MajorVery commonEngine

Audi A5: 3.0 V6 TDI (CAPA/CDUC/CLAB) Intake Manifold Swirl-Flap Motor and Linkage Failure — P2015 (8T)

3.0 V6 TDI (CAPA/CDUC/CLAB) Intake Manifold Swirl-Flap Motor and Linkage Failure — P2015 (8T) is a very common engine fault on the Audi A5 on the 2008–2016 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 25 documented faults on the Audi A5.

Vehicle: Audi A5
Engine: 3.0L
Years: 2008–2016
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

This page covers the Audi A5 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Audi A5 faults25 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Intake manifold yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Each bank of the A5's 3.0 V6 diesel has an intake manifold with pivoting swirl flaps worked by a small electric motor through a plastic linkage, and that linkage is the weak point: its joints and end-stops wear loose, the motor overruns its travel, and the car logs intake-manifold position faults (P2015 and friends) with the engine light on. Uneven low-rev running and slightly higher fuel use follow, and because there are two manifolds the 'official' fix — replacing them — runs deep into four figures. The failure is so routine that several specialists sell dedicated repair brackets and linkage kits for exactly this, including suppliers in New Zealand, which is the affordable path if the manifolds themselves are still sound.

What you would notice

Engine warning light that keeps returning (intake manifold flap position fault)
Uneven idle or slight hesitation at low revs
Marginally increased fuel consumption
No dramatic driveability change — often the light is the only symptom

How to check it

Where to look. Twin intake manifolds with flap motors in the engine valley, under the engine cover

The engine warning light is the primary evidence, so look at the dash with the ignition on and again with the engine running, and be suspicious of a light that the seller says 'just comes and goes' — that intermittent pattern fits worn flap linkages. At idle, listen for any faint periodic whirring from the top of the engine as the motors cycle. Ask whether the intake manifold flaps, their motors, or a repair kit have ever been attended to, and ask for the invoice; ask an Audi workshop what the fault memory shows before you commit. If a workshop inspection is possible: have the stored fault codes read with diagnostic software — P2015 confirms it — and have the flap linkage play checked at the manifold before pricing either a repair kit or replacement manifolds.

Parts involved: Intake manifold.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the engine light ever shown an intake manifold or flap fault (P2015)?”
“Have the manifolds, flap motors, or a linkage repair kit ever been fitted?”
“Can I see the last diagnostic report from a workshop?”

Now check the Audi A5 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

TDIClub forum thread 'P2015 intake manifold flap fix how-to'
Darkside Developments 'Swirl Flap Repair for 2.7 & 3.0 TDi Inlet / Intake Manifold' fitment guide (linkage joints wear loose; fits CLAB among listed codes)
vagparts.co.nz V6 TDI swirl-flap repair kit listing for P2015 fault code (2.7/3.0/4.2 V6 TDI)

Audi A5 buyer questions

Is 3.0 v6 tdi (capa/cduc/clab) intake manifold swirl-flap motor and linkage failure — p2015 (8t) serious on a Audi A5?

We rate it major and very common on the Audi A5. Each bank of the A5's 3.0 V6 diesel has an intake manifold with pivoting swirl flaps worked by a small electric motor through a plastic linkage, and that linkage is the weak point: its joints and end-stops wear loose, the motor overruns its travel, and the car logs intake-manifold position faults (P2015 and friends) with the engine light on. Uneven low-rev running and slightly higher fuel use follow, and because there are two manifolds the 'official' fix — replacing them — runs deep into four figures. The failure is so routine that several specialists sell dedicated repair brackets and linkage kits for exactly this, including suppliers in New Zealand, which is the affordable path if the manifolds themselves are still sound.

How much does it cost to fix on a Audi A5?

$400 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Audi A5 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2008–2016 Audi A5. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.