VW T6 Common Problems & Fixes

Since I’ve started working at Just Kampers, I’ve been interested in getting a VW Transporter myself for weekend trips away, and was quickly drawn to the idea of a T6 as a lot of my colleagues here at JK drive them.

I love the style and versatility of the VW T6 and T6.1, and as someone on the shorter side, the mid-size van feels like the perfect fit for me. Practical, easy to drive, and far less intimidating than a larger van; it ticks a lot of boxes.

After doing some research and speaking to members of the JK team who drive a T6 every day, I found a few common issues with the Transporter that you might want to be aware of, and the steps you’ll need to take to fix them. 

Quick Jump to:

The VW T6's EGR Valve Issues
DPF Issues on a T6
Leaking Tailgate on a VW T6/T6.1
VW T6/T6.1 Sliding Door Issues
Heater Issues on the VW T6.1
VW T6 Recalls
Is the VW T6 and VW T6.1 still a good van?
How much does it cost to insure a VW T6?
Find a specialist garage near you
Where can I buy a VW T6?
Summary

The EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system recirculates some of the vehicle’s exhaust gases back to the engine’s combustion chamber, which lowers emissions. This system is made up of a cooler to reduce temperatures, and an EGR valve that regulates the flow.

The EGR valve is located in the engine bay. In most T6s, it’s mounted high towards the back of the engine, so it’s a bit tricky to see without leaning in or removing some covers. 

The EGR valve looks like a silver metal box with metal pipes going into it, and a black electrical connector attached.

EGR valve issues can often be resolved by clearing out the build-up of residue, but if you do need to replace the valve on your VW T6, you can expect to pay anywhere between £400 and £800. If you take your T6 to a VW specialist or need additional EGR components replacing, your repair costs can be significantly more.

Some VW T6 owners will get a fault code (P0401) appearing with the engine management light. This usually means there’s an issue with the EGR valve, where there’s insufficient gas flow to the system. In many cases, this is caused by a blockage in the EGR valve.

As the exhaust gases repeatedly pass through the EGR system over time, a build up of soot residue collects inside the valve and eventually causes a blockage. This is especially common in vehicles that do lots of short journeys, where the temperatures are not getting high enough to burn away the deposits. 

To fix the P0401 issue, you'll either need to get your EGR system thoroughly cleaned, or replace it with a new one.

To help prevent future blockages, try to keep on top of regular maintenance, and take your T6 on a good motorway run every so often to help keep the carbon build-up to a minimum and the system running smoothly. 

The Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is a filter that’s designed to catch and store the soot from a diesel engine, to decrease harmful emissions. Once the filter reaches capacity, it burns off the excess soot, so it can continue collecting the deposits and keep the vehicle running smoothly. This is known as the regeneration process.

On a VW T6, the DPF is mounted in the exhaust system, usually near the back of the engine just before the rest of the exhaust system runs towards the back of the vehicle. It’s best accessed from underneath the van.

Your T6’s DPF looks like a large cylinder near the front of the exhaust system, with various sensors attached, and heat shields around or above it. Be careful not to confuse it with the silencer box, which is located much further back towards the rear of the vehicle and doesn’t have sensors connected. 

Your Diesel Particulate Filter can sometimes become blocked, and if this happens, you’ll see the orange DPF warning light appear on your dash (shaped like an exhaust with dots inside), your fuel economy may be worse than normal, and the vehicle could enter ‘limp mode’ (where power is restricted to protect the engine).

Short journeys at lower speeds are the most common cause of blocked DPFs in the VW T6.

When you take your Transporter on short trips around town, the Diesel Particulate Filter doesn’t have a chance to correctly regenerate (clear itself). If this happens enough, the soot builds up and causes a blockage.

Yes, you can take steps to prevent your VW T6 from developing DPF blockages.

To keep your Diesel Particulate Filter in good condition, you’ll need to make sure it’s able to regenerate when it’s filling up with soot. You can do this by giving your VW T6 a good run at constant speeds on the motorway every couple of weeks. If you’re not already doing these sorts of journeys in your T6, it can help clear the filter and prevent blockages.

