Golf 118 TSI Engine Failures and Service Campaign 24S4

[kaanage]

No one has done a 118TSI cylinder recently have they?

Does Feb/March this year count as recent? The two rebuilds below date from then.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

exact problem I had. It got worse. Then the light on the dash came on (something about exhaust). it got worse. I took it in and they found loss of compression on cylinder one. It was booked in for a full check but before I got there it got a lot worse (jerky ride, loss of power). Warning came on to take the car straight to the service centre. Turned out to be the dreaded fuel injector - cracked piston issue. I finally got the car back last week after about a month in the garage.

Count me in as another unfortunate statistic. Just got my 118TSI back from the workshop today, it's had its timing belt, pistons, water pump, gaskets and other assorted bits and bolts replaced under warranty. We thought it was a minor issue when it was vibrating oddly at idle, turns out it was something major. And this comes after the DSG had its clutch pack replaced last year due to it hestitating and shuddering!

This thread has been an eye opener, I wish I knew about the bad combination before I bought the car last year. I'm now considering cutting my losses and selling it while it still has some value. Might get something Japanese but there aren't many alternatives which compare to the interior and handling of the Golf. I might hold out till the new Mazda 3 comes out or even consider the Lexus CT200h if the budget can stretch that far!

[logger]

Does Feb/March this year count as recent? The two rebuilds below date from then.

Yeah I guess they would.
On the other hand depends when those cars were build. Should have asked how many cyclinder failures with engines built after the "fix" was implemented. Ie is it truly a fix for newer or replaced engines never exposed to the pre fix regime.

[kaanage]

Feng later posted that his car was a Dec 2010 build which would seem to be after this service campaign was instigated. The multitude of continuing Polo 6R GTi complaints (since that uses a warmed up version of the same engine) is also worrying but then some (most?) people have no problems at all.

[logger]

Been away from these forums for quite a while so did not read about the Polo 6R GTi issues. Surely it is not the same issue is it?

Wouldn't you love to know how many early MK6 twin-charger engines were replaced or rebuild as a % of those on the road at the time. Anecdotally is wasn't just a handful.

[adhock]

In further response to Logger, me and apparently 4 others, in early March one week in Wangara. Plus another soul being told the news when mine went back in in April for the DSG replacement. So 118TSI cylinder fails are still happening in WA, at least for those with low kms. To give Wangara VW and VWA their due, there was no quibbling about warranty for me for both cylinder and DSG woes, and the Europcar loaner Passat was very nice transport.

Feng later posted that his car was a Dec 2010 build

Missed this: mine was late 2010, sold June 2011, but not door stickered until after the engine failed, so presumably not factory fixed before delivery. The late April fail was a 2009 model Golf.

And there are more than 50 documented fails just in these forums, so a lot of grumpies like me but a lot of fails nonetheless

[Stelex]

Curious Stelex, have you recounted the problems you had with your car to the Dept of Infrastructure & Transport or your States Fair Trading mob?

I have. I also asked them for the assistance, called the ACCC and lodged a formal complaint but to no avail. These bodies are toothless tigers. Essentially, they advised me that I need to seek remedy from VW and if they don't come to the party I can lodge complaint with them, which I did. What happened? Nothing, they told me that the best course of action is to sue VW for lost time and reduced value of vehicle, make it under (IIRC) $7,500 and take it through the small claims court. That's where it (their advice) ended.

I spoke to a lawyer who is a good friend of my best friend and who specialises in this sort of disputes. She advised me that the thing is winnable but it will take forever and that I might need to remortgage the house if I want to go ahead.

In the end I have purchased extended warranty. The car is leased, so I couldn't sell it until the lease expires (4 years) unless I incurr serious losses. As I wasn't keen on having the car without a warranty for one single day after all that happened to it, I had to get warranty myself.

The dealer where I purchased the car, and never serviced there, was very sympathetic and very apologetic and sold me the extended warranty for $1,670, he said it was 'at cost'. At the time I couldn't find it anywhere under $2,300.

In early 1990s I spent 5 years of my life in Germany and had Golf I, Golf Ia, Golf II, Passat Wagon Diesel and Jetta II and really enjoyed each one of them, with no issues at all, even though they were all 10+ year old cars. Then I bought this piece of junk, I don't know what happened meanwhile, they cocked it up big time.

What now? Waiting 29th November, the car will be on sale the moment the sun goes up.

