Ah thanks, seems it is one of those ... I know nothing about them personally but wish you well with your efforts to get it sorted out.
My VW Caravelle engine failed at 66,621 miles
- Thread starter abulliedpensioner
- Start date
abulliedpensioner
Member
Update on our terrible fight to get our Caravelle mobile again. Just heard that the ombudsman will not help as the car is out of warranty. VW are still refusing to supply our repairers with the code to get the vehicle running. Buying a VW product is the worst decision I have ever made. The bill is around £25,000 so be wary about purchasing a VW. A truly miserable experience, in my opinion, fighting an appalling, greedy company. Customer care seems to be a joke! Our vehicle has been off the road since September 2025 and we have missed family and friend time together. Also we are booked onto a seasonal pitch with our caravan and cannot take this up as the tow car is in the garage!
The sole reason we purchased the Caravelle was to tow our caravan...
The sole reason we purchased the Caravelle was to tow our caravan...
Could you hire something to tow the caravan there?
The ombudsman were never going to do a thing that would get you an inch closer to having a running van. As aforementioned, that was a distraction from goal of getting a running van.
Im guessing the BBC also haven't turned up with their socket set?
Im guessing the BBC also haven't turned up with their socket set?
abulliedpensioner
Member
Thanks for your replies. We could hire someone to move our van onto the site but it is quite expensive, but we may have to. What a mess, we only bought the retched van to tow our caravan. It was the best option at the time, what a mistake!
The only thing needed to restart the van is a code from VW! This has been the case since December 2025. They want us to spend another £10,000! The law will be used as a last resort but we a just a couple of pensioners and one of us has been very unwell. Last European vehicle I'll ever buy.
The only thing needed to restart the van is a code from VW! This has been the case since December 2025. They want us to spend another £10,000! The law will be used as a last resort but we a just a couple of pensioners and one of us has been very unwell. Last European vehicle I'll ever buy.
ref your post #31
i think you are barking up the wrong tree pursuing VW.
regardless of what i think . thats what VW say
you need to pursue your 3rd party repairer for proceeding when they say they new there was errors and the code was incorrect etc.
who says VW were contacted , and the repairer was told "it will be OK"?
Has your repairer got an email as evidence to say "carry on , all is well" or words to that effect,in writing?
if not , them as VW advise, the error is laid fairly and squarely at the 3rd party repairer.
he knew there was a problem yet proceeded anyway?
if he hasnt got written proof from vw that its ok to continue,then its really his mess up to rectify.
do you not think that your repairer might be " just saying" but i asked VW and they said its ok.
or is this his excuse after his almighty mess up?
i think you are barking up the wrong tree pursuing VW.
regardless of what i think . thats what VW say
you need to pursue your 3rd party repairer for proceeding when they say they new there was errors and the code was incorrect etc.
who says VW were contacted , and the repairer was told "it will be OK"?
Has your repairer got an email as evidence to say "carry on , all is well" or words to that effect,in writing?
if not , them as VW advise, the error is laid fairly and squarely at the 3rd party repairer.
he knew there was a problem yet proceeded anyway?
if he hasnt got written proof from vw that its ok to continue,then its really his mess up to rectify.
do you not think that your repairer might be " just saying" but i asked VW and they said its ok.
or is this his excuse after his almighty mess up?
abulliedpensioner
Member
Hi, and thanks again for replying. Yes, we have emailed proof from VW, not once but twice apologising for sending wrong codes. However, VW engineering have recommended buying 4 new units approx. cost £10,000! At no time have VW mentioned the coding errors, even though the VW paperwork required from the garage was fully approved. In fact, VW vehemently demanded we buy new units. VW have now closed the case and are no longer prepared to talk to us. The garage had purchased and paid subscriptions for VW equipment and software to cover most VW repairs. VW have now withdrawn the software that allowed the garage to individually programme each electrical unit so they all can talk to one another. VW have the software and are restricting use by 3rd party repairers. The van is 8 years old and outside VW warranty. The motor ombudsman will only proceed when cars are within manufacturers' warranty. We apparently have no choice but to buy the new units? VW have stated even with new units the car may still be immobile.
VW closed its local dealer a few years ago after we purchased our van. We would never have bought it had we known that a 50 minute drive (in good traffic) would be needed, with a possible breakdown on route to a dealership for them to fix it. It all started with an intermittent flashing warning light on the dashboard, no other problems. We did not realise that the VW engine CXEB was such a VW design and construction failure. VW failed in its customer care to warn us that additives would be needed and premium diesel with service intervals of 8,000 miles. Also, apparently, the injector manufacturers web-site recommend that the injectors should be checked at 40,000 mile service. This is not in the VW service manual/literature. So unless you are a petrol head you are not aware of this requirement. Had we known of this we would never have considered a VW. Also, Caravelles are just tarted up Transporters, ie workmen's vehicles. Who on earth would want a vehicle with this fuss and expense when running a business?
The repair of the van started 19 September 2025 with 66,621 miles on the clock, but, VWs intransigence to 3rd party garages means the van is still immobile. A truly miserable and stressful experience especially as my husband has been very ill during this period. VW have been informed of some of his health issues but to no avail. He has not been fit enough to drive the distance to the VW's dealership in Exeter as VW have demanded.
Please note: VW have informed us in writing that they will not accept 3rd party dimension checks and data. Another reason why we would never have considered a VW as we travelled widely and if the thing broke down we would not be able to use a local garage. What is the use of a vehicle like that?
