KNOWN FAULTS · Volkswagen

Known faults for the Volkswagen Crafter II.

2016–2026 · Diesel / Electric

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

3 known faults with sources

Engines: 2.0 TDI (EA288) (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.

Engines: 2.0 TDI (EA288) (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 (EA288) (Diesel) · e-Crafter (Electric)

Applies if: Only vans built from 19/1/2017 to 23/9/2019 (campaign 64F8); confirm by VIN.

Badly bonded side or rear windows that may come off (2017–2019 Crafter)Bodywork

Engine / equipment: Second-generation Volkswagen Crafter built from 19/1/2017 to 23/9/2019 (diesel and electric e-Crafter: the body is the same)
Period mentioned: 2017–2019
Symptoms: There may be no warning: sometimes a window moves, creaks or lets air or water in at the edge; in the worst case it comes off while driving.
Possible cause described: According to alert 37/2020 of the European Safety Gate system (A12/01224/20), a manufacturing error means the adhesive holding the side or rear windows does not bond well enough, and a window may come off and endanger following traffic. Volkswagen fixes it under campaign 64F8. The alert does not limit the recall to a particular engine: it is a body defect, shared by the diesel and the e-Crafter built in that period.
Check for the garage: Check by VIN at a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles garage whether your van is in campaign 64F8 and whether it has been done. Also check whether any fixed window moves when you push it by hand or has its adhesive bead coming away.
Cost cited in the source: Free under the recall.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.