ŠKODA Emission Information

As you may be aware, there have been press reports about the emissions of a selection of Volkswagen Group diesel vehicles.

Volkswagen Group Australia deeply regrets these issues and wants to ensure that our owners are well-informed about our action plan and next steps regarding this topic.

On this website you will find information, updates and answers to some of your key questions. We will post new information as it becomes available to us. Rest assured that we are working tirelessly to remedy the problem, and that we will work as hard as we can to get you more answers.

We will do everything necessary to win back the trust of our customers, partners and the public.

Customers who would like further information can contact our customer call centre on 1800 504 076.

If you currently own a 1.6L or 2.0L 4 cylinder TDI Škoda, your vehicle may be affected. We have developed a simple ‘self-service’ website so you can see if your vehicle is involved. All you need to do is enter the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) details of your car.

You can find your VIN in the front of your service book or at the bottom of your windscreen (as you look into the vehicle from the outside).

The VIN will look like this:
TMBBJ73T4F9000001

Take care when you enter the VIN details of your vehicle. Failure to input these correctly could return an incorrect result.

Check if your vehicle is affected

Your personal information will be collected, used and stored in strict accordance with our privacy policy. Our privacy policy contains details on how information is used, how you may access/correct information held and our privacy complaints processes.

Q:    What is the problem on the affected vehicles?

A:    The emissions levels may not meet the regulatory requirements when the affected vehicle is driven under normal conditions.

Q:    Which vehicles are affected by the fault?

Some 1.6 & 2.0L 4-cylinder diesel engine equipped vehicles are involved, including:

A:    No, all affected vehicles are safe and able to be driven.  As soon as the technical solutions to service the vehicles are identified and available in the various markets, all customers will be notified by Volkswagen Group Australia.

Q:    Is it safe to continue using the car until it can be inspected / repaired?

A:    Yes, you can continue to drive the car.

Q:    Are petrol vehicles affected by this issue?

A:    No, petrol vehicles are not affected. Other diesel models like the current generation Octavia (including Scout and RS variants) are also not affected.

Q:    What is the update?

A:    The update, once it is rolled out in Australia, will involve a software update to the on-board emissions management system in both the 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre variants of the EA189 diesel engines. In vehicles with the 1.6 litre EA189 diesel engine, a minor hardware update, a "flow rectifier", will also be installed.

Q:    Will The Update Carried Out On The Vehicle Have A Negative Effect On The Performance Or Fuel Economy?

A:    The intention is that the implementation of the update will not have a negative effect on performance or fuel economy. From an Australian perspective, we can confirm that our sister brand has started the voluntary recall with the first of the affected Volkswagen Group products, the Volkswagen Amarok.

The results of the Amarok software update have been independently tested and approved by the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Germany which confirms that there is no material impact to vehicle performance or fuel economy and that the vehicles remain safe to drive. The relevant Australian governing bodies have approved the commencement of the rollout of the software update for the Amarok.

Q:    How is Volkswagen Group going to compensate me for this situation?

A:    The software update and, where necessary, the installation of a minor hardware component will be provided free of charge. The update has been designed to minimise disruption to your driving experience.

Q:    Why is Volkswagen Group dealing with this issue differently in Australia compared with other countries like the US?

A:    Emission regulations and vehicle standards vary from country to country. The affected vehicles in the USA are subject to much stricter laws in relation to emissions figures. The US market is also a special market due to its specific situation with regard to diesel vehicles and is not comparable with other markets.

In Australia, we are conducting a voluntary recall to update your vehicle’s engine management software and where necessary, install a minor hardware component.

Q:    Will This Effect The Residual Value Of The Car?

A:    Volkswagen Group Australia is not aware of any material impact on residual values of affected vehicles. Once the update is implemented, we do not believe that there will be any effect on the car's value.

Q:    Why Is It Taking So Long For Volkswagen Group To Finally Rollout Measures To Help The Customer affected?

A:    Several brands, various markets and models, and different model variants and years must be considered. Due to the number of model variants affected, there will be a phased release of the software updates. Volkswagen Group Australia will be in contact with each customer as soon as information about their vehicle becomes available.