VW group 1.8 / 2.0 TFSI (EA888 first generations, built about 2008 to 2011): reported high oil consumption
Audi of America issued service bulletin 2027731 (first published November 2011, revision 6 in January 2015) for excessive oil consumption of the 2.0 TFSI (code CAEB) in the 2009-2011 A4, 2010-2011 A5 and 2011 Q5. Audi states that internal engine pressure can influence consumption in stop-and-go driving, and the bulletin prescribes a crankcase pressure valve, a front crankshaft seal and a software update on complaint. Settling a US class action, Audi extended the warranty for these cars to 8 years / 80,000 miles (Audi and Volkswagen deny wrongdoing). AUTO BILD reported in 2017 that, according to Audi, 785,000 EA888 1.8 and 2.0 engines had been built with oil control rings that the magazine describes as too narrow, and that Audi had tried several ring designs; the magazine's report covers the EA888 1.8 and 2.0 in general, not only Audi models.
Dossier revision 1 · data updated 2026-10-13 · canon release 2026.10.1
At a glance
- Severity
- Major risk of being immobilised, or replacement of a major component.
Severity follows the worst documented outcome, not the average case. - Safety-relevant
- Not flagged as safety-relevant.
- In the Elgarde checklist
- Ordinary entry: it does not cap the verdict by itself.
- Documented in
- US, EU
Which cars this covers
VW-group cars with the EA888 1.8 or 2.0 TFSI/TSI built roughly from 2008 to 2011. The Audi bulletin names the 2.0 TFSI code CAEB in the A4 2009-2011, A5 2010-2011 and Q5 2011; AUTO BILD's report covers EA888 1.8 and 2.0 engines in general. Later EA888 generations and other engines are outside this entry.
- Models in scope
- Audi A4, Audi A5, Audi Q5, Audi A3, Audi TT, Audi Q3, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Scirocco, Volkswagen Tiguan, Škoda Octavia, Škoda Superb, Škoda Yeti, SEAT Leon, SEAT Altea, SEAT Exeo
- Conditions on top of the model
- All of these must hold:
- Engine: 1.8 TFSI/TSI EA888 (BYT / CDHB / CDAA / CDAB), 2.0 TFSI EA888, longitudinal (CAEA / CAEB / CDNB / CDNC), 2.0 TFSI EA888, transverse (CBFA / CCTA / CCZA / CCZB / CAWB / CESA / CAWA / CCZC / CCZD)
- Production date: January 2008 to December 2011
- All of these must hold:
- Notes on scope
- Audi's bulletin names engine code CAEB only; the other codes (2.0: CAEA, CDNB, CDNC and transverse codes; 1.8: BYT, CDHB, CDAA, CDAB) come from an encyclopedia list, and the 2008 to mid-2011 window comes from AUTO BILD ('probably'). AUTO BILD speaks of EA888 1.8 and 2.0 engines without limiting it to Audi, so VW, SEAT and Skoda models with these engines are included; the model list is based on the encyclopedia's applications and may be incomplete. Only the Audi cases are documented by a manufacturer bulletin. A later, separate US settlement (D.N.J. 1:21-cv-10546, final approval 16 May 2024) concerns 2012-2017 Audi models and is not part of this entry. No recall was found: the French RappelConso V2 data holds none for oil consumption. Audi's bulletin, not the settlement, gives the manufacturer's own explanation.
How to check whether a particular car is affected
Elgarde reads the conditions above and gives one of three answers for a car:
- Applies: every condition is confirmed for the car.
- Possible: at least one condition cannot be confirmed yet. The entry stays on the checklist, with a note on what to find out.
- Not applicable: a condition is clearly not met (for example a manual gearbox on a DSG entry). The entry is left off the checklist.
What to look for, and where
- Model: one of the models listed above
The model name as on the registration document, e.g. Golf, 208, 320d. - Engine code: 1.8 TFSI/TSI EA888 (BYT / CDHB / CDAA / CDAB), 2.0 TFSI EA888, longitudinal (CAEA / CAEB / CDNB / CDNC), 2.0 TFSI EA888, transverse (CBFA / CCTA / CCZA / CCZB / CAWB / CESA / CAWA / CCZC / CCZD)
On the engine plate or block, or from a dealer VIN query. Displacement (P.1) and power in kW (P.2) on the registration certificate help narrow it down. - Production month: January 2008 to December 2011
The month the car was built (on the VIN plate or in the registration papers). It only matters when the year alone does not settle it.
