EGR valve / cooler clogging
usually 100,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Limp mode, loss of power, EGR fault codes
Fix: Clean or replace EGR valve; check cooler
€250–700
Common faults, service intervals and costs
Volkswagen Amarok I
2010–2022 · Volkswagen Amarok 1
2
engines covered
11
known faults
21,074
roadworthiness tests in the statistics
5
official recalls
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
The Volkswagen Amarok I was built from 2010 to 2022.
For this generation we cover 2 engines and 11 known faults, each with the mileage range where it usually appears.
The most expensive known risk is Timing chain wear: it usually appears at 150,000–250,000 km and costs €3,000–5,000 to fix.
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 100–150 thousand km this model most often failed on: brakes (9.1 %), lights, wipers and visibility (7.9 %), suspension (4.5 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: brakes, exhaust, emissions and leaks. It fails less often than average on: suspension, tyres and wheels, lights, wipers and visibility, body and corrosion.
Engines
| Engine | Fuel | Timing drive | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 / 1.6 / 2.0 TDI CR (EA189) | Diesel | Belt · 180,000 km / every 120 mo | 5W-30 · VW 507.00 · ~4.3 L · every 15,000 km |
| 2.7 / 3.0 TDI V6 | Diesel | Chain | 5W-30 · VW 507.00 · ~6.0–8.0 L · every 15,000 km |
Faults by engine
1.2 / 1.6 / 2.0 TDI CR (EA189)
DPF clogging
usually 90,000–180,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: DPF warning, frequent regenerations; worse on short trips
Fix: Forced regeneration, cleaning or replacement
€150–1,500
Emissions software recall
usually 0–300,000 km · Wear part
Signs: Affects 2009–2015 EA189 diesels
Fix: Confirm the emissions update was done (free at dealer)
free / recall
Timing belt tensioner and water pump
usually 150,000–210,000 km · High risk
Signs: Whine from belt area, coolant weep
Fix: Replace together with the belt kit
€450–800
High-pressure fuel pump (Bosch CP4.1)
usually 150,000–280,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Metal debris in the fuel system — expensive if it fails; rarer with EU diesel
Fix: Quality fuel, fuel filter on time; replace pump and flush system
€1,500–4,000
Injector leak-off / wear
usually 160,000–260,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Hard start, rough idle, smoke
Fix: Leak-off test; replace injectors
€700–1,600
2.7 / 3.0 TDI V6
Timing chain wear
usually 150,000–250,000 km · High risk
Signs: Rattle at rear of engine
Fix: Replace chains (gearbox off)
€3,000–5,000
EGR / DPF
usually 120,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Limp mode
Fix: Clean or replace
€400–1,800
Gearboxes
Manual
Clutch wear
usually 120,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Slipping, high bite point
Fix: Replace clutch kit
€500–900
Dual-mass flywheel
usually 150,000–220,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Rattle at idle, vibration pulling away
Fix: Replace with clutch
€700–1,400
Automatic (Aisin / ZF Tiptronic)
Torque converter / valve body
usually 150,000–250,000 km · Wear part
Signs: Delayed or harsh shifts
Fix: Fluid service, repair
€300–2,500
Scheduled service
Intervals and typical prices for the 1.2 / 1.6 / 2.0 TDI CR (EA189) engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| DPF health check (soot / ash load)Emissions | every 20,000 km | €0–60 |
| Engine oil + oil filterEngine | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €70–150 |
| Cabin (pollen) filterClimate | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €15–40 |
| Brake fluidBrakes | every 24 months | €50–95 |
| A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate | every 24 months | €70–150 |
| Air filterEngine | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €15–45 |
| Fuel filterFuel | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €40–110 |
| Timing belt kit + water pumpEngine | every 180,000 km or every 120 months | €450–900 |
| Glow plugsEngine | every 100,000 km | €120–300 |
| Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine | every 120,000 km | €70–180 |
| Coolant replacementCooling | every 150,000 km or every 96 months | €70–150 |
| Manual gearbox oilTransmission | every 150,000 km | €60–130 |
| Front brake padsBrakes | usually at 30,000–60,000 km | €60–150 |
| Front brake discs + padsBrakes | usually at 60,000–120,000 km | €150–320 |
| Rear brake padsBrakes | usually at 50,000–90,000 km | €50–130 |
| Tyres (set of 4)Wheels | usually at 40,000–60,000 km | €320–700 |
| Wiper bladesBody | checked at service | €20–50 |
| 12V batteryElectrical | checked at service | €100–220 |
Roadworthiness tests by mileage
Share of tests in the United Kingdom (DVSA MOT, 2024) that this model failed because of each system. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and mileage. Sample: 21,074 tests.
