Volkswagen Amarok 4x4 TDI400 2.0L Twin Turbo Diesel (2011-2016)

Great car but service costs high – Daily driver to and from work pick up kid going to the beach and going on holidays. Car is used everyday and on weekends . Serviced every 15 000 kilometres No issues advised by my mechanic . Show details

Overall Good – I have just clicked over 100 thousand k's. To date been pretty hapoy with my 2015 Amarok. Just developed a big whirring noise in rear end. Took it to Volks, who do European vehicles in Cairns. He said wheel bearings are gone. They done a few now. If you go to VW they solve your rear wheel bearing failure by selling you a whole new diff for… Read more

$3,500.00! He gets a kit in from UK, has bearings, axle nuts and ABS clips to do both sides, parts and labour 2 grand.

I have a 2.0lt twin turbo diesel it’s just done 270,000ks has not missed a beat until now – I have a twin turbo Trendline there great for pulling heavy loads rather rough to ride in though unless you have a load on the back just put 270,000ks on it and has not missed a beat. That is until now the temperature light comes on it’s like the coolant is not circulating through the system I’ve changed auxiliary coolant pump but that’s not the… Read more

issue after it gets warm it starts to build pressure then when you take overflow cap off the coolant bubbles like you’ve shaken up a bottle of Coke and poured it in there there’s no water in the oil it don’t blow smoke etc I got no clue what it could be maybe thermostat or water pump although until now it’s been a reliable Ute I definitely would not recommend buying one as we are definitely the very few of the lucky ones to get 270,000ks out of an Amarok they are crap boxes and there is so much that can and does go wrong with them I’d consider getting a Greatwall or a push bike before getting another amarok even Greatwall put out a more reliable diesel 4x4 that VW and Greatwall just ain’t that GREAT.

this car is no good at all 9 days all i got out of it – 9 days 423.7 km all we got from it 1/2 tank of fuel but fault with these seem to be the serpentine belt failure on engines running a timing belt we have no car know for a long time saved along time for this car so let down by VW we have to save for long time just to fix it know buy a VW ever again so let down by the way they made this 2015 motor fail so dam easy Amarok just no good and any VW with them 2.0l TDI motors Show details

Good to drive longevity question – 300,000 kms second motor, the first motor was fixed by vw but the second I'm waiting on a response but doesn't look promising...Its had the aftermarket cover over the timing belt however the sepentine belt (only 10,000kms old) still managed to get in behind the timing cover and destroy the head..  Show details

VW Amarok - Serpentine belt shred and catastrophic engine failure – Have owned vehicle 5 years. Serpentine belt has shredded and as a result has destroyed the engine. VW are aware of this defect in vehicles pre 2013. Timing belt cover was introduced in May 2012 to rectify problem, but no recall was ever done, leaving people thou.ands out of pocket. On reading forums, VW are reluctant to help their customers… Read more

and many have to go via tribunials and court to get some compensation from VW. Our battle is about to begin. Obviously VW were are of this issue, otherwise why would they have made the timing belt cover? This is a manufacturing fault, but it seems owners of Amaroks have to come up with the money to replace their engines. We are left with a vehicle that cost us $45,000+ that now doesn't run at all.

Belt problems! – Up till now I had great confidence in the Amarok and its reliability. But after a recent experience ....not sure! Has anyone else had the belt driving the water pump / aircon compressor/ alternator let go and then proceed to wrap itself under the T Betl cover and end up requiring a tow and very expensive head recon / valve replacement etc etc.… Read more

Why is it designed to allow the equivalent of breaking a fan belt to get to the T belt and cause such a major issue?? I was on the Central Desert Road at the time feeling confident in my well serviced 4x4. Now I am worried what else his waiting to go wrong! Mine is a 2012 model and I believe there is a kit out there to stop this happening ( allowing the broken belt to enter the T Belt housing). No-one ever mention this issue to me in all the dealer services I have had. Maybe all you Amarok owners should check you are not vulnerable to this fate.

Cheers

Mike

Buy Anything Else – Clutch gone at 60,000km - not covered by warranty. Mult-V belt went at 80,000km on NYE at Fraser Is and because of a known design flaw it destroyed the engine. We had to fight to get the engine fixed and not pay a $10k repair bill. VW seem to know about the problems with the Amarok's but try to cover it anyway instead of doing a recall.  Show details

VW 2011AMAROK 2ltr PROBLEMS – Great dual cab to drive, ergonomics re, drivers position and storage/ access to everything is excellent even tho window wipers and indicators arms are opposite to what we are use to here in Australia... pity VW didnt adapt to Aust market.... 2.0 Engine- Very economical if you arent towing ... Having towed a caravan 2000kg ( which is not very… Read more

heavy by todays standards ) i found the 2.0 diesel economy to increase dramatically...You cant replace cubic inches for true power... This is why VW has gone to the v6 motor..

Reliability- Had multiple issues re motor...

1- Many limp mode incidences, some leading to dangerous scenarios... Took vehicle back to VW for diagnostic testing , to be told every time that there was nothing wrong...

