Car Model Guide/ Issues

Issue index

79 records. Each is written once against the engine, gearbox, chassis or shared component that carries it, and inherited by every variant with that part — so an issue page lists every car affected, not just the one you arrived from.

All issues, ranked by expected cost

Issue	Applies to	System	Likelihood	Cost	Detectable	Variants
Balance shaft gear wearwalk away	M271-KOMP	Engine	common	€2,500–€4,500	partially	2
Excessive oil consumption (piston rings)walk away	CDNC	Engine	common	€2,200–€4,500	partially	2
Multitronic CVT failurewalk away	0AW-MULTITRONIC	Transmission	common	€1,800–€4,000	partially	8
Rear timing chain failurewalk away	N47	Engine	common	€1,500–€2,500	yes	18
Rear timing chain stretch and failure (123d)walk away	N47S	Engine	common	€1,500–€2,500	partially	4
Rear timing chain wear (3.0 TDI)walk away	CCWA	Engine	occasional	€2,500–€4,500	yes	2
Timing chain tensioner failurewalk away	ea888-chain-tensioner	Engine	common	€900–€1,800	yes	14
Fuel injector failure	N54	Fuel	common	€1,800–€3,000	partially	6
Turbocharger wastegate rattle and turbo failure	N54	Turbo & intake	common	€1,200–€3,500	yes	6
Excessive oil consumption (piston rings)	CCZA	Engine	common	€150–€4,500	partially	3
Timing chain and tensioner wear (1.4 TSI)walk away	CAXA	Engine	common	€700–€1,600	yes	2
Rod bearing wear	S65	Engine	common	€1,500–€2,800	partially	3
Excessive oil consumption (piston rings)	CDAA	Engine	common	€150–€4,000	partially	3
Dry-clutch DSG mechatronic failure	DQ200-7DSG	Transmission	common	€1,200–€2,800	yes	15
Piezo injector failure (early OM651)	OM651	Fuel	common	€1,200–€2,400	partially	8
Timing chain tensioner failurewalk away	CAXC	Engine	common	€600–€1,200	partially	3
Timing chain and sprocket wear (early OM651)	OM651	Engine	common	€900–€2,500	partially	8
Oil-pump balance-shaft drive failurewalk away	CBAB	Engine	occasional	€700–€3,000	no	3
"Lifetime" fluid neglect	ZF6HP	Transmission	common	€400–€2,500	partially	95
Timing chain and guide wear	N46	Engine	common	€1,000–€1,800	yes	6
Dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear	GS6-MANUAL	Transmission	common	€900–€1,600	yes	101
DCT mechatronic and clutch wear	MDCT	Transmission	occasional	€1,500–€4,500	partially	6
Oil cooler seal leak	OM642	Engine	common	€900–€1,600	yes	4
Throttle actuator failure	S65	Engine	common	€800–€1,600	yes	3
DPF clogging and forced regeneration	dpf	Emissions	common	€250–€1,800	partially	65
High-pressure fuel-pump cam follower wear (S3)	CDLA	Fuel	common	€40–€2,000	yes	2
Rear timing chain wear	N57	Engine	occasional	€1,800–€3,000	yes	7
Carbon buildup on intake valves	direct-injection-petrol	Turbo & intake	universal	€400–€700	no	67
High-pressure fuel pump failure	N54	Fuel	common	€700–€1,100	partially	6
Timing chain tensioner rattle	N43	Engine	common	€300–€1,400	yes	12
Convertible roof drain blockage and motor water damage	E88	Electrical	common	€200–€1,500	partially	8
Front control arm bushing wear	E9X	Suspension	universal	€300–€700	yes	171
Variable-vane turbo actuator sticking	vnt-turbo	Turbo & intake	common	€400–€1,200	yes	42
Panoramic roof drain blockage and water ingress	E91	Body & corrosion	common	€150–€1,200	yes	17
Electronic steering lock (ESL/ELV) failure	W212/S212	Electrical	common	€150–€1,200	partially	20
Electric water pump and thermostat failure	electric-water-pump	Cooling	common	€500–€800	partially	37
7G-Tronic conductor plate and 13-pin connector leak (722.9)	7G-TRONIC	Transmission	common	€400–€900	partially	26
Rear self-levelling air-suspension leak (estate)	S212	Suspension	common	€400–€900	yes	10
Folding hardtop mechanism and hydraulic faults	E93	Electrical	occasional	€500–€2,500	yes	11
Electromechanical steering rack failure	B8	Suspension	occasional	€900–€2,000	yes	5
