My check engine light came on a while back and I read the code, it said there was a very small evap leak, check hoses, etc. I usually do my own work, but I have my trusted local guy do my winter oil change every year and give the car a once over. Saves me from having to get on the cold ground and a second set of eyes on the car just in case I miss something. I told him about the check engine light and he suggested replacing the purge valve. $66 + tax, about 3 minutes of my time, and everything is good to go again. It's located right on top of the engine and all I needed were pliers to move the hose clamps.

I left to go to work around 0600, like any workday, 10 Dec 2015 and started my car like normal: depressed the clutch, turned the key to placed the ignition to the on position, waited for the glow plug lamp to turn off, and then started my MY15 VW Passat TDI SE. From there I noticed the check engine light came on. Thanks to the car being under warranty I took note of it and proceeded to go to work. I went about my day and waited for the dealer to open to schedule an appointment later in the day. This would be the first of FIVE different occasions I had to take the car in to be fixed for the same problem. Visit #1

10 DEC 2015: check engine light on at 17991 mi. Dealer ran scan which showed fault code: P13D8 (#4 glow plug). Dealer unplugged the glow plug then plugged it back in. Dealer test drove car, check engine light off, no further problems noted. I returned with my free rental car the following morning (11 DEC 2015) and got my car back.

Visit #2

16 DEC 2015: check engine light on at 18151 mi. Started my car to go to work in the early morning and the check engine light came back on. Took car back up to the same dealer and left town to visit my family. Dealer ran scan which showed fault code: P13D8 (#4 glow plug), same as last visit. Dealer unplugged the glow plug and then plugged it back in. Then proceeded to order a new glow plug after switching glow plug #3 with glow plug #4. In addition, new engine wiring harness ordered. Test drive after repair showed all was well and check engine light remained off, no further problems noted. By 22 DEC 2015 I received a call saying the the problem was fixed and returned with my free rental car after I got back from visiting my family (29 DEC 2015) and got my car back with a new #4 glow plug and new engine wiring harness.

Visit #3

05 JAN 2016: check engine light on at 18292 mi. Started my car like I always do in the early morning and check engine light came on; yet, no problems noticed the night before (04 JAN 2016) while running around town.Took car back to the same dealer. Dealer scanned my car and same code, P13D8, appeared. Dealer worked with VW's help line as they too were annoyed to repair my car again. The tech looked at me upon entering the door that morning and asked, "You're back again?" Anyways, as I remained patient and let the dealer do the work. VW instructed the dealer to replace the ECM on the car. Still however, the check engine light remained on with code P13D8 read. So VW told the dealer to replace the fuel injector for the #4 cylinder. Check engine light remained off. I received a call from the dealer if they could keep my car for a week and perform a number of cold starts and test drives to make sure the repair was complete. I said sure and allowed the dealer to do what they needed to. On 14 JAN 2016 I returned to the dealer with my free rental car and got my car back with new ECM and new #4 fuel injector from this visit along with the new #4 glow plug and engine wiring harness from the last visit only a short while before.

Visit #4

22 JAN 2016: check engine light on at 18606 mi. Began to leave work that afternoon and noticed the check engine light was on. Drove over to the dealer, of whom didn't say anything. He handed me a rental car and I handed him my keys to my car. The dealer called me the next morning to let me know VW Engineering was coming to look at the car. Several engineers met and examined the car. Same code, P13D8, was read from the scanner. By 28 JAN 2016 VW's Engineers instructed the dealer to replace all of the fuel injectors for all four of four cylinders. The car was given a test ride which found no further problems.

By 08 FEB 2016 the dealer called to say my car was fixed and good to go. I returned in my free rental car after work. The dealer brought my car around all cleaned and what they claimed was good to go. I signed the document saying I got my car back and proceeded home. Yet, in a whopping distance of 0 ft, the check engine light came on. I went back in thinking I might just be too dumb to drive. I asked the dealer to start my car. Walking back to my car, the dealer got in my car, as I watched him follow the same process I follow to start it: depress the clutch, turn the key to place the ignition to the on position, waited for the glow plug lamp to turn off, and then start; the check engine light was on again. The dealer handed me back the keys to to the rental car and I proceeded home.

Visit #5

08 FEB 2016: check engine light on at 18781 mi. Again the same code was read: P13D8. I received a call on 9 FEB 2016 in which the dealer said VW Engineering would be out to take a look at the car for a second time. By this point I believed my car was a lemon. I looked up what the state of MI has to say about the Lemon Law.

The dealer was told to order and replace the engine from head to toe. Finally, on 29 FEB 2016 I returned to the dealer to my free rental car to pick up my car. Which at this point has a new engine and from the prior visits has a new ECM, four new fuel injectors, new glow plugs, new engine wiring harness, and finally me driving my car with the problem fixed.

If my MY15 VW Passat TDI SE was not under warranty this repair would have been close to $18000 (USD) in parts, labor, and rental car fees to complete. But finally it's fixed after being under repair for the same problem from 10 DEC 2015 to 29 FEB 2016. I do appreciate the help and professionalism of the dealer I worked with as most dealers would just push you away.

Rolled off the lot with 11 miles the day before and the very next day at 83 miles the check engine light came on solid. That was a big WTF for me. Be sure to ask for a copy of the Pre-Delivery Inspection. Somethings tells me that this wasn't done properly.

This isn't the first time I have had an issue with a Volkswagen.

This is my 3rd TDI and I never had an issue so quick

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - HPFP failure at about 25k miles

2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium - Check engine light - 42k miles - was failed O2 sensor

2015 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium - Check engine light - 83 miles - we’ll see what they dealer says