- Brake booster melted down whilst driving resulting in virtually no brakes... -VW on assesing the problem, couldnt fix it fast enough..!!!

- DPF- Multiple light incidents on dash re this,fumes coming into cab,dealer told us to drive it like a race car to self clean exhaust!! we live in the country and tried this which didnt work''

-Apon final limp mode incident, and a frantic ph call from my partner,! the car was parked up in my shed while i awaited another new vehicle...

I thought VW where a trusted , quality DIESEL Vehicle manufacturer going on their history, but i made a serious blunder with this vehicle... Had ony done 60,000 when i bought it, and i did question myself why someone would get rid of a pristine vehicle at this AGE...

2011 Amarok serpentine belt – Loved the car. It ticked a lot of boxes. Interior roomy. Comfy to drive. Anyone looking to buy a 2011 model. Beware. An internet search will reveal problems with the serpentine belt which can cause engine failure. If the belt frays or breaks you could be up for a possible 14k repair. PS: There is no warning, no alarms, the car just stops on a straight road.  Show details

Super ride and handling feel safe on the road at all timeslot – I have a 2012 high line 6sp manual very happy with the ride handling and the space in the cabin 198cm does not GI well in most Ute's, had many a 4x4 over 50 years this one feels tight on dirt and bitumen roads no probs with any mechanical issues a super vehicle all round  Show details

Great, but better in automatic – Great vehicle and I love driving it, very stable, comfortable and spacious. However having driven the automatic a bit as well now, I would recommend it instead of the manual for every purpose I can think of. I also suggest you get a razorback steel canopy to go with it if you want a reliable, high quality canopy with central locking.  Show details

great car, very comfortable, not always reliable – I have owned this car for 5 years, it has had its issues but besides that I really like this car. It is disappointing that there is a recurring problem with the air con compressor ( 6 so far ) but the dealer ship is very good about it and can do the replace meant in half a day now, which is very convenient as I am 3hrs drive away. I have a new… Read more

motor due to the timing belt cover issue. Was provided with a replace meant ute while this was being done. The manual gearbox is very smooth and changes nicely except in the cold weather first thing in the morning. Double clutching helps while its cold . Selecting reverse is always a challenge , something to do with the gate but I work with it each time and get there in time.The car has now done just over 200,000 and still feels like new. have driven it to Perth and back ( the scenic way ) and it was fantastic. Have taken it into the snowy mountains and it is brilliant . Leaves my Landcover discovery for dead .

Fuel economy is okay but I do have a lot of bits and pieces hanging off it it to reduce its aero dynamics .

I have upgraded the rear suspension because i constantly carry 400kg plus on the back plus tow 2.5t on a trailer. It does it well but the bigs hills give it a work out.

Biggest disappointment is the poor standard of electronics in terms of radio, blue tooth, gps. ( i.e. lack of it ). In my view its a safety issue and should not be underestimated in its priority .

I have been provided with a loan car recently for servicing and warranty issues and the loan car has been the 8 spd Amarok. its even better than my manual and am considering getting one to replace it .

Amaroks are crap – I have owned my amarok for 2.5 years, brought it near new at 47000 k on the clock, had nothing but trouble with it, egr other problem, total cost me 7000 to repair, then the big one the drive belts broke 10000 plus is VW quote totally destroyed the engine, VW said timing is out, used enging 6500 then have to pay 1500 plus to get the mechanic to… Read more

put it in, that is almost half price to what VW were going to charge me, there is a common design fault in the drive belts issue, read the review on them, there are loads of people out there like me with the same issue,

Don't buy them, they look great, and drive great when they are working, but costly to repair when they are not working, Do your home work on them before you sign on the dotted line.

There Should Be a Class Acton on them about the issue, VW don't care about you, They are there is make as much money as they can that it.

Only looks good ! Worst car ever – I don't want to drive it out of town anymore as 3 time out of 5 I'll need tow back. Loss of power... Over $10k of bills and still same issue... Between EGR valve, EGR cooler, auxilliary water pump, timing belt, head gasket... Half of the engine is brand new and still have the same loss of power engine light coming on dash. Had it for not even a year, car has spent over three month in mechanical. Madness i just want to put that car in wreck.  Show details

Don't like it anymore – Not here to talk about the looks or Comfort of the car but the reliability . I have a 2011 Amarok wich broke the fan belt that went on to destroy the motor . The cause a simple fix that was not told about from VW The timing belt cover was not a good design by VW poor design inadequate testing and questionable ethics On VW part. Be aware… Read more

people I'm not the only one that happen to

The result $10,000 damage.