Plastic water pump and thermostat housing failure	CDNC	Cooling	common	€400–€800	yes	2
Water ingress and footwell module damage	E8X	Electrical	common	€0–€1,200	yes	38
Valve cover and PCV failure	N55	Engine	common	€400–€700	yes	5
Cold-start lifter tick and VANOS rattle	N52	Engine	common	€150–€900	yes	18
Run-flat tyres and kerbed or cracked wheels	E9X	Suspension	common	€150–€900	yes	171
Roof drain blockage and boot water ingress	E93	Body & corrosion	common	€150–€900	yes	11
Corrosion at the rear subframe and arch seams	E9X	Body & corrosion	occasional	€300–€2,000	yes	171
DQ250 wet-clutch DSG mechatronic and service neglect	DQ250-6DSG	Transmission	occasional	€700–€1,500	partially	15
Oil filter housing gasket leak	oil-filter-housing	Engine	common	€300–€600	yes	53
NOx sensor failure	nox-sensor	Emissions	common	€300–€600	yes	22
Front thrust-arm and control-arm bush wear	W212/S212	Suspension	common	€300–€600	yes	20
Piezo injector failure (lean-burn petrol)	piezo-injectors	Fuel	common	€350–€500	partially	22
Mechatronic sleeve and pan gasket leak	ZF6HP	Transmission	common	€250–€600	yes	95
Footwell module (FRM) failure	E9X	Electrical	common	€150–€700	yes	171
Cabriolet roof hydraulics and hall-sensor faults	8P7	Electrical	common	€150–€700	yes	5
Electronic steering lock failure	W204	Electrical	occasional	€600–€1,400	no	4
Valve cover gasket leak	N52	Engine	common	€250–€500	yes	18
Injector seal leak (soot around injectors)	M57	Fuel	occasional	€400–€1,400	yes	9
Rear shock mount wear	E9X	Suspension	common	€250–€500	yes	171
xDrive transfer case actuator failure	E9X	Drivetrain	occasional	€600–€1,200	yes	171
Rear multi-link bush and drop-link wear	A3 8P	Suspension	common	€200–€500	partially	25
Rear trailing-arm and subframe bush wear	E8X	Suspension	common	€150–€500	partially	38
High-pressure fuel pump failure	N53	Fuel	occasional	€600–€950	partially	8
EGR cooler leak	egr-cooler	Emissions	occasional	€400–€1,000	partially	54
Charge pipe cracking	N54	Turbo & intake	common	€150–€400	partially	6
High-pressure fuel pump cam follower wear	BLR	Fuel	common	€150–€400	partially	3
Swirl flap wear and ingestion	swirl-flaps	Engine	occasional	€400–€900	no	42
Timing chain and guide wear	N45B16	Engine	occasional	€400–€900	yes	1
Intake-port shut-off (swirl) actuator failure	OM642	Turbo & intake	occasional	€400–€900	yes	4
iDrive CCC head unit failure	E9X	Electrical	occasional	€300–€900	yes	171
Panoramic sunroof drain blockage	W212/S212	Body & corrosion	common	€50–€400	yes	20
Pump-düse injector loom and injector wear	BKD	Electrical	occasional	€150–€900	partially	2
Coolant expansion tank cracking	E9X	Cooling	common	€120–€250	yes	171
Instrument-cluster (FIS) pixel failure	A3 8P	Interior	common	€120–€250	yes	25
VANOS solenoid and Valvetronic motor faults	N55	Engine	occasional	€200–€600	partially	5
Eccentric shaft sensor leak	N52	Electrical	occasional	€250–€450	yes	18
Pump-duse injector loom chafing	BKC	Electrical	occasional	€150–€450	partially	3
Unregistered replacement battery	E9X	Electrical	common	€30–€60	partially	171
High oil consumption	S65	Engine	universal	—	no	3

By system

Engine · 26Transmission · 8Fuel · 8Turbo & intake · 5Emissions · 3Electrical · 12Suspension · 8Body & corrosion · 4Cooling · 3Drivetrain · 1Interior · 1

Reading the columns

Expected cost is likelihood × mid repair cost, doubled for anything that justifies walking away. It ranks by money at stake rather than by how loudly a failure gets discussed, which is why a universal €500 item can outrank a rare €3,000 one.

Detectable is the most useful column here. A €2,500 failure you can hear on a cold start is a negotiating position; a €900 one you cannot detect at all is a lottery ticket.