Volkswagen Amarok

Absolutely the worst car that I have owned. I have had numerous electrical issues, oil leaks and dpf problems. I can't express my dissatisfaction with this supposedly top of the line ute. Save your self the trouble and never buy a Volkswagen vehicle unless you like to throw money down the pit. Show details

Incredible car to drive but when something goes wrong, the level of service we have received from VW and the dealer is really upsetting, and disappointing. Could not recommend this vehicle, or our dealership. Show details

Avoid if you rely on your vehicle for work. I own a 2023 VW Amarok – fantastic car until something goes wrong. Ours was off the road for nearly SIX MONTHS (Feb–Aug 2025) due to a steering wheel malfunction error. What should have been a routine repair turned into a drawn-out nightmare. The final bill? Over $14,000 – and no clear explanation for… Read more

the delay.

We’re still unsure if the problem was with the local dealer or VW’s parts supply, but either way, six months without a critical work vehicle is completely unacceptable.

If you depend on your vehicle for business, I’d strongly reconsider before trusting VW. They’ll sell you the car, but when it breaks? Good luck.

Excellent. Best vehicle I have owned – Bought new and have had this vehicle for 4 years and travelled 80,000 kms much of it towing a 3300 kg caravan. I have had it serviced exactly on every 15,000 klm by Volkswagen service centres. There was a little bit of oil use for the first year but since then nil oil use. The servicing is expensive and seems to average about $700 or more. Was… Read more

told last time that the front brakes will need to be done next service. This is $800 as they use new disks as the disks are soft and cannot be machined. So I pay out for servicing and the payoff is zero problems.

I cannot speak more highly of it. It is powerful and pulls the caravan easily. I can accelerate up hills! Without the caravan on it is wonderful to drive. I have had zero faults with it. Still on the original set of Michelin tyres with plenty left on the treads. Fuel consumption towing is 14 to 18 litres per 100 klm. Not towing is 8 to 10.

I have been off road a couple of times and on the beach more than a few times. This thing is a beast off road and on the sand. The computer handles everything and I get to sit there and look like a hero. My friends say 'well it does not have low range'. I tell them whilst they are mucking around with buttons and switches I am off and gone without them. As far as I can tell the 'low range' works through the gearbox and the computer. It does have a diff lock and I have never needed it.

One time my wife and I were out driving and we came across a track going up a very steep hill. Not very long but really steep. My wife says 'you are not going up there are you?'. I said we won't be able to get all the way up but I would like to see how far we can go before reversing down. So up we went, and up and up and up. I thought the car might roll over on its back. But it went up without any skidding and no diff lock. Once over the top we found we were in an orchard. Having escaped the lions den I was not going back for my hat, so we drove through the orchard until we found a way out and before being confronted by an irate owner.

Ok, I have told myself - 'Self! no more off road'. Off road is no place for a careful 74 year old. But I still do the beach, carefully and sensibly. I am not sure if I have a hidden talent, but I have never been stuck. Maybe its the car???

Just yesterday we were in NSW at an unnamed beach. There was a vehicle track onto the beach but it went up steep to a crown and I could not see the beach. My wife says 'you are not going onto the beach are you?'. I told her I was just going to poke my nose onto the beach to have a look. So up we went and down to the beach. It was full tide and there was only soft deep sand. After getting onto the beach I tried to turn around. As I reversed up I felt the rear tyres dig in. So I stopped and put her into 'sport' and turned off the stability control. Then I booted it! We went around in a blaze of sand with all 4 wheels spinning. The outside front wheel was covering the windscreen with sand. All the while my wife was snapping pics of the view out the window as the scene changed. We got out but I felt that was a close one. Got back and needed a nice cup of tea.

If you have not owned a ute know this. They are bulky around town. The parking spots are tight. On the other hand I like the respect you get when you turn on the indicator. Ha!

Stay clear as you can`t test it at night or push your boat around while you test drive!! – We use our 2021 Amarok for daily commute and was hoping to use it for camping and family holidays, but... a Severely Reduced reverse gear!! Struggles to push the boat into the yard! Forced to use the old 07 Navara. Transmission is always in the wrong gear!! This vehicle makes us feel unsafe in traffic. Rented a Toyota Ascent on the weekend - it… Read more

