Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 TDI, 204 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch Research | €555 | €31,999 | 904 | Diesel | CXE | Automatic (dual-clutch) (7) | 2015–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 204 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive Research | €567 | €31,999 | 904 | Diesel | CXE | Automatic (dual-clutch) (7) | 2015–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 150 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch Research | €539 | €26,980 | 655 | Diesel | CXF, CXH | Automatic (dual-clutch) (7) | 2015–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 150 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive Research | €553 | €26,980 | 655 | Diesel | CXF, CXH | Automatic (dual-clutch) (7) | 2015–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 150 PS, 6-speed manual Research | €535 | €21,500 | 606 | Diesel | CXF, CXH | Manual (6) | 2015–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 150 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive Research | €581 | €21,500 | 606 | Diesel | CXF, CXH, DNA | Manual (6) | 2015–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 102 PS, 5-speed manual Research | €534 | €15,900 | 489 | Diesel | CXG | Manual (5) | 2015–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 199 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch Research | €612 | €34,990 | 214 | Diesel | CXE | Automatic (dual-clutch) (7) | 2018–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 199 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive Research | €655 | €34,990 | 214 | Diesel | CXE | Automatic (dual-clutch) (7) | 2018–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 204 PS, 6-speed manual Research | €571 | €22,989 | 131 | Diesel | CJK, CXE | Manual (6) | 2015–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 204 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive Research | €560 | €22,989 | 131 | Diesel | CXE | Manual (6) | 2015–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 84 PS, 5-speed manual Research | €498 | €11,186 | 90 | Diesel | CXG | Manual (5) | 2015–2019 |
| 2.0 TDI, 114 PS, 5-speed manual Research | €537 | €13,999 | 67 | Diesel | CXH | Manual (5) | 2016–2019 |
Show all 13 variants
At a glance
- Years: 2015 to 2024. The T6 ran to 2019, the T6.1 facelift from 2019.
- Reliability: 2/5. The 204 PS BiTDI engine can cost 12,800 EUR or more, and the DQ500 gearbox and emissions parts add to the bill.
- DIY: 2/5. Engine, gearbox and emissions jobs need a workshop.
- Biggest risks: the 204 PS BiTDI engine (CXEB), DQ500 gearbox faults, and EGR and DPF faults.
- Prefer: the 150 PS diesel, with records of oil and gearbox service. Avoid: the 204 PS BiTDI with high oil use or coolant loss.
Engines and gearboxes
- 2.0 TDI EA288, 84 to 204 PS (CXG, CXH, CXF, CXE, DNA, DMZ): the EGR and DPF faults below apply across this range.
- EA288 engine guide (CXG, CXH, CXF, CXE): belt, water pump and EGR cooler faults are in the 2.0 TDI guide.
- 150 PS (CXH, CXF): the one to prefer. AUTO BILD's 2023 test calls it more durable than the 204 PS top version, and an owner forum agrees.
- 204 PS BiTDI (CXE, CXEB): avoid. The engine damage below is costly. Press reports also name the 199 PS T6.1 engine (CXEC), but VW puts its failure rate under one in a thousand.
- 180 PS (CFC): carried over from the T5 for 2015-2016. It is a T5 engine, and this guide has no T6 fault data for it.
- DQ500, 7-speed DSG: see the DQ500 issue below. Buy only with dated gearbox service records.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| BiTDI 204 PS engine damage | 204 PS BiTDI (CXEB), built 2016 to 2018 | From about 50,000 km (CarWiki) | About 12,800 EUR in parts (Germany, 2023); 20,000 EUR or more (Germany, year not stated) |
| DQ500 DSG mechatronic and shift faults | DQ500 seven-speed DSG | Not stated | About 2,000-7,000 GBP (UK owner quotes, 2022-2023) |
| EGR cooler and valve faults | 2.0 TDI EA288 | Not stated | About 500-2,400 GBP (UK owner quotes, 2023-2026) |
| DPF blockage on short trips | 2.0 TDI EA288 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Ask for the oil-use history and check the oil level after a drive. Bad result: the level drops fast, or there are no records.
- Drive the DQ500 in D through all gears. Bad result: jerks when pulling away, delayed shifts, or an emergency mode. A scanner reads mechatronic faults. Ask for the oil and filter service record.
- Start the van and watch the dashboard for an engine warning lamp. Bad result: the lamp stays on. A scanner reads EGR codes.
- Check the coolant level before and after a drive. Bad result: coolant keeps going down, or engine lamps come on. A scanner reads EGR faults.
- Ask how the van was driven, and whether it mostly did short trips. Drive it at speed and watch the DPF light. Bad result: the DPF light stays on, or a regeneration does not finish. A scanner reads DPF data.
- Check open recall campaigns by VIN with a VW dealer. Bad result: an open campaign that is not done.
Running costs
| Operational | €231 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €152 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €176 |
| Total per month | €559 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €100 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 3,335
- 25th percentile
- €17,000
- Median price
- €24,990
- 75th percentile
- €33,890
- Median mileage
- 143,500 km
- Median first registration
- 2017
- Dealer share
- 68.6%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €31,075
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
BiTDI 204 PS engine damage
The 204 PS BiTDI (engine code CXEB) loses coolant, uses oil, and loses power. Coolant that keeps going down and high oil use come first. Press reports also name turbo damage. CarWiki says the damage can start from about 50,000 km.
The cause is not settled. VW names poor oil quality and diesel quality as possible causes. AUTO BILD quotes a garage as naming the EGR module as the main T6 problem, and saying it often causes slow coolant loss. Coking of the spring in the oil scraper ring is named too. VW says the 23Z7 software update is not linked to the damage.