Regeneration is the key to fixing a blocked diesel particulate filter. The DPF can clear itself either through passive regeneration or active regeneration.

• Passive regeneration: This takes place when the vehicle is running at speed continuously on a long journey, where temperatures are higher and excess soot is burned off.
• Active regeneration: This is where the vehicle’s electronic control unit (ECU) automatically injects additional fuel when the filter reaches a certain limit, raising the exhaust temperature and burning off the soot in the filter. 

However, for both cases, the journey needs to be long enough for the regeneration process to complete properly.

If you’ve taken your Transporter on a long motorway drive to try and clear a blocked DPF, but your warning light stays on, or turns red, it’s important to get it checked by a garage as soon as possible. Some garages can perform a ‘forced regeneration’ to clear the filter and restore normal function.

Some VW T6 and VW T6.1 owners have experienced small amounts of water coming in through the tailgate. This could be caused by an issue with the main tailgate seal, where it has flattened, worn, or become clogged with dirt and debris, stopping it from sitting flush like it should.

Start by checking the main seal between the tailgate and the body. Remove any dirt, leaves, or debris that could be preventing the seal from working properly.

It’s also good to inspect the drainage holes, making sure they’re not blocked. These are located on the lower part of the tailgate that sits just above the rear bumper. If you open up the tailgate fully and stand underneath, you should see several small holes or rubber grommets spaced across the bottom edge of the tailgate. Some owners have found small plugs fitted in the drainage holes, which can trap water inside the tailgate. If this is the case for you, try removing these plugs to allow the water to escape freely.

Then, check that the seal is fitted correctly all the way around. If it appears worn, damaged, or flattened, it’s best to replace it with a new T6 tailgate seal. We stock them here at Just Kampers!

The sliding door in a VW T6 often includes many different components, such as central locking, electric latch release, soft-close, and various sensors. Through my research, I have discovered that there are a few things that could go wrong with the sliding door.

Some people find that their sliding door won’t lock or unlock with the key, while others say the electric sliding door just stops working. However, these issues seem to be relatively uncommon and can usually be resolved with a simple fix.

If you experience intermittent locking issues, where sometimes the sliding door locks and other times it doesn’t, or the dashboard is indicating that the door is still open, you may have dirty contact plates interfering with the electrical connection.

To resolve this, locate the contact plates midway up on the rear of the B-pillar (the structure that separates the front door from the sliding door), and the front edge of the sliding door itself. You may need to remove the two sections containing the contact plates for better access. Apply some electrical contact cleaner and gently scrub away any built-up grime to ensure all the pins make clean contact when the door is closed. 
 
If the contact plates are not the culprit, you may have damaged wiring. Identifying and resolving wiring faults typically requires specialist knowledge and a more in-depth inspection, so it’s generally best to leave this to a professional.

Search our Garage Finder to find a trusted garage near you in minutes!

If you experience weird electrical issues that get worse after the rain, or you notice any visible corrosion, there may be some water damage inside the door. This could be due to a faulty seal or blocked drain holes at the bottom of the door.

Try taking off the door card using a trim removal tool to look at the inside of the door. If there are no clear signs of a leak, try pouring water on the outside of the window while looking at the inside of the exposed door panel to see where the issue is.

If the sliding door on your VW T6 makes rattling noises, becomes difficult to shut, or you need to lift the door to get it to close, you probably need to replace one of the roller guides. The lower roller guide (at the bottom edge of the sliding door) is often the culprit as it supports most of the weight. We have a wide range of roller guides in stock here at Just Kampers – click here to take a look at our full selection of VW T6 sliding door roller guides.

A common issue on some VW T6.1s is the cabin heater becomes stuck blowing only fully hot or fully cold air. When this happens, changing the temperature dial has no impact, regardless of where you turn it.

This has in fact happened to our Sales Director, Shaun, in the T6.1 that he drives to and from JK HQ every day.

There are two things that usually cause this:

1. Broken blend door actuator: This is a small electric motor that controls the cabin temperature by opening or closing the flap (blend door) that mixes the warm and cold air for the desired temperature setting.
2. Broken plastic linkage arm: This small plastic arm connects the actuator to the heater flap (blend door). 

