Golf 118 TSI Engine Failures and Service Campaign 24S4

[gmeno]

Hi ,
My Majestyk, I am in similar situation as you.

So I have this 2009 118 TSI Comfortline Golf, first owner of the car got the car in Sept 2009.
I am the second owner of the car, never had any major accident, other than someone rear ended my car 3 years ago.
The car has always been serviced at the dealer every year.
After I came back from holiday for 2 weeks in Feb, First day i took the car out for a drive, the engine light lit up.
So I took the car into dealer , they told me that the engine failure is due to compression loss in 1 cylinder.
Requested that I authorize labour hours to strip apart the motor, I authorized it, 2 weeks later, I called them for an update, they told me that they found cracked piston. They informed me that they will apply good will with VW Germany, and this afternoon I received a call from them saying that VW Germany has decided to provide 0% , since the car is in its 7th year.

What I do not understand is that the car is clearly not over 7 years old, since the car was first registered in Sept 2009, I have low mileage on the engine, 70K mileage, I normally do not red line the engine unless the car is climbing a hill or going down the hill. SO I do not see how a piston can be cracked with such little mileage on it. And yet VW is not willing to assist with good will.

SO I am pondering on what to do as well, Dealer is quoting me Approx $7K to replace the parts. As well as the labour required to strip apart the motor and put the motor back with the new parts...

I have already spoken to VW customer service this afternoon, and they told me there is nothing they can do, since the reject comes from some internal warranty offices, So I asked them to provide me contact to the VW headquarter so that I can appeal for the good will application.

A colleague of mine suggested that I get the issue in writing as well as the quotes and take it to NRMA to ask them for advice (has to be NRMA member), if they think this is unreasonable, they may help me on my behalf and contact VW dealer / headquarter.

Does anyone has any other suggestion / approach that I can take ?

[tigger73]

If you have a manual transmission, go and buy a 2.0t from a wreckers for ~$2.5k and get that fitted. Cheaper and more reliable in the long run. Plus more power

If you have a DSG, it may mean engine and transmission swap if you want to "upgrade" to a 2.0. Otherwise find a 90TSI swap it over and sell off the car. You'll lose less that way.

If you hadn't heard by now VW is broke fixing up all the diesel emissions scandals. Their warranty budget has been slashed so what may have once been paid 12 months ago is now getting rejected if they can find any excuse to save $.

You could try going through consumer affairs, however as a second owner you never really know/can prove how the car was treated by the first owner. Although I don't agree that 7 years and 70k you should expect to require a complete engine rebuild, I'm guessing the best you might expect is 50% of the parts cost and 0% of the labour. It's still going to be a massive bill whichever way you look at it and close to the value of the car.

[The_Hawk]

If you have a manual transmission, go and buy a 2.0t from a wreckers for ~$2.5k and get that fitted. Cheaper and more reliable in the long run. Plus more power

If you have a DSG, it may mean engine and transmission swap if you want to "upgrade" to a 2.0. Otherwise find a 90TSI swap it over and sell off the car. You'll lose less that way.

AFAIK the gear boxes for the 2.0L are different to the smaller engines (they are rated fro more torque). No idea if they will physically mate or not, but I'd suggest that in either case you will/should replace the gearbox too.

[blower]

The bell housing on the 2.0TSI is different to the 1.4 TSI - no gearbox from the 1.4 will fit a 2.0 (and vice versa)

[Mk R]

Hi ,
My Majestyk, I am in similar situation as you.

So I have this 2009 118 TSI Comfortline Golf, first owner of the car got the car in Sept 2009.
I am the second owner of the car, never had any major accident, other than someone rear ended my car 3 years ago.
The car has always been serviced at the dealer every year.
After I came back from holiday for 2 weeks in Feb, First day i took the car out for a drive, the engine light lit up.
So I took the car into dealer , they told me that the engine failure is due to compression loss in 1 cylinder.
Requested that I authorize labour hours to strip apart the motor, I authorized it, 2 weeks later, I called them for an update, they told me that they found cracked piston. They informed me that they will apply good will with VW Germany, and this afternoon I received a call from them saying that VW Germany has decided to provide 0% , since the car is in its 7th year.

What I do not understand is that the car is clearly not over 7 years old, since the car was first registered in Sept 2009, I have low mileage on the engine, 70K mileage, I normally do not red line the engine unless the car is climbing a hill or going down the hill. SO I do not see how a piston can be cracked with such little mileage on it. And yet VW is not willing to assist with good will.

SO I am pondering on what to do as well, Dealer is quoting me Approx $7K to replace the parts. As well as the labour required to strip apart the motor and put the motor back with the new parts...

I have already spoken to VW customer service this afternoon, and they told me there is nothing they can do, since the reject comes from some internal warranty offices, So I asked them to provide me contact to the VW headquarter so that I can appeal for the good will application.

