CriticalVery commonEngine

Volkswagen Amarok: 2.0 TDI BiTurbo HPFP cam follower rapid wear

2.0 TDI BiTurbo HPFP cam follower rapid wear is a very common engine fault on the Volkswagen Amarok on the 2011–2022 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $400 to $15,000 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 18 documented faults on the Volkswagen Amarok.

Vehicle: Volkswagen Amarok
Only on: Bi-Turbo / twin-turbo
Engine: 2.0L
Years: 2011–2022
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

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

All Volkswagen Amarok faults18 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the High-pressure fuel pump yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The cam follower (bucket tappet) actuating the high-pressure fuel pump on CDCA and CDBA 2.0 TDI BiTurbo engines wears at an accelerated rate, shedding metal debris into the fuel system. Contamination reaches injectors, the HP pump internals, and fuel rail, requiring replacement of the entire high-pressure fuel circuit. VW issued an extended warranty to 5 years or 150,000 km in several markets due to the failure prevalence, and mandated reduced cam follower inspection intervals.

What you would notice

Difficulty starting or extended crank before start
Rough idle and misfires under load
Loss of power and limp mode activation
Ticking noise from camshaft area at cold startup
Metal particles visible in fuel filter bowl

How to check it

Where to look. Top of engine block, high-pressure fuel pump drive on inlet camshaft

Check the fuel filter bowl for metallic contamination.
Verify the service history shows cam follower inspection or replacement at manufacturer-mandated intervals, and confirm correct low-SAPS 5W-30 oil has been used throughout.
If a workshop inspection is possible: Remove the cam follower inspection plug on top of the engine near the HPFP and visually inspect the follower face and housing for scoring, pitting, or metal debris.

Parts involved: High-pressure fuel pump.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $15,000 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 cam follower been inspected or replaced, and at what mileage?”
“Has the high-pressure fuel pump or any injectors ever been replaced?”
“Is there a record of an extended warranty claim related to the fuel system?”
“Was the vehicle always serviced with VW-approved low-SAPS 5W-30 engine oil?”

Now check the Volkswagen Amarok 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 published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Volkswagen Amarok buyer questions

Is 2.0 tdi biturbo hpfp cam follower rapid wear serious on a Volkswagen Amarok?

We rate it critical and very common on the Volkswagen Amarok. The cam follower (bucket tappet) actuating the high-pressure fuel pump on CDCA and CDBA 2.0 TDI BiTurbo engines wears at an accelerated rate, shedding metal debris into the fuel system. Contamination reaches injectors, the HP pump internals, and fuel rail, requiring replacement of the entire high-pressure fuel circuit. VW issued an extended warranty to 5 years or 150,000 km in several markets due to the failure prevalence, and mandated reduced cam follower inspection intervals.

How much does it cost to fix on a Volkswagen Amarok?

$400 to $15,000 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 Volkswagen Amarok years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2022 Volkswagen Amarok. 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.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check the fuel filter bowl for metallic contamination. Verify the service history shows cam follower inspection or replacement at manufacturer-mandated intervals, and confirm correct low-SAPS 5W-30 oil has been used throughout. If a workshop inspection is possible: Remove the cam follower inspection plug on top of the engine near the HPFP and visually inspect the follower face and housing for scoring, pitting, or metal debris. Look here: Top of engine block, high-pressure fuel pump drive on inlet camshaft