by Volkswagen at the center of a lawsuit over excessive oil consumption
Volkswagen car owners complain that their engines consume significantly more oil than expected between scheduled maintenance services. The class action lawsuit concerns Tiguan models from 2022–2023 with turbocharged EA888 engines. The manufacturer is seeking to have the case dismissed, claiming that none of the plaintiffs reported actual engine problems.
As stated in the lawsuit, the EA888 engine can stall or even fail if drivers do not top up the oil between changes. The main complaint is defective piston rings that do not provide sufficient tightness, leading to excessive oil consumption. There is also mention of possible problems with the crankcase ventilation system.
A Volkswagen technical bulletin, reissued in 2024, indicates that the company considers an oil consumption of 0.5 liters per 1000 km to be an acceptable limit.
The plaintiffs are demanding a court order for the recall of all problematic Tiguans. However, Volkswagen insists that the lawsuit is without merit, as none of the complainants has experienced actual problems due to oil consumption. The company emphasizes that the vehicle’s manual explicitly states the possibility of consuming up to 1 liter of oil per 1200 km of driving.
This situation is not new for Volkswagen – some of their engines have long been known for their increased “appetite” for oil. However, the company will now have to prove in court that such indicators are the norm, not a defect. It is particularly striking that even according to the manufacturer’s official data, the engine can “drink” a whole liter of oil over a relatively short distance.