A colleague of mine suggested that I get the issue in writing as well as the quotes and take it to NRMA to ask them for advice (has to be NRMA member), if they think this is unreasonable, they may help me on my behalf and contact VW dealer / headquarter.

Does anyone has any other suggestion / approach that I can take ?

You can get a low km 2012 CAVD / 2013+ CTHD engine central block from a wrecker in Sydney for about $2,000, independent workshops should charge about $1,000-$1,500 to fit it. The full cost of getting out of your dilemma is ~$3-3,500, not $7,000. That just shows how much of a ripoff VW stealerships are.

Goodwill is a bull**** reason to use overpriced VW workshops, they screwed you even though you did everything right. Never use them again.

EDIT: PM me if you want details for a mechanic that has done several of these, including mine. If you can't get it done by VW for free, tell them you know the actual cost is $3,000, not $7,000. If they still won't fix it then make VW pay for the flat bed truck tow to your new mechanic. Appealing the situation could take weeks or months. If you choose to take my option you'll most likely be back on the road inside 2 weeks.

[tigger73]

The bell housing on the 2.0TSI is different to the 1.4 TSI - no gearbox from the 1.4 will fit a 2.0 (and vice versa)

Bugger. I'll have to let my friend know who has a twin-charger who was looking at this as an option if/when the engine blows up. He used to work at a VW dealership and saw many, many 118TSI in there requiring engine rebuilds/replacements.... then he went out and bought one

[Gunnar]

Our 2009 Jetta with 131500K's has just died with a cylinder failure.
We took the extended warranty but if the engine is replaced then it's a borderline to fix or replace and we can't really afford either.
The extended warranty will only cover $2000.00.
Given the number of TSI 118 engines have died, it surprises me a class action has not been done before. They obviously know the engine has short comings regardless of how good the car is.

[brad]

Our 2009 Jetta with 131500K's has just died with a cylinder failure.

It mustn't be the proper VW extended warranty.

You have statutory rights. Read the ACCC website.

[VW Convert]

Our 2009 Jetta with 131500K's has just died with a cylinder failure.
We took the extended warranty but if the engine is replaced then it's a borderline to fix or replace and we can't really afford either.
The extended warranty will only cover $2000.00.
Given the number of TSI 118 engines have died, it surprises me a class action has not been done before. They obviously know the engine has short comings regardless of how good the car is.

Have you taken it to a VW dealer and asked them to submit a courtesy warranty claim? That would be the starting point, if you don't ask, you don't get.

I would say the reason there has not been a class action is because VW have repaired countless numbers of these engines either free of charge or with relatively small contributions from owners despite being well out of warranty.

Cheers

George

[Gunnar]

I have contacted VW Australia and the dealer will put in a good will claim. I have also spoken to NSW Fair trading who will go to bat should VW reject the claim and I suggest anyone who has had an issue with these TSI118 engines contact their local consumer groups and see if we can force VW into a recall to replace the old engines with the new designed forged piston and rod varieties.

[VW Convert]

I have contacted VW Australia and the dealer will put in a good will claim. I have also spoken to NSW Fair trading who will go to bat should VW reject the claim and I suggest anyone who has had an issue with these TSI118 engines contact their local consumer groups and see if we can force VW into a recall to replace the old engines with the new designed forged piston and rod varieties.

Why try to "force VW into a recall to replace the old engines" where VW have already repaired or replaced a substantial proportion of them?


Cheers

George

[Gunnar]

Given how many were not replaced or repaired and some repairs still caused issues, I thought a recall would be a good option.
However, Volkswagen Australia have approved to replace the faulty pistons and I cover the labour.
It's a good out come.

[ope126]

Given how many were not replaced or repaired and some repairs still caused issues, I thought a recall would be a good option.
However, Volkswagen Australia have approved to replace the faulty pistons and I cover the labour.
It's a good out come.

Great Outcome...

[TheOne]

Bought a 2010 Jetta 118 TSI two weeks ago. Engine died 3 days ago Wish I knew about this thread before purchasing. Having lots of trouble finding a replacement engine. Will probably cost about 4-5K to get an engine and get it replaced.

I called VW themselves, they said it would be better in the long run if I took the car in to them and get them to fix the engine. They said even with a new engine the same issue may occur. Said they would rebuild it in a way so that this issue would never happen again. But it would cost 6K+

I bought the car for $9400

[AdamD]

Bought a 2010 Jetta 118 TSI two weeks ago. Engine died 3 days ago Wish I knew about this thread before purchasing. Having lots of trouble finding a replacement engine. Will probably cost about 4-5K to get an engine and get it replaced.

Presumably you bought it privately? Because if you bought it through a dealer, the car's under a statutory 3-month warranty.