When in doubt, treat the car as possible: asking one question too many costs less than missing a defect.
How the fault arises, as reported
Two explanations are on record, from different speakers. Audi's bulletin attributes high consumption to internal engine pressure under certain driving conditions (stop-and-go traffic with long idling) and prescribes replacing the crankcase pressure regulating valve and the front crankshaft seal and updating the engine software; the production solution was crankcase pressure reduction from model year 2012. AUTO BILD reports that, according to Audi, 785,000 engines were built with oil control rings of part number 06J 198 151 H, which the magazine describes as too narrow and names as the probable cause; it also reports at least four other ring variants before a wave ring from mid-2015, and that consumption becomes noticeable from about 40,000 to 70,000 km. In the US settlement, Audi and Volkswagen denied any wrongdoing.
Reported symptoms
Early signs
- Oil level falling between services; frequent top-ups
Later signs
- Consumption above about one litre per 1,000 km (reported in owner cases)
- Low oil level warning light
What to check when inspecting a car
- Documents and records. Confirm the engine code (CAEB and the other EA888 1.8 / 2.0 codes in the notes) and the build date; ask whether the crankcase pressure valve, front crankshaft seal and software update were done and whether the warranty extension or goodwill was used.
- Dipstick. Check the oil level cold on level ground and ask for the service history and how often oil was added; compare with the oil change interval.Red flag: A low level between services, or the seller reporting regular top-ups.
- Special tool. Ask for a measured consumption test: Audi's method for later model years uses an electronic measurement over about 630 miles (1,000 km) without adding oil; an independent workshop can run a comparable test over the same distance.Red flag: Consumption near or above one litre per 1,000 km.
Repair and cost
- Usual remedy
- On complaint, Audi's bulletin prescribes replacing the crankcase pressure regulating valve and the front crankshaft seal, updating the engine control software and measuring oil consumption. Independent workshops quoted in AUTO BILD rebuilt the engine with new pistons and rings; the article gives one rebuilder's price of about 3,200 EUR.
- Reported cost
- EUR 3,200–6,500 (as of 2017-04)
Basis: Germany, owner cases reported by AUTO BILD (2017): from about 3,200 EUR quoted by an independent engine rebuilder to an Audi repair estimate of about 6,500 EUR; one independent repair cost 4,852 EUR. Sources: [4]
What the manufacturer and regulators have said
Manufacturer programme
No recall was identified. Audi's service bulletin 2027731 (2011 to 2015) sets a repair on complaint. As part of a US class action settlement approved on 29 May 2015, the warranty of 2009 A4, 2010 A4 and A5 and 2011 A4, A5 and Q5 with the 2.0 TFSI (CAEB) was extended from 4 years / 50,000 miles to 8 years / 80,000 miles for repairs correcting excessive oil consumption; Audi and Volkswagen deny the allegations. AUTO BILD (2017) reports that goodwill in Germany was refused or partial in the owner cases it described. Sources: [1], [5]
Official records and rulings
- Technical service bulletin · NHTSA (service bulletin of Audi of America) · Audi TSB 2027731/6 (17 15 54) · 2015-01-29
Audi of America bulletin, revision 6 of 29 January 2015 (first published 2 November 2011), for the 2.0 TFSI (EA888, engine code CAEB): A4 2009-2011, A5 and A5 Cabriolet 2010-2011, Q5 2011. Audi states that under certain driving conditions (stop-and-go traffic with extended idling) internal engine pressure can negatively influence oil consumption; the production solution is crankcase pressure reduction from model year 2012. On customer complaint: replace the crankcase pressure regulating valve and the front crankshaft seal, update the engine control software, and measure oil consumption electronically. Warranty tables refer to an extension of 8 years / 80,000 miles linked to a settlement. [1] static.nhtsa.gov - Technical service bulletin · NHTSA (service bulletin of Audi of America) · Audi TSB 2027731/5 (17 13 43) · 2013-10-16
Earlier revision (5, 16 October 2013) of the same Audi bulletin; its revision history shows original publication on 2 November 2011 and revisions on 11 November 2011, 20 March 2012 and 10 October 2013. Same models (A4 2009-2011, A5 and A5 Cabriolet 2010-2011, Q5 2011) and the same 2.0 TFSI engine. [2] static.nhtsa.gov - Technical service bulletin · NHTSA (service bulletin of Audi of America) · Audi TSB 2027501/6 (17 13 41) · 2013-09-27
Audi bulletin for 2012-2013 A4, allroad, A5, A5 Cabriolet, A6 and Q5 with the 2.0 TFSI (CAEB, CPMA): oil consumption can be measured electronically in two parts; the customer drives about 630 miles (1,000 km) without adding oil before the evaluation measurement, and the dealer needs authorisation from Audi's technical assistance centre when the car is in warranty. Cited for the measurement method only; its model years differ from this entry's main scope. [3] static.nhtsa.gov
A recall or campaign record describes the vehicles in its scope, not a confirmed failure in any given car.