was in the right gear every time..No Worries!! Complained several times with no help from agents. Their response,.. "We know about the problem. Nothing we can do, you just have to take it the way it is" Poorly placed, low quality reverse camera. Reverse light - completely useless and combined with the poor camera makes reversing at night a truly unsafe exercise. No Air bags in the back of this $80k car for your kids... My 2017 workmate had better head lights than this. I grew up in Volkswagen's and have owned many over the years. My previous Amarok was the 2016 420 Highline and we absolutely loved it. We own more than 30 utes in our work fleet, including Isuzu, Toyota, Nissan and of late, Volkswagen's. These include 4x4, 4x2, single and double cabs all set up for different work applications. After purchasing this Amarok, we have decided to not buy another VW. The last ANCAP test was done in 2011 and the vehicle was rated ANCAP 5. I very much doubt the new model will get that rating. We are truly disappointed with this vehicle and I hope this review is helpful to you when you look for your next purchase. You worked hard and deserve a vehicle that will carry you and your family over thousands of very happy kilometers, not what we are experiencing.

Great Ute but a few things could be improved – I use my Amarok for private use, pulling a large 20 ft caravan, trailer and travelling. Although it is a 6 cyclinder I find it more economical than my previous Nissan 4 cylinder. It has lots of power and pulls the big caravan fully loaded with ease - we live up a Mountain that is very steep. It has been very reliable so far being under 6… Read more

months old - we have had an issue with the oil light coming on and taken it back twice now - we read on facebook page that this is a common problem. I find it travels very quietly compared to other 4x4's and I tried a lot before purchasing this one. I do find it is quite rigid and wish the seats were softer and more comfortable but I do love this Ute. I don't like the wheel rims which are black & silver - would prefer silver to go with the chrome trim. Could do with a woman's touch inside for compartments etc All in all a great ute with the best power - I really loved my previous 2 Nissans but they just didn't have the grunt we needed. Loved the look of the Nissan Warrior would have loved to buy one if it had a bigger engine.

Spare Tyre change – Great car,, but impossible to change spare wheel with supplied tool kit . The safety anti theft bolt can only be removed with a rattle gun , no ring spanner or standard socket could remove excessively tight long threaded bolt. Very poorly designed Also vw manual is ridiculous to navigate Show details

Well finished, fuel efficient and plenty of power – I never thought I would be the owner of an Amarok but went to a car yard to purchase another vehicle that ended up not being suitable and then was offered a 2014 Amarok Canyon at a very good price. Took it for drive and that was it, I was sold. I have had heaps of diesel 4x4s and this thing is unbelievable and a level above. Ample power, very… Read more

smooth to drive, fuel efficiency is awesome, 8.7 litres per 100km and have had as low as 10.7 litres per 100km towing a 1200kg trailer. Has 150000kms but drives like new. The engine gearbox combination is what sets it apart, virtually has 4 low gears and 4 high gears, pulls the trailer up our steepest road in WA in 5th easy. Very, very impressed with this car. You won’t be disappointed if you choose an Amarok.

Amazing vehicle for what i need for my business – My vehicle is used primarily for business use as a builder. You forget you are driving a ute its so comfortable. Effortless towing. You have all the grunt and stopping power needed, handling is uncomprimised by having three tonne behind it. I've had the Pedders GVM upgrade done from new, so whether that plays too much of a part, I'm unaware. … Read more

This vehicle is used mainly for the 1000 km round trip to obtain supplies for my business, generally once a fortnight and sometimes around town. I had a service done at 7500 kms (even though not due until 20 000) because i wanted to make sure there were no issues with the vehicle. I have zero issues with the vehicle except i wish i had bought one earlier

Stay away as far as you can go. It has more problems then you can poke a stick at it. Paint work cheap. Multimedia unit keeps freezing or drops out. Has connections issues. Rattles around the seat belt area. Dealership will fix it only for the same issue to reoccur as soon as you leave there driveway. Head office of vw don’t care. Absolutely appalling. Show details

Biggest bucket of crap on the road – What a peice of absolute garbage. 100k on this thing and over 10k in engine work and it still not running. Thus was a 1 owner with full service history from vw themselves. Even they pulled up the history and said it was a lemon, and they sold it new. Just to change a thermostat is a full day job and $700 in parts, you literally have to pull… Read more

half the engine apart for a, what is for any other vehicle, a $20, 10 minute job. They are built to not be repaired. Why anyone but vw, and at $190 + gst plus parts, who the hell is paying them that? Eurotrash, all the same, overpriced garbage that's good for 100k and beyond that are nothing but trouble.

Not well thought out – The car is used for towing a caravan which it does well. On the model I have to be able to screw in the tow bolt in the front of the vehicle a full plastic panel has to be remove to do this, very hard to do when sunk in mud. Spare tire very hard to get out particularly more difficult after the recall retro fit of a special lock nut, have to craw… Read more

under vehicle to take it off, very dangerous if the vehicle on the jack. Reverse gear is very weak when pushing caravan up a slope.

