[Closed] Reasons not to buy a 2010 B6 passat 2.0tdi

Mine seemed to go through front drop links quite regularly. The electric handbrake is a known issue (seizing callipers). Injectors were subject to a recall, but think the oil pump issue had been sorted in later models.

It's like mine but you have a later common rail engine - mine is 2006.

I had a string of bizarre problems caused by someone running into the back of me and bending the boot which let water into the badly installed trailer control module, which caused a dodgy mechanic to cause further very expensive issues. So I'll list the other issues I've had at 160k miles and 14 years that weren't part of that saga.

- camshaft speed sensor
- ABS module minor failure, still worked but had an error code. Simple swap out replacement
- Driver door control module failure resulting in a highly amusing (for the people in the queue behind us) boot constantly opening whenever we went below 2mph in a queue.
- Battery drain issue caused by the software versions of one of those two modules being too high, replaced CAN bus controller
- A leak from the windscreen - most likely caused by a poorly fitted replacement some years earlier
- Interior temperature sensors a bit screwy
- Brake calliper leaked
- EDIT oh yeah the handbrake - but despite what garages think you CAN replace just the motor (very easily) and you can fit a cheapo £30 Chinese copy part that lasts much better than the VW one!

Mechanically it's been great. Since having new Sachs shocks it's surprisingly comfortable and refined still. IMO a big step up from the B5, and aside from the stuff that got recalled they are mechanically sound in my limited experience of one car. It failed its first MOT this year on a split drop link ball joint cover, and this was probably nicked by me when I changed the shocks. I'd get another. Also don't under-estimate the value of familiarity with how things are done on a particular brand, if you are used to being your own mechanic.

The oil pump issue was on BKP engines and other early ones, I think, and it was subject to a recall so pretty sure a dealer will tell you if it's been done. It only affected a narrow range of cars of which mine was one.

It may have had the VW emissions recall, which quite frankly ruined the performance and economy of those engines. Find out if it has, if you can.

I had a 2012, which I think is the B7.

A nice car but infuriatingly expensive on random breakages in the just under four years I had it.

For the good of my mental health I've forgotten the long list but ABS sensors (two failed two months apart) and a split washer pipe hose that fried the tailgate electrics were particular favourites alongside the faulty airbag switch while on holiday in France.

Still a nice motor but the costs did rack up.

I can second the comment about faulty electronic handbrake/caliper. Went through 2 in mine in the 4years I had it, aircon stopped working and faulty airbag light came on (wire under drivers seat). Enjoyed driving it but was glad to get rid of it too as it was costing me a fair bit in repairs.

which quite frankly ruined the performance and economy of those engine

Which, quite frankly, I haven’t noticed at all. Ruined, lol
2011 model, with 105k and zero issues.

Had that engine in an 2010 A3. Wasn't a big fan of it (this was pre emissions recall update). Had a big EGR valve related bill (~£900) at lowish mileage even though I was really only doing long/motorway runs in it. Dual mass flywheel was starting to to sound unhappy before I sold it on.

which quite frankly ruined the performance and economy of those engine

While "ruined" might be an exaggeration I agree there was a noticable deterioration in economy and a bit of a loss of response but if your car was regularly at VW there were a lot of incremental small fixes that slowly improved things (certainly on the 170ps version).

If I understood it correctly the premise was to reduce NOx. The fix (if you can call it that) was to force the car to run at a lower(?) combustion temp. This increased soot as a by product, which the DPF could then collect. The downside to the increased soot was that the DPF needed to have a regen more often (not the spank it up the motorway type but the just driving along type). That involves using more fuel to generate the regen heat, hence the economy dropped, not by a lot but as a regular long run user who hit consistent mid 50s pre update I'd say I lost about 8-10%.

To do this the change also put more workload on the EGR valve. So there were also a higher number of EGR failures potentially linked to emissions fix cars.

I don't think it would stop me buying a fixed one but I would set my budget taking into account a possible dpf/egr fail during its lifetime.

Thanks all and garage-dweller. The car I am hoping to buy is in the cheap motoring class. It has had the emissions fix done, confirmed by VW dealer. My driving is fairly well suited to a car with a DPF when back in work its 14 miles each way of hilly A roads. Gets a good run 1 hour each way at national speed limit at least once per fortnight. Might look into getting an aftermarket Remap to undo the harm done by the emissions fix. Going to test drive it on Friday if it doesn't sell before.

have one here, same engine, by a quirk of fate the car is a high spec one, it has not had the fix done

nothing has failed in 18 months of ownership

nice car overall, great motorway cruiser, really comfy ride without being a soggy barge like sofa on wheels, gets good economy,

slightly creaky plastic on the interior is the only complaint which is about as minor as is possible I think

Reasons not to buy a 2010 B6 passat 2.0tdi

I think a V70 (5cyl, natch), Optima or Avensis will be more reliable at that age.