How common is it?
No reliable figure
No reliable figure for how many cars are affected is recorded for this entry. This is stated on purpose: a missing number is not a low number.
No published figure gives the share of these engines with high oil consumption. The 785,000 engines built with narrower rings are a production count reported by the press, not a count of engines that consume oil; owner cases collected by a magazine are not a rate.
Manufacturer figure
- Figure
- 785,000
- Population
- EA888 1.8 and 2.0 engines built with the narrower oil control rings, roughly early 2008 to mid-2011, as stated by Audi to AUTO BILD
- Period
- January 2008 to June 2011
- What was counted
- Engines built with the narrower oil control rings (a production count)
- Confidence grade
- C: manufacturer, recall or large-survey figure; method only partly known
- Caveats
- A production count of engines with a part variant, not of engines that consume oil. It is not a failure rate.
- Reported by the press as Audi's statement; the figure was not checked against a primary document.
- Sources
- [4]
Evidence and sources
Each statement above traces to the sources below. Review status is shown for every source.
| Publisher | Title | Date | Type | Tier | Confidence | Links | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHTSA (service bulletin of Audi of America) | [1] Technical Service Bulletin 17 15 54: Engine oil consumption too high, 2.0L TFSI (EA888), Model Year 2009-2011 Audi TSB 2027731/6 (17 15 54) Audi of America bulletin, revision 6 of 29 January 2015 (first published 2 November 2011), for the 2.0 TFSI (EA888, engine code CAEB): A4 2009-2011, A5 and A5 Cabriolet 2010-2011, Q5 2011. Audi states that under certain driving conditions (stop-and-go traffic with extended idling) internal engine pressure can negatively influence oil consumption; the production solution is crankcase pressure reduction from model year 2012. On customer complaint: replace the crankcase pressure regulating valve and the front crankshaft seal, update the engine control software, and measure oil consumption electronically. Warranty tables refer to an extension of 8 years / 80,000 miles linked to a settlement. | 2015-01-29 | Technical service bulletin | 1 · primary source | high | static.nhtsa.gov opened 2026-10-13 Archive copy | automated source check 2026-10-13 |
| NHTSA (service bulletin of Audi of America) | [2] Technical Service Bulletin 17 13 43: Engine oil consumption too high, 2.0L TFSI (EA888), Model Year 2009-2011 Audi TSB 2027731/5 (17 13 43) Earlier revision (5, 16 October 2013) of the same Audi bulletin; its revision history shows original publication on 2 November 2011 and revisions on 11 November 2011, 20 March 2012 and 10 October 2013. Same models (A4 2009-2011, A5 and A5 Cabriolet 2010-2011, Q5 2011) and the same 2.0 TFSI engine. | 2013-10-16 | Technical service bulletin | 1 · primary source | high | static.nhtsa.gov opened 2026-10-13 Archive copy | automated source check 2026-10-13 |
| NHTSA (service bulletin of Audi of America) | [3] Technical Service Bulletin 17 13 41: Electronic oil consumption measurement, Repair Authorization, Model Year 2012> Audi TSB 2027501/6 (17 13 41) Audi bulletin for 2012-2013 A4, allroad, A5, A5 Cabriolet, A6 and Q5 with the 2.0 TFSI (CAEB, CPMA): oil consumption can be measured electronically in two parts; the customer drives about 630 miles (1,000 km) without adding oil before the evaluation measurement, and the dealer needs authorisation from Audi's technical assistance centre when the car is in warranty. Cited for the measurement method only; its model years differ from this entry's main scope. | 2013-09-27 | Technical service bulletin | 1 · primary source | medium | static.nhtsa.gov opened 2026-10-13 Archive copy | automated source check 2026-10-13 |
