Volkswagen 2.0 TDI (EA288 and EA288 evo) engine: reliability and faults

On the 2.0 TDI EA288, the EGR valve and the EGR cooler clog (soot and oil vapours), especially in urban use and on short trips: engine warning light, loss of power and limp mode. The EGR cooler can also leak and lose coolant.

Versions

tdi-2-0-ea288

Onset

not documented

Repair

not documented

The NOx sensors upstream or downstream of the SCR catalytic converter and the AdBlue dosing module are weak points of the EA288: the AdBlue injector can clog through urea crystallisation. Symptoms: engine warning light, limp mode and a countdown before the engine can no longer be restarted. Autocopilot quotes €400 to €700 for a NOx sensor (part only) and €600 to €1,200 for the dosing module.

Versions

tdi-2-0-ea288

Onset

between 80,000 km and 120,000 km

Repair

€400 to €1,200

The EA288 uses a switchable water pump: a sliding valve cuts off coolant flow to speed up warm-up. If there is a mechanical fault, the valve can stay closed and the engine overheats. The HELLA technical bulletin describes this case on the Golf 7 2.0 TDI (2016-2020); the solution is to replace the pump.

Versions

tdi-2-0-ea288

Onset

not documented

Repair

not documented