Is EGR valve failure an inherent defect?

The EGR valve on my Volkswagen Golf Plus (purchased new Oct 2010) has failed due, I am told, to low use (17,000 miles on the clock). The repair cost was €674 and Volkswagen is not interested because the repair was carried out by an independent garage. I have been told that this problem is known to Volkswagen and other makers. Is this correct and is it the result of an inherent defect?

Keith Manners (Alsager)

Jun 2014 Filed under: diesel

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Expert answer

Hi Keith,

Sadly this story is all too common these days. Many components of a modern diesel car are not designed for low mileage use and this should be explained to buyers by the dealers, though in fairness, buyers right now still think they should have diesel, even if the don't do high mileage. I'm not blaming the dealers.

We wouldn't call it a defect, as such, more a limitation. To prevent such things happening again we'd recommend low mileage diesel drivers to regularly take their car for an extended motorway run holding the revs higher than normal (using a lower gear). This should help prevent the build up of deposits in components like the EGR valve and even in the particulate filter in the exhaust.

It's a shame you didn't know to do that before being hit with this expense.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Adviser