| AUTO BILD | [4] Öl saufende TFSI-Motoren: Audis Versuchskaninchen AUTO BILD (13 April 2017) on the EA888 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI: according to Audi, 785,000 engines were built with oil control rings of part number 06J 198 151 H, which the magazine calls too narrow, probably fitted from early 2008 to mid-2011, and names as the probable cause; Audi now admits it tried several ring designs, and the magazine reports at least four variants before a wave ring from mid-2015; Audi had spoken of isolated cases. Consumption becomes noticeable at about 40,000 to 70,000 km and can pass one litre per 1,000 km later. Reported owner cases: repair estimate of about 6,500 EUR, an independent repair at 4,852 EUR, partial goodwill of 60% in one case, none in others; an independent rebuilder quotes about 3,200 EUR. The magazine's complaint column received 55 cases and 113 letters. The article names no court case. | 2017-04-13 | Press | 2 · press or analysis | high | autobild.de opened 2026-10-13 Archive copy | automated source check 2026-10-13 |
| Top Class Actions | [5] Audi Oil Consumption Class Action Lawsuit Settlement (Volkswagen Group of America ) C.D. Cal. 2:13-cv-02529 Settlement news page: Volkswagen Group of America (C.D. Cal., case 2:13-cv-02529), 2.0 TFSI engine code CAEB in the 2009 A4, 2010 A4 and A5, 2011 A4, A5 and Q5. The new-vehicle warranty was extended from 4 years / 50,000 miles to 8 years / 80,000 miles for repairs to correct excessive oil consumption; preliminary approval on 16 October 2014, final approval on 29 May 2015. Audi and Volkswagen deny the allegations and any wrongdoing. | 2015-06-03 | Press | 2 · press or analysis | medium | topclassactions.com opened 2026-10-13 no archive copy yet | automated source check 2026-10-13 |
| Top Class Actions | [6] Audi Oil Consumption Class Action Settlement (D.N.J. 1:21-cv-10546) D.N.J. 1:21-cv-10546 Settlement news page for a later, separate US class action against Volkswagen Group of America (D.N.J., case 1:21-cv-10546): 2012-2014 Audi A4, A5, A6, Q5, TT, 2016-2017 TT and 2015-2017 A3; extended warranty covering 75% of repair costs within nine years or 90,000 miles for excessive oil consumption or fractured pistons; final approval granted on 16 May 2024; Volkswagen has not admitted wrongdoing. These are later model years than this entry covers and are listed for context only. | 2024-02-26 | Press | 2 · press or analysis | medium | topclassactions.com opened 2026-10-13 no archive copy yet | automated source check 2026-10-13 |
| Wikipedia | [7] List of Volkswagen Group petrol engines (EA888 1.8 and 2.0 TSI/TFSI) Encyclopedia list of EA888 engine codes: 2.0 TFSI longitudinal CAEA, CAEB, CDNB, CDNC (A4 B8, A5, Q5), transverse CBFA, CCTA, CCZA, CCZB, CAWB, CESA, among others; 1.8 TFSI BYT and CDHB (A4 B8); EA888 Gen 1 and Gen 2 date from 2007-2011. Used only for engine codes; the list does not tie codes to the oil-consumption problem. | Specialist press | 3 · signal only | low | en.wikipedia.org opened 2026-10-13 Archive copy | automated source check 2026-10-13 |
Automated source check: the source was opened and its claims, dates and figures were compared with this dossier by an automated check. It is not a human sign-off.
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