Carsieve

VW up! (2011-2023): known problems and buying guide

Built
2011–2016
Median price
€5,200
Listings
850
Running cost per month
€340–€341
Power
60–75 PS (44–55 kW)
Reliability
3/5
DIY
3/5

Check for water leaks and rust first, then test the ASG gearbox from cold; most other repairs are cheap.

All versions

VariantRunning cost per monthMedian priceListingsFuelEngine codesGearboxProduction years
1.0, 60 PS, 5-speed manual Research€341€4,950516Petrol CHYManual (5)2011–2016
1.0, 75 PS, 5-speed manual Research€340€5,790237Petrol CHYManual (5)2011–2016

At a glance

  • Years: built 2011-2023, facelift 2016. Petrol 1.0 MPI, natural gas, 1.0 TSI and the electric e-up!.
  • Water leaks and rust are the main risks on cars up to 2016.
  • Reliability: 3/5, because body leaks, rust and the ASG gearbox are the costly weak points.
  • DIY: 3/5, because servicing is simple but body and gearbox repairs need a workshop.
  • Prefer: a facelift car with a dry cabin, a clean fuel filler neck and a manual gearbox.
  • Avoid: a car with damp mats, bubbling paint or an ASG that jerks.

Engines and gearboxes

  • 1.0 MPI petrol (60, 65 or 75 PS): durable three-cylinder; taxi and delivery cars run to high mileage. Clutch noise is covered below.
  • 1.0 MPI natural gas (68 PS, CPG): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
  • 1.0 TSI (90 PS, DKL) and GTI (115 PS, DKR): see the 1.0 TSI guide.
  • e-up! (82 or 83 PS, EAB or EBM): battery health and winter range are covered below.
  • Manual 5- or 6-speed: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
  • ASG automated 5-speed: jerky shifts and actuator faults are covered below.
  • Single-speed reduction gear (e-up!): no fault confirmed in the sources read.

Known issues

Issue Affects Typical km Repair cost
Water leaks into the cabin Cars up to model year 2016, all engines Not stated No confirmed price
Rust at the fuel filler and underbody Cars up to model year 2016 Not stated No confirmed price
ASG jerky shifts and actuator faults 1.0 MPI with the ASG automated manual Not stated No confirmed price
e-up! battery and winter range e-up! (EAB, EBM) Not stated No confirmed price
Rear drum brakes stick and squeal All cars Not stated No confirmed price

Before you buy

  1. Water leaks. Check sills, footwells, boot floor and under the mats. Bad result: damp carpets or mould.
  2. Rust. Check the fuel filler neck, right rear wheel arch, sills and underbody. Bad result: bubbles or fresh underseal hiding a repair.
  3. ASG gearbox. Test from cold: pull away, reverse, creep. Bad result: jerks or limp mode. Have the fault codes read with a scanner.
  4. e-up! battery. Ask for a battery health report; a scanner is needed. Bad result: a big gap between indicated and real range.
  5. Rear brakes. Release the handbrake and check that the rear wheels turn freely; listen for squeal. Bad result: a dragging wheel.
  6. Recalls. Ask a dealer to check open campaigns by VIN.

Running costs

Operational€144
Workshop€94
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)€100
Total per month€338
New-car depreciation (not included)€42

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.

Find offers on mobile.de

Listings
850
25th percentile
€3,999
Median price
€5,200
75th percentile
€6,500
Median mileage
114,000 km
Median first registration
2014
Dealer share
58.1%
Price at 100,000 km
€5,856

To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.

In detail

Water leaks into the cabin

Water collects in the front footwells, sills and boot. Causes: blocked windscreen drains, a leaking windscreen seal, the third brake light, the wiper shaft seal and door seals. Cars up to 2016 usually leak at the sills. A Kolesa long-term car also leaked through a climate-control tube seal.

Sources: auto motor und sport, RAC, Kolesa.ru, PistonHeads

Rust at the fuel filler and underbody

Up to 2016 the body can rust around the fuel filler and side panel, in bad cases through the metal. Underbody protection is weak on early cars. Volkswagen replaced the side panel and inner wings in extreme cases. Check the fuel filler neck, right rear wheel arch, sills and underbody.

Sources: auto motor und sport, Gebrauchtwagenberater, PistonHeads

ASG jerky shifts and actuator faults

The ASG is a single-clutch automated manual. It shifts smoothly only when driven gently; otherwise it jerks and pauses between gears. One DRIVE2 owner of a 2013 1.0 reports repeated limp mode, with electrical faults at the actuator and clutch motor. A used gearbox fixed it. No confirmed EUR or GBP price.

Sources: RAC, auto motor und sport, DRIVE2

e-up! battery and winter range

RAC gives the e-up! an 18.7 kWh battery, then a 32.3 kWh pack after 2019. It reports winter range up to 50 miles (80 km) lower. Carwow puts the range at about 200 to 260 km. A PistonHeads owner blames poor winter range on battery wear. Check battery health with a scanner.

Sources: RAC, Carwow, PistonHeads

Rear drum brakes stick and squeal

The rear drum brakes can squeal and the shoes can stick, especially after parking or washing. A PistonHeads owner frees a stuck drum with a hammer. The handbrake can stick. TÜV reports criticise the brakes, and ADAC lists a mechanical handbrake fault as a 2016 breakdown cause. Check the rear wheels turn freely and listen for squeal.

Sources: RAC, Gebrauchtwagenberater, PistonHeads, ADAC

Recalls

Country Code Years or build range What is done
Germany (gebrauchtwagenberater.de); UK (Auto Express) not given 2013 Defect: side airbags can fire
Germany (gebrauchtwagenberater.de); UK (Auto Express) not given 2014 Defect: airbag sensor can fail and the airbag can fire
Germany (gebrauchtwagenberater.de); UK (Auto Express) not given Cars built 25 November 2015-14 April 2016 Defect: child lock can engage by itself

Auto Express also lists three of these recalls without codes: airbags (cars built January-March 2013), airbags that could fire (February-August 2014) and child locks (November 2015-April 2016).

Maintenance

  • Drains: clear the plenum drains and sill drain holes; blocked drains cause the wet footwells.
  • Timing belt: no fixed interval. First inspection 60,000 miles (about 96,500 km) per Auto Express or 210,000 km per Gebrauchtwagenberater, then yearly.
  • Underbody: early cars have weak protection; treat rust before it spreads.

Sources

English

German

Russian