Last month I purchased a new Honda Accord Euro and enjoying it no end ... fingers crossed Golf is now driven by my wife, doing just minimum kilometres, work, shops, garage. I just don't trust it anymore, don't trust VW at all.

Never again.

Never.

Not. Ever. Again.

(well, I guess it shows how frustrated I am

[Cplus]

you know that selling now and paying out the lease early makes very little difference to your actual "outgoing"

say for example the car is "going" to be worth $15K in November in 6 months time and is now worth $21K as a payout. look at your lease payments, they will be $1000 a month. ie: you are paying down the difference between the payout value today and the final figure.

your outgoing will be identical whether you wait or just bite the bullet now.

[anthony]

Stelex,I also drive a Honda Accord Euro after 4 new VWs ,my last one a Jetta 5.

You will see a big diffirence in build quality and reliability.
Honda dealers have been way better to deal with,and I am sure you will be hooked for life now...

[logger]

I have. I also asked them for the assistance, called the ACCC and lodged a formal complaint but to no avail.

Thanks Stelex. If nothing else contacting them might have added to the numbers of dissatisfied consumers.

[prise]

Failures still occurring in VW's ancestral home where they have good fuel. Clearly a mechanical design/quality control issue and consistent with VW's strategy of explaining global failures as being unique to individual markets. The global brands like VW need to realise that information no longer respects national boundaries these days, so they can stop patronising us.

Google Translate

I chickened out and sold my 118TSI - I was going to make it a long termer as our second car. Unfortunately with the 7spd DSG I bought the problem engine and gearbox combo although my vehicle did have other niggling issues. Still kicking myself I didnt buy the 2.0Tdi manual for the same price.

A big minus for me was the long wait for parts to arrive whenever something needed to be fixed under warranty (eg 3wks for suspension components).

I pick up my replacement car next week so this will likely be my last post. This forum has been a good source of info and entertainment, so thank-you everyone.

[davewave]

Nightmare come true. Please help, VW want to rebuild my engine.

Hi All,
Let me break this down first quickly then at length.

I own a 2009 Golf MK6 118TSI Comfortline petrol with 7spd DSG and the car is now out of warranty.

VW are claiming that the recent mechanical fault I have had with my car is:

1) 3 Cracked piston shafts
2) All compression rings in the engine collapsed.
3) Decompressed cylinder number 2

VW have taken the engine block out to inspect and come up with these findings.
They claim that impure or RON91 fuel had been used on more then one occasion in the car causing an orange "sweet smelling" residue to form causing the symptoms I had which was white smoke billowing out the exhaust pipe and some shuddering.

Note that I absolutely never put anything but RON98 in the car, I'm the only owner of the car and the only one that drives it. MY thought is that they are trying to avoid coughing up the cash to pay for a mechanical failure on their behalf.

Also note that I have already had the mechatronics unit replaced under warranty because I had the DSG fail on me already so that's one thing off the list.

My questions are:
a) Can using RON91 cause such destruction to the engine?
b) Will it really cost the $4800 for the engine rebuild + $630 labour for the parts stated
c) How can they state that my car has been using other types of fuel when I know I have stuck to RON98?
d) What are my options here (I really just want out of this VW arrangement)
e) Where are the other cars blowing out smoke due to engine destruction? Is it me or are VW trying to get out of this?
f) Does any of this add up or am I missing something.

As always, the best community in the world, it's a shame that once this car is sold (either after they repair it or if I trade it in), that I will not be returning here because I will have moved on from VW.


Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

David

[Lucas_R]

Nightmare come true. Please help, VW want to rebuild my engine.

VW need to cough up - plain and simple. The 118 engines will almost always self destruct without any input from the driver/owner. They are fundamentally flawed and the sheer number of them that have failed in the same manner as yours is unbelieveable.

[kaanage]

Need to force through another recall but the Polo GTi guys have had no luck at all with similar issues (plus cases of massive oil consumption).

I hope you can force the issue with VWA

[Andypoo]

How many km's David?

"Don't ever own a VW out of warranty" - such great advice!

[Idle]

"3 cracked piston shafts"?

Do they mean conrods?

Should be impossible unless the metal quality doesn't measure up or the rod was designed by a first week apprentice.

All rings in the engine collapsed should mean decompressed all cylinders — collapsed rings won't seal.

Every time I read about what's happening with these cars I give thanks that I bought a diesel — and I'm a bit nervous about that...