Several owners of Volkswagen and Audi cars equipped with the EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine have taken legal action against the manufacturers, citing excessive oil consumption. The lawsuit has been filed in New Jersey, alleging that defective piston rings are causing an increase in oil consumption.

The affected models reportedly include Audi’s Q3, Q5, and Q7. VW cars such as the Passat, Tiguan, Atlas, and Jetta GLI variants with the EA888 engine are also affected. Some Audi and VW owners reported seeing warning lights due to the alleged problem, as well as increased roughness, while others reported a drop in acceleration. Owners also reported having to top up oil between scheduled services.

While several manufacturers have tried to normalize high oil consumption, excessive oil burn can lead to unwanted carbon formation, often leading to problems with the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve. Owners who filed the lawsuit are wary about the potential problems that could crop up later as a result of the increased oil consumption.

The filing states that the oil consumption problem could lead to leaking timing covers, issues with spark plugs, and cracked oil pans. Even if the cars are covered under warranty, concerned owners cite that only the failed parts get replaced, while other areas of the engine that could have been affected go untouched. Owners also allege that the excessive oil consumption and problems arising from it have affected their car’s resale value.

Carscoops reported an interesting case, where an owner from Texas, Loretta Moutra, leased a 2018 VW Tiguan in January 2019, which already had an oil leak issue. Ending the lease in 2022, she went on to again lease a VW Tiguan of the same year and suffered from the same problem until the lease ended in 2024. At present, she drives a 2024 VW Atlas Cross Sport.

The EA888 engine was in the news last year for a similar oil consumption problem that affected the VW Tiguan from 2022 to 2023. Three separate cases were filed before being merged into one class action with seven plaintiffs, who argued that defective piston rings led to increased oil consumption. The federal judge was urged to order VW to recall all Tiguan vehicles that were affected by the problem.

VW argued that none of the plaintiffs “experienced engine stalling, failure, or damage due to excess oil consumption,” and that “sputtering” and “hesitation,” which one plaintiff experienced, were deemed normal. The brand also stated that the Tiguan owner’s manual clearly explains that the engine can consume one liter of oil for every 1200 miles.