| thousand km | 0–50 | 50–100 | 100–150 | 150–200 | 200–250 | 250+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 1.9 % | 6.4 % | 9.1 % | 10.8 % | 14.3 % | 16.1 % |
| Suspension | 0.4 % | 1.7 % | 4.5 % | 7.5 % | 9.4 % | 10.4 % |
| Steering | 0.1 % | 1.0 % | 1.4 % | 2.2 % | 2.8 % | 5.2 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 1.5 % | 2.7 % | 3.1 % | 4.0 % | 3.8 % | 4.1 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 2.5 % | 4.4 % | 7.9 % | 11.9 % | 16.0 % | 19.4 % |
| Body and corrosion | 0.5 % | 0.4 % | 0.8 % | 1.2 % | 1.9 % | 2.6 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 1.8 % | 3.2 % | 3.2 % | 3.5 % | 4.4 % | 4.2 % |
Official recalls
Recalls the manufacturer published in the United Kingdom for this model (5). The same recalls usually apply across Europe. Ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether your car is affected and whether the work has been done.
- Wheels / tyres The lift cable of the spare wheel winch could snap under certain conditions11/12/2020 · R/2020/360
- Fire risk Power steering return hose can become damaged and cause hydraulic fluid to leak and/or the power steering to fail18/12/2017 · R/2017/333
- Airbag Airbag may not deploy12/08/2015 · R/2015/164
- Wheels / tyres Front wheels may lock05/08/2015 · R/2015/117
- Fire risk Risk of fuel leak12/12/2013 · R/2013/135
Common questions
Does the Volkswagen Amarok I have a timing chain or a timing belt?
1.2 / 1.6 / 2.0 TDI CR (EA189): belt · 180,000 km / every 120 mo; 2.7 / 3.0 TDI V6: chain.
What are the known problems with the Volkswagen Amarok I?
The faults with the highest risk: timing chain wear (150,000–250,000 km, €3,000–5,000); timing belt tensioner and water pump (150,000–210,000 km, €450–800); high-pressure fuel pump (Bosch CP4.1) (150,000–280,000 km, €1,500–4,000); EGR / DPF (120,000–200,000 km, €400–1,800). The full list by engine is on this page.
What does the Volkswagen Amarok I most often fail its roadworthiness test on?
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 100–150 thousand km this model most often failed on: brakes (9.1 %), lights, wipers and visibility (7.9 %), suspension (4.5 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: brakes, exhaust, emissions and leaks. It fails less often than average on: suspension, tyres and wheels, lights, wipers and visibility, body and corrosion.
What should you check when buying a used Volkswagen Amarok I?
Before you buy, ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN that the recalls have been done (5 have been published for this model). If the engine has a timing belt, ask for the invoice for its replacement: with no proof, assume it has not been done. On the test drive, watch for these signs: rattle at rear of engine; whine from belt area, coolant weep. The full checklist is in the guide to buying a used car.
Other generations
Models with the same engines
These models share engines with this car, so they share some of its faults too.
Volkswagen Polo V (6R/6C) 2009–2017Volkswagen Golf VI 2008–2012Audi A4 (B8) 2007–2015Audi A4 (B9) 2015–2024Audi A3 (8P) 2003–2012Audi A1 (8X) 2010–2018Audi A6 (C7) 2011–2018Škoda Octavia II 2004–2013
Other Volkswagen models
Volkswagen Jetta VI 2010–2018Volkswagen Passat B7 2010–2014Volkswagen Sharan II 2010–2022Volkswagen Touareg II 2010–2018Volkswagen Beetle (A5) 2011–2019Volkswagen Up! 2011–2023Volkswagen Golf VII 2012–2020Volkswagen Passat CC / CC 2008–2016Volkswagen Scirocco III 2008–2017Volkswagen Tiguan I 2007–2016
Sources and notes
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.
Updated 08/10/2026