Oil-pump balance-shaft drive failure
Attaches to CBAB at engine level · Engine · carried by 3 variants across 3 chassis
Overview
Oil-pump balance-shaft drive failure is a occasional fault recorded against CBAB at engine level, typically from 100–200k km. It shows up as a sudden oil-pressure warning followed quickly by engine seizure, usually with little or no prior warning. Where it's documented, the repair runs €700–€3,000 (€700–1,300 preventive module; a replacement engine if it has seized, costs dated 2026-07), and it can be difficult to check before you buy. 3 variants across 3 chassis in this database inherit it.
What happens
Symptom. A sudden oil-pressure warning followed quickly by engine seizure, usually with little or no prior warning.
Cause. The hex coupling that drives the oil pump off the balance-shaft module can round off, stopping oil delivery. The undersized early hex is the weak point; an updated module addressed it.
Later parts. Updated oil-pump module with a larger hex drive
How to check it
Paperwork
You can't see it on a viewing, this is a paperwork check. Look for the updated oil-pump module in the history, or a specialist who has inspected it; treat an undocumented high-miler as carrying the risk.
On these cars the folder is most of the value.
Every variant that carries this
| Variant | Chassis | Body | Years | Risk | Good buy | Cost as % of good buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 TDI CBAB | 8P | hatchback | 2008–2013 | R4 | €4,700 | 39% |
| 2.0 TDI CBAB | 8PA | hatchback | 2008–2013 | R4 | €4,800 | 39% |
| 2.0 TDI CBAB | 8P7 | convertible | 2008–2013 | R4 | €4,950 | 37% |
The last column is the point. The same repair is an inconvenience on one variant and a reason to scrap the car on another. A failure costing a quarter of the vehicle's value changes the purchase decision regardless of how rare it is.