VW closed its local dealer a few years ago after we purchased our van. We would never have bought it had we known that a 50 minute drive (in good traffic) would be needed, with a possible breakdown on route to a dealership for them to fix it. It all started with an intermittent flashing warning light on the dashboard, no other problems. We did not realise that the VW engine CXEB was such a VW design and construction failure. VW failed in its customer care to warn us that additives would be needed and premium diesel with service intervals of 8,000 miles. Also, apparently, the injector manufacturers web-site recommend that the injectors should be checked at 40,000 mile service. This is not in the VW service manual/literature. So unless you are a petrol head you are not aware of this requirement. Had we known of this we would never have considered a VW. Also, Caravelles are just tarted up Transporters, ie workmen's vehicles. Who on earth would want a vehicle with this fuss and expense when running a business?
The repair of the van started 19 September 2025 with 66,621 miles on the clock, but, VWs intransigence to 3rd party garages means the van is still immobile. A truly miserable and stressful experience especially as my husband has been very ill during this period. VW have been informed of some of his health issues but to no avail. He has not been fit enough to drive the distance to the VW's dealership in Exeter as VW have demanded.
Please note: VW have informed us in writing that they will not accept 3rd party dimension checks and data. Another reason why we would never have considered a VW as we travelled widely and if the thing broke down we would not be able to use a local garage. What is the use of a vehicle like that?
You may find it cathartic to post about your woes on here, but it really isn't getting you any closer to a resolution.
You've explored many avenues (VW, BBC, ombudsman) and you've now concluded your only option is to spend £10k, but it appears to me that you haven't even established which party/parties may be legally responsible for your predicament - something that is absolutely fundamental to any legal dispute.
Your time would be best spent identifying a solicitor that specialises in motor disputes and discussing your case with them - at least then you'd know definitively if you have a case, who against and the most effective way to proceed.
You've explored many avenues (VW, BBC, ombudsman) and you've now concluded your only option is to spend £10k, but it appears to me that you haven't even established which party/parties may be legally responsible for your predicament - something that is absolutely fundamental to any legal dispute.
Your time would be best spent identifying a solicitor that specialises in motor disputes and discussing your case with them - at least then you'd know definitively if you have a case, who against and the most effective way to proceed.
Their legal departments tend to be staffed by newly qualified or fairly junior solicitors. Better to find (and pay for) a firm that specialises and has a proven track-record.
Ot sounds like the garage carrying out the work as had its odis account removed from vw. If this is the case, and the only factor to get your van running in programming and coding the vans modules, maybe look at vw specialist that could solve this for you.
Granted, another expense but I can not see any other route you have now.
Granted, another expense but I can not see any other route you have now.
abulliedpensioner
Member
From what we have been told odis has been removed from all 3rd parties. VW are just trying to re-build its profit margins at the expense of couple of OAPs. Does anyone know if odis has been withdrawn from all 3rd parties? The car is immobile, and we're running out of money. Remember we paid an original premium for the VW as it was trading on a past, apparently unfounded, excellent reputation for high build quality and longevity. Both of us no longer sleep with the worry... Also remember VW no longer sell small, spare parts but require the purchase of entire units. A valve guide costing £20.00 is apparently no longer available but you can buy the whole unit at £2,500. Profiteering or not? When a 3rd party manages to sort the problem out VW manage to send the wrong coding not once but twice! VW know we are old and frail but it does not stop me from warning people about the stress and misery of owning one of their products. JDpowers survey for 2025 names Audi as the worst performing manufacturer at 269 problems per 100 cars and Volkeswagen at 225 problems per 100 cars at no 4. VW own Audi...
You need to dig deeper with the 3rd party repairer.
He may well have been using a fake , cloned odis tool.
Renowned for bricking ecu,s .
Well , well documented at least
He may well have been using a fake , cloned odis tool.
Renowned for bricking ecu,s .
Well , well documented at least
More pointless complaining that brings you no closer to a resolution.
A quick Google search suggests that ODIS is still fully operational under licence to independent VW specialist garages. My service in December was uploaded to VW database via ODIS. I'm sure if ODIS was no longer available the outcry would be all over the web.
Interesting what @darkman884 posted above.
At the very least it's time to talk to a reputable VW specialist with fully licenced ODIS, see what they have to say, and if they think they can help then pay to have the van recovered to them.
As mentioned above, Darkside Developments have expertise in engine swaps on the CXEB and also ecu mapping. They may be worth an email enquiry that points you in the right direction.
www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk
Maybe then you will also get the evidence you need to prove what exactly was done incorrectly by the current garage which may inform the direction any legal proceedings take. i.e. who is at fault legally.
Interesting what @darkman884 posted above.
At the very least it's time to talk to a reputable VW specialist with fully licenced ODIS, see what they have to say, and if they think they can help then pay to have the van recovered to them.
As mentioned above, Darkside Developments have expertise in engine swaps on the CXEB and also ecu mapping. They may be worth an email enquiry that points you in the right direction.
Darkside Developments - Performance Diesel Tuning
Darkside Developments is a UK based diesel tuning company, specialising in VAG (VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda), BMW, MINI & Porsche Diesel Vehicles
www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk
Maybe then you will also get the evidence you need to prove what exactly was done incorrectly by the current garage which may inform the direction any legal proceedings take. i.e. who is at fault legally.
Last edited:
