Mine went out at 51k, too. My extended warranty covered it. I question your bill amount. Mine would have been about $800 without warranty. Maybe that's why VWoA pitched-in.

It seems the AdBlue heater falling is common. Interestingly, I've had only two issues over 70k, the heater and AdBlue pump at 1,100 miles. Both are emissions-related.

 

To be clear, the dealer quoted:

Reductive Agent Tank Heater: $311
Reductive Agent Control Module: $242
Reductive Agent Pump $500

So it was more than just the heater I suppose....

 

Well, since it does cover the pump and you are beyond warranty, you got a good deal with VWoA stepping in and covering more than half the cost. These are known issues. That is good will.

 

Very true--and I will probably take them up on it since I don't have time to fight the bigger fight. Yet it still bothers me that a part that ESSENTIAL to the emission system is not covered under it's warranty.

 

Agree. It should be covered without any issue.

 

It is part of the emissions, but it is just something they added and was never required by the EPA for them to do. I had always heard the motor was clean enough with out the system. I wonder if any of the other manufacturers cover urea systems under emissions warranty. What I don't get is there seems to be more failures with them in the T3 then there was the T2's. I know there was not as many 09-10 TDI's built, but the issue seemed to start immediately in the 11 and on. What was so different about that system from what I have in mine. I had the pump replaced under warranty, but as far as I know they heater was fine.

 

It is part of the emissions, but it is just something they added and was never required by the EPA for them to do. I had always heard the motor was clean enough with out the system.

If this is the reason (and would explain why it is covered if the Touareg was purchased in California) that is sure to change given the recent news.

 

Mine had to be replaced. Thank God the dealer did it when my warranty was just finished.

 

It would be nice if they issued a recall, mine just went out at 76k. I live in south florida, I'm not sure it even needs a heater down here. Considering doing the whole dpf/def delete route.

 

I thought about just riding around with the check engine light on--but I'm up north and the dealer told me once the weather dips below freezing, it would no longer run.

Seems to be a very common failure that should be subject to a recall...

 

Mine was covered under the Platinum warenttee with $100 deductable. Required insurance company approval.

Btw, it looks like its our AdBlue system (in the 3.0L) that separates us from what the 2.0L diesels are lacking and the reality they are now facing...

 

Btw, it looks like its our AdBlue system (in the 3.0L) that separates us from what the 2.0L diesels are lacking and the reality they are now facing...

Not sure if that is the case. The Passat has had the Adblue system with the 2.0 tdi but is included in the list of affected vehicles.

 

My heater went out at 65k, outside of warranty, my shop recommended I hang onto my paperwork in case this issue gets covered by a potential recall, have not called VW yet to see if they can help like some others have....

 

It seems these are being done on a case by case basis or goodwill adjustment if your extended warranty is not paying?

Are these issues being worked out or is VW still muddling through it? One would think by now with all the issues they would have worked the problems out.

 

VW should be paying out in full. No question.

 

The Adblue System on my 11 started having problems just as I purchased it (2/14) from the dealer. They replaced most of the system under warranty - Then I just had the engine light come on this February. One part they didn't replace had faulted( thought the entire system was replaced previously - guess not). This was covered by my extended warranty. So far so good - just under 76K.

 

I replaced my adblue heater around 120,000 km (approx 72,000 miles). I did it myself in my garage. The pics are in the DIY section.

 

All manufacturers are having issues with the AdBlue system reliability, Mercedes' CDI heaters going like hot cakes as well.
Whats the point of having a new car... i'm keeping my old clunkers and that's that

 

The DEF Heater went out on my MY2013 at 50,376 miles. VW Extended Warranty covered it with $100 deductible.

As others have opined, it truly should be part of the emissions warranty. VW is paying for a lot of bad decisions they made in the past and should be doing all they can to keep the customers they have.

 

Interesting read.

Does anybody know if the '15 and '16 systems are revised/improved?

 

I feel sorry for the 1.8 and 2.0 folks using the TDI technology. There is talk about placing the urea systems on these. Heaven help if this happens! I can see why VW did what they did trying to beat the system.

I suspect there is a lot more wrong with this set up then we are hearing about. Some people are being real quite about what they bought. Benz and BMW have the same issues. Not sure of other manufactures.

 

snip

I suspect there is a lot more wrong with this set up then we are hearing about. Some people are being real quite about what they bought. Benz and BMW have the same issues. Not sure of other manufactures.

From what I read in the Benz forums there is not NEARLY as much discussion about failures of the BluTec system as in the TDI forums. Not sure why.

 

Weaseling out of legit emission coverage was a decision made to save a dime by the VW bean counters, be it Winterkorn or someone working under Winterkorn.

Come to think of it, the bean counting is what started the entire mess. VW would have averaged an extra $300 per car in costs if they had engineered the ad blue system into all diesels and would have avoided this whole mess.

