Loosely fastened earth lead of the auxiliary air heater that can heat up and cause a fire (Golf V Variant diesel and Tiguan TDI, 2008 recalls)

Engine / equipment

Golf V Variant diesel without a parking heater and Tiguan TDI without a parking heater

Period mentioned

Recalls of 2008

Symptoms

Local heating beside the centre console and, in the worst case, a car fire; on the Tiguan it usually gives warning first with smoke from the centre tunnel.

Possible cause described

According to the ADAC, if the nut of the earth lead is not tight enough the contact resistance rises and there is local heating and, in the worst case, fire. The heating element of the air heater is behind the centre console on the driver's side. The garage removes the trim in the driver's footwell and tightens the nut to 9 Nm. Free and one hour. In Germany it covered 27,200 Golf Vs (with other models; code 87B4) and 7,200 Tiguans.

Check for the garage

Ask by VIN whether it was done (an old recall). If you see smoke or smell burning from the centre tunnel, stop the car and do not use it until a garage has looked at it.

Cost cited in the source

Free under the recall.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database