9.5
really awful
engine problem
Engine failure at 170,000 due to timing chain tensioner failure. Engine died at 170,000 miles due to the failure of a part that has failed. If we had known that this is a issue we would have replaced the inexpensive part at the timing belt replacement interval for a nominal amount. Engine failure while vehicle was in motion on a city street. Now we have a car worth nothing.
- James B., Atlanta, US
The 2.0t is an efficient, smooth-running, quiet, powerful base engine in the Passat 2.0t.
The oil journals are not large enough to compensate the thick sludge oil that is created from a problem with humidity and unnecessary cooling that is bombarding this engine at temperatures less than minus 20 Celsius. VW knows of this problem and in later engine manufacture dates the journals are larger. The cold northern climates with the problem are being dealt with like the customers are idiots.
Dealers are not honouring warranty if the customer cannot prove his oil changes are VW certified. VW feels that their oil will fix the problem. It does not. Sludge is created because of cold humid oil. VW suggests to get a $250 flush oil change. The problem comes back immediately because that is not the remedy. When you warm sludged oil it will come back to normal because the humidity is being boiled away from oil temperatures exceeding 100 degree Celsius which is the boiling point of water. VW will take your car on a high speed, flat out excursion to heat up the oil in short order which proves that heat is a cure, but when you can't run the engine for an hour at high speed at sub minus 20 temperatures because of safety, traffic or common sense, you quickly see that VW is going to get sued.
The timing assembly is chain and belt. The overhaul cost a whopping $4800. Timing belt jobs are under $3,000 on most cars this VW has both. This repair lasted a little longer than the one year warranty. You hear timing chain slap.
In this Youtube you see the assembly and when the oil does not flow the guides wear out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9tZCOCbAwE
This Passat is presently in the VW service department and VW is giving the same story. $250 engine flush. The oil that is in the engine presently was changed at this same garage this spring 2015 and because their young service writers don't know how humidity or viscosity works, they give out winter recommendations.
Tomorrow is Monday August 17th and two VW techs will listen to the cold engine start up chain slap. This engine sat idle for the month of July this year and when we got back start up witnessed a 3 second SLAP BANG SHUTTER. That's a long time for a timing assembly to do that. If VW refuses to co-operate, I will be filing a law suit against the dealership for the full $4800. OR a new engine. What do you think they will say. Isn't the a VW dealer out there that knows how to have FUN with their fantastic product, instead of screwing the customer. It's now their dumb, they are numb. It's too easy to trade off your troubles and buy another one at zero percent financing. Trouble is they give you squat for your trade.
My other VW is a 1978 Beetle Convertible Champagne Edition I bought new 37 years ago. Now that is a good car and it looks like new.
Update from Aug 19, 2015: Timing chains on overhead valve engines OHV do not start showing signs of wear until 300,000 miles in most cases. The dual overhead cam OHC engine 2.0t in the 07 Passat has a chain and a belt. This configuration of both drivetrains was not a good idea which is something that the same engine 2.0t in the Audi in this youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGwDYXFPKK4 you will notice a belt only. Now if you look at this YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9tZCOCbAwE you will notice a dual system. The chain guides are worn out because of the oiling problem combination of cold weather sludge, tensioner failure and oil pump failure. The timing belt change interval on the 2.0t is the same as any other OHC engine. 100,000 miles/160,000 klms. What is unfortunate is that the timing chain is lasting only a fraction of the time that timing chains last in an OHV engine. This bearded guy has some interesting things to say about timing chain tensioners in the 2.0t https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAdSyBRHOPs
- stoontdi, Saskatoon, SK, canada
It's outrageous that a $5,000 repair is required at 68,000 miles. Apparently the timing chain was hitting its cover, which required a complete tear-down (about a 30-hour job), new oil pump, gears, chains, guides, etc. So much for vaunted Germany design and engineering! I was even told by the VW shop that it's to be expected. It's the last VW product I'll ever buy.
- alan43, Hillsdale, NY, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My 20-yo son purchased this car June 2019 (now Feb 2020) for $6500. Immaculate condition with 57,500 miles (give or take), new tires, and a new battery. He also purchased and had installed a brand new stereo with BT. Feb 21, 2020 he drove 500 miles to visit a college friend (w/3 other guys). The car stopped and died almost to the destination w/o warning.
Long story short, after it finally made it to a shop that was open on a Saturday, it was determined that the timing chain had jumped and bent all the valves and bent all the cylinder heads. The fix... a new or new/used engine that would be $5000-6500. He just had it in the shop for regular service 2 weeks prior ($600). Nothing could have caused this except poor quality from VW. We had to coordinate getting all 4 boys back to college (8 hours, one way). I saw that 2008 were included in a class action lawsuit, but not 2007. Now all he has a big piece of salvage worth $255ish. SO SO angry... VW NEVER again!
- Katy L., Laurel, US