When someone has the time to fight, they should take the VW won't cover my ad blue system to the local news on your side TV station. I bet VW would roll over and tell the TV station that it was just a misunderstanding and offer to cover 100% of the replacement costs for that one owner.

Because the alternative is that the story makes the news, goes viral, gets more Congressional questions going... and then all the diesel manufacturers find that the rules are changed so that they have to retroactively cover the Ad Blue systems!

 

Well the V6 just got sucked into the party! More to come I'm afraid!

Mercedes and BMW have issues too with their urea systems as well. Mercedes just takes the vehicle back without the lemon process. Not sure about BMW. Jeep has it's share too of issues.

 

I purchased a 2010 Touareg TDI sixty-one days ago with 25,400 miles and was from Florida. This morning my wife texted me a picture of the dash with an engine light and message: 1500 miles AdBlue "check owners manuel". Does this mean my heater has expired?

 

Does Manuel own the AdBlue system?

 

No.

I think you will find that if you read the manual, as it suggests, it means you need to get the ad-blu tank topped up.

If the miles get to zero before you do, the car simply won't start.

 

Thanks for your reply. Also, I ignorantly topped off the coolant several weeks ago with something other than G12. Will this prove to be problematic?

 

Possibly. Drain and refill with the correct fluid.

 

quick history and summary results:
injector and nox replaced at 11,000 miles...warranty
heater replaced at 67,000...VW paid 3/4 of total cost with no hassle (i paid $150)
injector and nox replaced at 85,000 miles...VW paid all parts with very big hassle...i needed to reach out to mgr of customer service as regional mgr declined to help.(i paid $280 and VW "paid" $850)
currently at 88,000 miles
love the car but the adblue sure ain't ready for prime time

 

2013 Touareg TDI

[Note: I had posted this to another (T2) thread regarding the AdBlue system earlier today, but I think it might also be of interest to folks following this thread.]

Just had this repair done at my VW dealer yesterday. VW agreed to pay for it 100% under "goodwill".

2013 Touareg TDI, delivered September 2012, 44,500 miles (i.e,. out of factory warranty), no extended warranty (I hope I don't regret this decision). Got the MIL "engine" warning light on; intermittent at first. Advance Auto Parts decoded it as P202A; VW dealer DTC P020A and P020B. Dealer service advisor estimated the repair cost at about $1,100 and that they kept the repair kit in stock. Dealer service said this repair was NOT covered by the 8/80 emissions warranty. I pushed back that vehicle was just out of warranty and I understood that this was a common fault. Service agreed to check with VW about goodwill assistance. The next morning they called me back to tell me VW agreed to pay for the repair 100%, and they performed the repair that same day. It took about four hours.

The repair kit P/N was 7P6-198-970-A. The invoice indicates they performed Technical Bulletin 26-15-08 (2041110). So far I have not found this bulletin on-line. I hope the kit is an upgraded part that will be more durable, but do not know. I am not going to be happy if the Touareg TDI has a weak part that needs an expensive repair every few years. Otherwise, I love my Touareg TDI.

I don't know what the deciding factors were in VW paying 100%, or how widespread this goodwill is. I suspect a big factor may be VW's current diesel issues and a desire to keep customers happy, but some other factors in my situation (either mentioned by me or the service advisor) were:
1. I bought vehicle new from this dealer.
2. I've had all service and maintenance work done at this dealer.
3. Vehicle was barely out of warranty on time, and less than 50,000 miles.
4. I told them I knew this was a common problem.
5. I was polite, but clear that I expected VW to assist in this common, premature failure.

I hope this helps other folks who have this problem.

BTW - I agree 100% that this repair would be MUCH easier if VW had provided an access "door" in the top of the hump for the AdBlue tank, or made the top of the hump removable. I may have to consider providing this access if I have to pay for the next repair.

 

[
I don't know what the deciding factors were in VW paying 100%, or how widespread this goodwill is. I suspect a big factor may be VW's current diesel issues and a desire to keep customers happy, but some other factors in my situation (either mentioned by me or the service advisor) were:

1. I bought vehicle new from this dealer.
2. I've had all service and maintenance work done at this dealer.
3. Vehicle was barely out of warranty on time, and less than 50,000 miles.
4. I told them I knew this was a common problem.
5. I was polite, but clear that I expected VW to assist in this common, premature failure.

I hope this helps other folks who have this problem.

.

Excellent, top notch post with practical sound advice.

 

My heater was fixed by VWOA 2 yrs ago out of warranty as a good will, but now that the emission issue is front and center it is clear this system was in fact necessary and mandatory for VW to get the car to pass the emission tests. Now that we know there are other emissions issues regarding all VW diesels,I would doubt VW would put up a fight to fix this problem, period.

The Ad blue system is the least of their problems.

 

You get more bees with honey is always a good start.