2012 Volkswagen Golf: check engine light

Filed Jan 26, 2016 · Fuel system · AZ

I was on my way home from long trip and have check engine light com on and disappeared by self. I made appointment for regular 60k maintenance and addressed light issue and dirty tail pipe to the san tan vw dealer and they response was that "car is diesel and for diesel is normal to smoke and light will not come after software update. Now after warranty expired I have diagnosis that whole exhaust system needs to be replace (exhaust system is under recall investigation). Estimate to fix exhaust is $6000. Vw of america refuse to fix the issue, car is now polluting, smoking and car is not safe to drive.

Filed Jun 7, 2015 · Fuel system · 31,508 miles · IL

I was driving on I-55 at approx. 60mph and the glow plug indicator light began flashing and the vehicle went into limp mode. Pulled off at the next exit and shut the vehicle down, and waited a few minutes. After turning the vehicle back on, the 'check engine' light was illuminated, however I was able to drive home (aprox. 3 miles). Had vehicle towed to dealership the following morning, where the dealer indicated the high pressure fuel pump for the direct-rail fuel injection system had failed and contaminated the entire fuel system. This will require a replacement of the high pressure fuel pump, and the entire fuel system, which is being covered by the manufacturer under the drivetrain warranty.

Filed Aug 21, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 32,378 miles · CA

2012 vw golf tdi (diesel) vehicle began losing power on acceleration from a stoplight and began clicking. Check engine and glow plug lights flashed. Power was reduced to 15% and limped to shoulder. Shut off engine and attempted restart. Engine turned over but no ignition. Towed to dealer who confirmed that high pressure fuel pump had failed. Dealer replaced high pressure fuel pump, tank pump, high pressure fuel lines, fuel rail with both sensors, all injectors, fuel return lines, fuel filter, and aux fuel pump. Tank and fuel lines were flushed and cleaned. All repairs done under vw 60k powertrain warranty.

Filed Aug 28, 2013 · Fuel system · 10,995 miles · MI

Glow plug and check engine indicator appeared while driving approximately 45 MPH in vicinity of the m-10 freeway in detroit, mi. Vehicle power unexpectedly cut out, forcing me to maneuver off of the road at a speed lower than surrounding traffic. I picked up the vehicle on 19 aug from the dealer and experienced an identical problem in vicinity of 9 mile road and middlebelt in farmington hills, mi. Vw later informed me that the problem was associated with a failure of the high pressure fuel pump.

Filed Jul 11, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 13,000 miles · DC

Car purchased november 2011. August 29, 2012 (much <10,000 miles) reported rough shifting of automatic transmission to volkswagen of alexandria. Told that experience was normal. Trusted mechanic and used vehicle. March 18, 2013--complete transmission failure while driving in a parking lot. Engine shut off while moving and abruptly brought car to a stop. This is the same problem that prompted recalls for this car in australia, china, and japan. Brought into volkswagen of alexandria and told problem was related to computer errors controlling transmission. July 10, 2013--(@15,000 miles) car loses reasonable amount of power, makes grinding noise, engine light appears. Blocks from volkswagen of alexandria. Just able to make it in. Technicians report that a number of faults were reported and have contacted vw of america to advise what to do next. Ultimately they decide that the mechatronics unit (part of transmission) should be replaced but will not be available soon. Alexandria volkswagen advises me to take the vehicle back into my posession and drive it as is until the part arrives. They claimed it to be just a noise issue. I object and have to point out the complaint about severe lack of power and previous complete engine/transmission failure (which they claimed to be unrelated). After complaint told I could rent a car. Finally able to complain my way into a loaner. I have read about this tactic for ways around lemon law liability. Was advised to report it here.

Filed Aug 23, 2012 · Fuel system · 15,550 miles · TX

Fuel pump failure, random power cut out due to fault mode. System flashes a glow plug light instead of a check engine light not signaling a obvious failure.

Filed Aug 14, 2012 · Engine, Fuel system · 6,519 miles · FL

At 6,519 miles, while about to enter the on-ramp of a local highway, the check engine light and glow plug indicator light began to flash. I was able to veer off the entrance ramp and continue down the down to the nearest safe parking lot area; as I pulled into the parking lot area, the vehicle shuddered and suddenly shut off. It would not re-start, and we had to arrange for a tow to a family members house through our insurance company. In the morning we had a tow to our dealer set up through volkswagen roadside service, who would not cover the entire cost of the tow to our preferred dealer, so we paid the difference out of our own pocket. I was notified by the dealer that the fuel pump (commonly referred to as hpfp) basically imploded and sent metal throughout the entire fuel system, which now needs to be replaced. We own two volkswagen diesel (tdi) vehicles; this one, a 2012 golf tdi, and a 2010 jetta tdi. They are both filled up at the exact same pump from the exact same station about 99% of the time. At the time this incident occurred, the golf had 281 miles on the current tank of diesel which was filled up on 08/03/2012. I filled up my jetta tdi at the same pump on 08/06/2012, currently have over 230 miles on that tank of diesel, and have not experienced any problems. We keep meticulous documentation of our diesel usage, cost, etc. With receipts and other logs, and can safely state that this was not due to a mistake on our part. Rather, this is a design failure and/or oversight on the part of both volkswagen and bosch, the hpfp manufacturer. I am a veteran member of the tdiclub vw diesel online community, and there is extensive information and documentation there of these repeated failures. Please visit the following threads for information; http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=286380, http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=299854.