Built 2016 to 2018 according to VW. Press lists model years to 2019. VW puts the failure rate at a low to mid single-digit percentage.
Fix: a replacement core engine, with a particulate filter, catalytic converter and lambda sensor. VW says an engine swap was not necessary in many cases. Goodwill (Kulanz) offers exist, depending on age and mileage, but VW gives no flat price.
Cost: in Germany, AUTO BILD gives about 12,800 EUR in parts (2023). CarWiki puts the total at 20,000 EUR or more (year not stated).
Sources: AUTO BILD, 2025, AUTO BILD, 2023, CarWiki
DQ500 DSG mechatronic and shift faults
The DQ500 is a 7-speed wet-clutch DSG (double-clutch gearbox). Faults named: jerky starts and manoeuvring, delayed shifts, loss of a gear, and an emergency mode. The mechatronic (the gearbox control unit with valves, pressure and sensors) can fail, and the unit then switches to a safe state. A garage names worn valves, a pressure problem or a sensor fault as causes. Worn clutch contact points and the oil are often the cause of jerky starts.
One owner's van stuck in one gear and then died. VW confirmed the mechatronic had failed. Another owner reports a cooler seal leak that put coolant into the box.
Costs are UK owner quotes, not garage prices. 3,000 GBP for a mechatronic with oils and labour, and 2,000 GBP for the unit alone (2022). 2,000 GBP for a full box swap (2022). 7,000 GBP plus VAT for a new box, and 3,500 GBP plus VAT plus labour to recondition the mechatronic (2023).
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich, 2026, AUTO BILD, 2018, VW T6 Forum, mechatronic, VW T6 Forum, DSG cooler
EGR cooler and valve faults
The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve sends hot exhaust back into the engine. Its cooler cools that gas first. Faults: a coked valve, a cracked or leaking cooler, and coolant that leaks into the engine. Owners report that a leaking cooler lets water into the engine. AUTO BILD quotes a garage as naming the EGR as the main T6 problem. Typical km is not stated.
Costs are UK owner quotes, one per owner. A valve part at 600 GBP and a 1,000 GBP job at VW (2025). An independent specialist quoted 2,300-2,400 GBP for a 2017 camper (2025). 1,800 GBP for a valve, cooler and pipe (2025). 1,130 GBP including diagnosis (2024). 685 GBP including fitting and VAT (2026). Under 500 GBP for a DIY job with a matching part (2025).
Sources: AUTO BILD, 2025, CarWiki, VW T6 Forum, EGR cost, VW T6 Forum, EGR cooler leak
DPF blockage on short trips
The diesel particulate filter (DPF) traps soot and burns it off when it gets hot. This is called regeneration. Short trips often do not get it hot enough. Press reports say DPF problems are typical on the T5 and T6, and vans with many short trips may need a manual regeneration. Owners report that short trips stop a regeneration from finishing, and that a forced regeneration was refused because soot was too high.
No price is confirmed.
Sources: AUTO BILD, 2025, auto motor und sport, VW T6 Forum, first-time buyer, VW T6 Forum, EGR cooler leak
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany, 1,599 vans (ADAC) | not given | Campaign May 2016 | Driver's front side airbag was put in its housing wrongly and may not protect. The airbag is replaced. |
| Germany, 8,100 vehicles, other models too (ADAC) | not given | Campaign March 2017 | Autoliv airbag or seat belt tensioner propellant mixed wrongly; the systems may not work. The parts are replaced. |
| Germany, 4,700 vans (ADAC) | not given | Campaign from 20 December 2017 | Cracked fuel hoses can leak fuel, with a fire risk. Three fuel hoses are replaced. |
| Germany, 253 vans (ADAC) | not given | Campaign from 5 March 2018; single passenger seat only | Passenger airbag folded wrongly; small front passengers may be badly protected. The passenger airbag is replaced. |
| Germany, 86,741 vans (ADAC) | not given | Campaign April 2019; 2.0 TDI Euro 6 | NOx rises above the Euro 6 limit during DPF regeneration. The engine control unit is reprogrammed, about one hour. |
| Germany, 11,039 vans (ADAC) | not given | Campaign July 2019; electric tailgate and short wheelbase | A pressure washer can push water inside and burn the electronics. The side panel is sealed, about one hour. |
| Germany (ADAC) | not given | Campaign September 2021 | Water in the door lock can freeze so the door only seems locked. New lock cables and extra seal films are fitted, about 3.5 hours. |
Check every open campaign by VIN with a VW dealer before you buy.
Maintenance
- DQ500 oil and filter: change about every 60,000 km. A forum moderator says 60,000 km, and the table of Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich says 40,000 miles (about 64,000 km). Dietrich says the filter is replaced at each service.
- Engine oil on the BiTDI: VW names poor oil quality as a possible cause of the 204 PS damage. Use good oil.
Sources
English
- VW T6 Forum, DSG oil and filter change
- VW T6 Forum, mechatronic unit failure
- VW T6 Forum, DSG failure at 21,000 miles
- VW T6 Forum, EGR replacement cost
- VW T6 Forum, EGR effecting DPF soot levels
- VW T6 Forum, first-time buyer advice
German
- ADAC, Gebrauchtwageninfo VW T6 (2015-2024) Diesel
- AUTO BILD, VW T6 used car test, 2018
- AUTO BILD, T6 Multivan 4MOTION test, 2023
- AUTO BILD, T5 and T6 engine problems, 2025
- AUTO BILD, T6 CXEB engine damage, 2023
- auto motor und sport, CFCA engine problems
- CarWiki, VW T6 engine damage
- Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich, DQ500 problems
- Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich, DSG oil change