Exhaust & emissionsHigh
DPF blocking on vans used mainly for short urban journeys
- Typically appears
- 60,000+ miles
- What to inspect
- Check for regeneration warning lights and ask about usage patterns
2020 Volkswagen Crafter problems
A 2020 Volkswagen Crafter is now 6 years old, so an average example has covered around 81,000 miles. A mid-run car · most launch faults had been addressed by this point, and wear items are the main risk at this age. Check the state safety inspection and service history alongside the documented faults below, which are sorted by whether a 2020 car has usually reached the mileage where they appear.
Compiled & reviewed by the VehicleFaults Research Team
Quick answer
The 2020 Volkswagen Crafter is 6 years old, so an average example has covered roughly 81,000 miles. At that mileage 4 of the documented faults are already due, so check those first. A further 2 typically appear later in the car's life.
Turn these known faults into a step-by-step viewing plan for this exact Volkswagen Crafter · $9.
Build the inspection planFaults a 2020 example has usually reached
Documented onset mileage is at or below the ~81k miles an average 2020 car has covered.
EngineMedium
EGR valve fouling causing rough running and warning lights
- Typically appears
- 70,000+ miles
- What to inspect
- Check for hesitation under load and stored fault codes
SuspensionMedium
Rear leaf spring and bush wear on heavily loaded vans
- Typically appears
- 80,000+ miles
- What to inspect
- Check ride height unladen and inspect bushes for perishing
Engine coolingHigh
Coolant loss and potential overheating caused by premature water pump failure.
- Typically appears
- 50,000-80,000 miles
- What to inspect
- Shine a torch down the left side of the engine block below the cambelt cover to check for pink, crusty dried coolant residue.
Faults that appear at any mileage
Age, electronics and build-related issues that are not mileage-driven.
ElectricalLow
Instrument cluster and warning light glitches
- Typically appears
- Age-related
- What to inspect
- Check all dashboard warning lights extinguish correctly at start-up
BodyworkMedium
Load area floor and door corrosion from commercial use
- Typically appears
- Age-related
- What to inspect
- Inspect load floor, rear doors and sills for rust and impact damage
Faults still ahead of this car
Typically appear later than this year's average mileage · worth budgeting for rather than inspecting.
DrivetrainMedium
Metallic rattling at idle and vibration through the pedal due to Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF) wear.
- Typically appears
- 70,000-100,000 miles
- What to inspect
- Start the engine from cold, leave it in neutral, and listen for a clattering sound. Lightly depress the clutch pedal to feel for excessive pulsation.
Body exteriorLow
Side loading door dropping, scraping, or failing to latch due to worn lower roller bearings.
- Typically appears
- 60,000-90,000 miles
- What to inspect
- Slide the side door fully open and closed. Feel for grinding resistance and inspect the bottom runner track for metal shavings or deep scoring.
Inspecting a 2020 Volkswagen Crafter?
Turn this car's known weak points into a step-by-step viewing plan · what to inspect, what a bad result means and what to ask the seller.
Build my inspection planVolkswagen Crafter · frequently asked questions
Is DPF blocking common on the Crafter?
Yes, especially on vans used for short urban runs rather than motorway miles.
What should I check on a used Crafter?
Full service history, DPF regeneration history and evidence of regular oil changes are essential.
Does the Crafter suffer bodywork damage?
Commercial use means dents and corrosion in the load area are common, so inspect thoroughly.
Is the Crafter reliable if maintained well?
Yes, it is generally robust provided servicing intervals and DPF care have been kept up.
What is the cambelt replacement interval on the 2.0 TDI Crafter?
Volkswagen officially recommends replacing the cambelt every 140,000 miles. However, UK specialists strongly advise changing it at 80,000 miles or five years, whichever comes first. Always replace the water pump simultaneously, as premature pump leaks are a documented weakness on the EA288 commercial engine.
Are there specific issues to watch for on rear-wheel-drive Crafter variants?
Rear-wheel-drive models feature a longitudinal engine layout and a prop shaft that requires physical inspection. Check the centre support bearing for perishing rubber and listen for a low-frequency drone at dual-carriageway speeds. RWD variants also consume rear brake pads slightly faster than front-wheel-drive models when heavily laden.
Other Crafter model years
Buying a Volkswagen Crafter? Build a step-by-step viewing plan for this exact car · $9.
Build the plan