes with ODIS or VCDS, check the oil change history, inspect the pan for rust or leaks and the clutch adaptation values. Replacing the mechatronic control board is often enough.

Engine

  • Look out for: The oil pump stops working all at once, nearly always at high revs. The red oil pressure warning light comes on when the damage is already done.

    Ask them to check: If the oil pressure warning light comes on, stop the engine as soon as you can and do not drive on. VW does not recommend a preventive repair; if you want one, the balance shaft module, which holds the shaft, is replaced. If the engine has already failed, ask the brand for a goodwill contribution.

Cooling

  • Look out for: The coolant level drops a lot and has to be topped up often.

    Ask them to check: Check the coolant level with the engine cold and do not drive on if the temperature warning comes on. To confirm the head gasket, the garage can pressure-test the system and look for combustion gases in the coolant.

OBD codes worth looking for

If they let you read the fault memory with an OBD reader, these are the codes mentioned in this model's sheets:

P001601232P261200898P17BFP189CP0841P0871P0717

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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