KNOWN FAULTS · Volkswagen

Known faults for the Volkswagen Polo III (6N2).

2000–2001 · Petrol / Diesel

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

2 known faults with sources

Engines: 1.0 / 1.4 / 1.6 (Petrol) · 1.4 / 1.9 SDI-TDI (Diesel)

Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.

Gearbox, pedal box and crankcase breather on the Polo IIIKnown weak points

Engine / equipment: Volkswagen Polo III 6N2 (petrol and diesel)
Period mentioned: 1999–2001
Symptoms: Frequent gearbox failures; a failing pedal box (over £500 at a dealer); low power and high consumption on the 1.4 and 1.6 16V due to the ECU; below −8 °C, condensation in the sump of the 1.0 and 1.4 blocks the breather and can starve the engine of oil; heavy front tyre wear.
Possible cause described: Cases collected by Honest John; the 16V ECU was replaced under warranty. Recall (2002): cracks in the brake-servo vacuum pipe on 121,281 Polos and Lupos.
Check for the garage: Test every gear and the pedal box; in winter, look for mayonnaise under the oil cap; check the campaign by VIN.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: 1.4 / 1.9 SDI-TDI (Diesel)

PD TDI camshaft, injectors and cylinder headInjection / cylinder head

Engine / equipment: 1.2, 1.4, 1.9 and 2.0 TDI unit-injector (PD) engines, including the VW-sourced 2.0 CRD in Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep
Period mentioned: 2000–2010
Symptoms: 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.
Possible cause described: The camshaft also drives the unit injectors and carries a heavy load: without VW 505.01 oil the lobes and lifters wear. 2.0 TDI PD injectors fail frequently. Some 16-valve 2.0 TDI heads (part number ending in A) crack; VW considered it fixed by the end of 2006.
Check for the garage: 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.
Cost cited in the source: Camshaft and lifters: approx. €400–800; 2.0 TDI PD injectors: €900–2,000A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Mileage cited in the database: 120,000–200,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.