All they had to do is warn the customers and replace

That $50.00 part what a let down by VW

Abs & traction control failed – My amarok developed an abs/traction problem 12 months out of warranty. After considerable negotiation vw paid the parts to have both rear axles replaced, I paid labour. Still same problem, they then replaced the axle seals!. Still same prob, now progressively replacing sensors. Vehicle off road 6 months! @ 35k! Appalling fault finding by Mackay… Read more

Volkswagen. Now Volkswagen offer to pay 60% of the parts cost only but will not cover labour to fix the original problem. Vehicle was badly scratched whilst in their care also. This is the second time they've damaged my vehicle, last time it was sideswiped by a low low car trailer which took out the entire rhs of the vehicle. I have photos of both incidents for the record. Be careful what you sign when dropping off your vehicle, take photos & look carefully when you collect it.

Glad to see it gone – Our Amarok had problems from the time we picked it up. But the dealer was not helpful and the after sales service was terrible. The warranty meant nothing. The paint was peeling off the front bumper, the cabin leaked when it rained, the back suspension had continual problems and the engine burned a lot of oil. The sound system started to play… Read more

up. The wipers banged into the bonnet when in use for long periods. I only used th car to travel to and from work, it never towed and only made 4 runs to the tip. It had a soft life yet the back suspension was having continual problems. Despite all this VW refused to help instead they said it was up to the dealer to sort out. Yet the dealer said the problems weren't evident and told me to video them! With only 70,000km and only just more than 2years old we traded it in on a new Ranger. The motoring journalists in Australia often say that the after sales service of VW is excellent, well my experience is the opposite, absolute rubbish. I would not recommend VW or the Amarok to anyone.

A truly AWFUL vehicle – The 2L, 8 Speed auto is woefully inadequate for a loaded vehicle, especially on hills. The gutless 120kw motor needs 8 gears to move it. It is hopeless on hills, and needs revving like a petrol motor. The eight speed auto is always searching for gears, and the vehicle cannot maintain its speed on slopes: it is either accelerating or decelerating.… Read more

Impressive paper figures do not carry over in the real world. Overtaking is safe only on down-hill slopes. Do not buy this vehicle for it is truly awful.

Great vehicle – This is my first VW, and I am very very happy with my 2010 Trendline Amarok, she drives like a sedan, she has towed our off road camper to some great spots. Fuel economy is awesome, 80ltr tank with a range of over 900 km consistently. Tomorrow she will be traded in & greatly missed, I hope the 2016 Highline will be as good as the old girl is.  Show details

MY11 Ultimate – I bought my Amarok in August 2011, and I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with some of the inclusions- or lack thereof such as the fact that at the time, the Ultimate had very little accessories such as bluetooth, or even a light for my wife in the sun visor. I had my car for 3.5 years, traveled 160,000kms. I had a problem with the… Read more

clutch which when it was removed, it fell into pieces with rust. No one at the dealership could explain why. I also had the pulleys on the motor changed as this was a weak point apparently, and a steering pump changed.

All things were done without difficulty under warranty and the steering pump at $800 a pop was done under extended warranty. I thought I'd state the bad things, which sounds like a lot, but I am absolutely sold on the car with it's great points. The body is fully galvanized before painting making it have an anti corrosion warranty of 6 years, it's a very safe car for my family and I. I guess you have to drive it to understand. I, even after all the issues, have given the ultimate thumbs up by trading it in on a new Amarok which thankfully has all of the inclusions that I was missing...except my wife's damn vanity mirror light. My Amarok is a rock!!

Work Vehicle also used for occasional Family travelling – I bought a used 2012 Trend-line 6spd 132kw model 4wd, 5000k on clock, VW Australia Demo, Sept 2013-2014 first year did 65000k, never missed a beat, traveled every week for a year over the windiest roads in Australia, from Wodonga to Longford, via multi paths, Hotham, Dargo, Mitta, and Falls and return plus site work. This year Sept 2104-2015 so… Read more

far done 25000k, and great to say still going well. What can I say it is a Ute, nice to drive, easy on fuel, higher on maintenance, ok suspension, don't like the coffee cup arrangement, to far from the driver, lights are poor, added ARB LED's , can see now at night, roos, deer, etc. Installed a ARB bull-bar, not effected performance. Would I buy another, not sure, VW need to upgrade the seats in rear, and add more useful cup arrangements and std accessories, add USB as standard, little items like that make a difference on the road.

Now getting close to 100000k, always in my mind how the timing belt holding out.

Towed a Kimberly camper to KI and back, fuel economy OK.

No trouble with the 6spd, going ok, got to stir up the 2L engine over high country and the windy roads to keep it rolling steady.

Couldn't ask for better – I've been driving my Amarok 400TDi 4x4 for 3 years. With 80,000km now I have had absolute trouble free driving. 2 trips across the Nullabor, to Uluru, Coral Bay and Exmouth, SW WA, Eyre Peninsular not to mention backwards and forward to work. I love it, my family love it. It goes my camper trailer with ease and travel on the highway or the dirt… Read more

are tackled with ease. It tick all the boxes for me. I have fitted an ARB Deluxe Commercial bar, warn winch, SMM canopy, TJM tow bar, 17" Alloys, Bushwacker Flares, custom drawers, dual battery system and a few other smaller, accessories. Reliable, economical, comfortable, tougher than many think. Standard model originally should have had cruise control fitted, cost of oil and servicing.