KNOWN FAULTS · Seat

Known faults for the Seat Exeo.

2009–2013 · Petrol / Diesel

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

4 known faults with sources

Engines: 1.8 TSI (EA888) (Petrol)

Excessive oil consumption (piston rings)Engine

Engine / equipment: 1.8 / 2.0 TSI-TFSI EA888, 2nd generation
Period mentioned: Approx. 2009–2015
Symptoms: Very high oil consumption (over 1 litre per 1,000 km), low oil warning, bluish smoke, oil-fouled spark plugs.
Possible cause described: Piston rings that are too thin carbon up and lose tension, letting oil into the combustion chamber. The crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve can also contribute.
Check for the garage: Controlled oil consumption test over 1,000 km, compression or leak-down test and a PCV valve check.
Cost cited in the source: €3,000–5,000 (new pistons and rings)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 1.8 TSI (EA888) (Petrol)

Timing chain tensionerTiming system

Engine / equipment: 1.8 / 2.0 TSI-TFSI EA888, 1st and 2nd generation
Period mentioned: Approx. 2008–2015
Symptoms: 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.
Possible cause described: The hydraulic chain tensioner (old design) loses pressure on cold starts, the chain goes slack and can jump teeth, causing valves to hit pistons.
Check for the garage: An inspection plug on the lower timing cover shows the tensioner position. Listen to a cold start.
Cost cited in the source: €1,500–4,000 (chain, guides and tensioner)A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 1.8 TSI (EA888) (Petrol) · 2.0 TDI (EA189) (Diesel)

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

A/C not cooling: N280 valveClimate control

Engine / equipment: Air conditioning with clutchless compressor and N280 regulating valve (combustion VW, Audi, Seat, Cupra and Skoda from 2006)
Period mentioned: 2006–2026
Symptoms: 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.
Possible cause described: The compressor regulates its output with the N280 solenoid valve, its most common failure point. Audi issued technical bulletins over a manufacturing fault in this valve on Sanden compressors. Its connector can also become brittle and corrode (especially without the engine undertray), or the wiring fails.
Check for the garage: 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.
Cost cited in the source: N280 valve: a cheap part (about 30 dollars) where sold separately; new compressor with circuit flush: considerably moreA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 2.0 TDI (EA189) (Diesel)

Cracked EGR coolerCooling / EGR

Engine / equipment: 1.6 and 2.0 TDI (EA189 and EA288)
Period mentioned: Approx. 2010–2020
Symptoms: Coolant level drops with no visible leak, white smoke with a sweet smell, rising temperature or engine light. In severe cases the engine hydrolocks.
Possible cause described: The internal tubes of the EGR cooler crack and coolant enters the intake. It worsened after the post-Dieselgate software update, which increased EGR use.
Check for the garage: Cooling system pressure test and check for coolant in the intake or manifold.
Cost cited in the source: €400–1,300A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.