These components are typically located behind the dashboard on the driver’s side, near the steering column trim.

In some cases, the plastic gears inside the actuator wear out or fail, which prevents the flap from moving properly. However, it’s most commonly caused by the plastic linkage arm breaking. You can identify this by any visible cracks or if it feels overly loose when you gently poke it.

As a temporary workaround, it’s usually possible to manually adjust the heater flap arm located behind the dashboard, but this is a very temporary fix. You’ll need to get the defective actuator or linkage arm replaced for a permanent solution.

The VW T6 has had a few recalls in its time that you should be aware of:

• Some early VW T6s manufactured between 2015 and 2018 were recalled for a defective passenger side airbag,
• On many T6.1 models (2019 - 2021), the Bowden cables (door lock cables) had the potential to seize up in freezing temperatures,
• Some T6 Transporters, Caravelles, and California models manufactured between 2016 and 2017 were recalled for faulty fuel hoses,
• And a small number of T6 Transporters were recalled for faulty mechanical child locks, which meant they had the potential to fail.

If you’re looking at buying a VW T6 or T6.1 and you want to make sure there are no outstanding safety recalls, visit the official GOV.UK Vehicle Recalls Service online. This allows you to see if the vehicle has been affected by a safety recall, whether the issue has been repaired, and whether there are any outstanding recalls that still require attention.

Despite the issues I’ve laid out here, the Volkswagen T6 and T6.1 are still really popular, reliable vehicles with a great reputation.

The VW T6 was built from 2015 to 2021 and continues to be a great campervan base for van lifers and enthusiasts. In 2021, Volkswagen refreshed the Transporter and introduced the VW T6.1, the facelift model with a sleeker style, and a range of new features. Both T6 and T6.1 Transporters are hugely popular and remain staples on UK roads for traders and campers alike.

Volkswagen has since launched their latest Transporter, the T7 Multivan. This VW shares its platform with the Ford Transit Custom, bringing a fresh style and improved cabin space with lots of new modern features and innovation. 

VW T6 insurance from our sister company Just Kampers Insurance starts from just £290 per year.

As Volkswagen specialists and enthusiasts themselves, the Just Kampers Insurance team have been providing tailored policies since 1998. Whether your T6 is your daily run-around, or your weekend retreat, they can help you find a policy that suits you.

Specialist cover can offer better value and more suitable protection for your Transporter, especially if you’ve invested in modifications, upgrades, or a campervan conversion.  

Give their friendly team a call today on 01256 44 45 46 to find out more or get an online quote in minutes.

With a Just Kampers Insurance policy, you can also add optional extras like breakdown cover, agreed value insurance, and contents cover, giving you extra peace of mind on the road. 

It’s fairly unlikely that your T6 will be affected by any of these issues, but if you do have a problem with your Transporter that you don’t have the tools, skills, or experience to tackle yourself, then check out our online garage finder.

You can browse loads of trusted garages and find one near you, whether you need a routine service, mechanical repairs, or specialist upgrades, you’ll find experienced workshops that understand your T6 inside and out. 

If you’re looking to buy a VW T6 or T6.1, our VW Marketplace is a great place to start. You’ll find hundreds of VWs for sale, from classic air-cooled Beetles right through to the latest Transporters.

As I’ve been window-shopping for a T6 myself, I’ve found the marketplace to be incredibly useful. Not just for looking at Transporters for sale, but also for gauging the current prices, the average mileage on these vehicles, and also exploring the different layouts and interiors people have chosen.

It has given me a much better understanding of what’s out there, and a clearer picture of what I’d want from my T6.

New listings are being added all the time, so be sure to check back regularly so you don’t miss your perfect vehicle!

To make things easier, you can filter the listings to narrow down your search and view only the models, specs, or prices you’re interested in. And when you see something you like, you can contact the seller directly to ask questions or arrange a viewing. 

The VW T6 is a dependable, practical, and versatile van that remains hugely popular. As with any vehicle, there are a few common issues that some owners may come across, but the majority are well-known, easily diagnosed, and usually straightforward to fix.

With regular maintenance and the right care, these Transporters are a reliable asset for families, campers, tradespeople, and everyday drivers alike.