Worst car iv ever owned – The panels are so weak I would find tiny dents all over the car. I recently sold it at only 22,000kms I have always taken great care of my cars But for a car only 3 years old The seats where ripping a headrest broke Issues with fuel consumption This is not a work truck or a worthy off-road vehicle Last VW I will ever own so disappointed and don’t understand how there isn’t outcry over these cars being so poorly built Show details

My second Amarok ,the first Wass 4 cylinder did 285 ,000kms with little trouble , very economical – The V6 engine is excellent with ample overtaking power and towing torque - the all wheel drive on gravel roads is top class , ability in sand is awesome . The fuel consumption is not great in comparison with the 4 cylinder model, especially loaded & A/T tyres fitted . Road manners and comfort set this vehicle apart from the rest , it is quiet and very comfortable on long trips . No problem to do 1,000km in a day with 2 drivers . Show details

Love this vehicle, massive upgrade from my previous 4wd – I use my amarok as a daily driver and for 4wding and touring for a fee years now with no issues. Very comfortable to drive around the city and off road. I get it serviced at the dealer at the regular intervals while under warranty. Drives well, very responsive and great on fuel. This is far more fuel efficient than my previous Nissan 4cyl 4wd… Read more

and is a massive upgrade inside and out.

Highly recommended this vehicle for personal and family use and for work.

I do however not recommend Essondon Volkswagen, they have outright lied to me on both of my purchases with them. I was told I was buying an MY19 and was supplied an MY18 and when I bought my other vehicle I was told I was buying a MY15 Golf I was supplied a MY14 both times I was brushed off by the dealers after the sale being told it was an honest mistake for one and the other I was rold it was my fault because I needed it asap.....

Great Operator – This vehicle is my lifeline, a tower, a worker and a pleasure to drive to work. German engineering based quality and experience. A great vehicle to own, with many years of service Show details

Great car but service costs high – Daily driver to and from work pick up kid going to the beach and going on holidays. Car is used everyday and on weekends . Serviced every 15 000 kilometres No issues advised by my mechanic . Show details

Overall Good – I have just clicked over 100 thousand k's. To date been pretty hapoy with my 2015 Amarok. Just developed a big whirring noise in rear end. Took it to Volks, who do European vehicles in Cairns. He said wheel bearings are gone. They done a few now. If you go to VW they solve your rear wheel bearing failure by selling you a whole new diff for… Read more

$3,500.00! He gets a kit in from UK, has bearings, axle nuts and ABS clips to do both sides, parts and labour 2 grand.

Fantastic car, great value, very reliable – I have had this car for 3 years and done 50k on it, no issues at all and it is great on road and off road. I have recovered many rangers and the odd landcruiser in it on the tracks and then leave them for dead on the road. Couldn't rate this vehicle, higher. Also it is far cheaper then Toyota and Ford, not as cheap as a triton but is far better build quality. Show details

I have a 2.0lt twin turbo diesel it’s just done 270,000ks has not missed a beat until now – I have a twin turbo Trendline there great for pulling heavy loads rather rough to ride in though unless you have a load on the back just put 270,000ks on it and has not missed a beat. That is until now the temperature light comes on it’s like the coolant is not circulating through the system I’ve changed auxiliary coolant pump but that’s not the… Read more

issue after it gets warm it starts to build pressure then when you take overflow cap off the coolant bubbles like you’ve shaken up a bottle of Coke and poured it in there there’s no water in the oil it don’t blow smoke etc I got no clue what it could be maybe thermostat or water pump although until now it’s been a reliable Ute I definitely would not recommend buying one as we are definitely the very few of the lucky ones to get 270,000ks out of an Amarok they are crap boxes and there is so much that can and does go wrong with them I’d consider getting a Greatwall or a push bike before getting another amarok even Greatwall put out a more reliable diesel 4x4 that VW and Greatwall just ain’t that GREAT.

Sensor detection issue – Had a collision with a material-covered bar where the sensors did not sound. On investigation, there is a blind spot on the rear, out of camera, mirror and window view. Detection is limited for people and fabrics. VW Australia will not take responsibility and VW Southern dealership firstly stated the sensors "do not pick up all objects" then to… Read more

state "the vehicle is operating as normal".

I have posted a video of which VW Australia and the dealership has viewed and now dismissed as "the video is not taken in real-time".

https://youtu.be/Jn4hH4JRiz0

J Tech Adelaide an excellent enhancement – I met Josh about 5 years ago when i had a different vehicle he seemed very knowledgeable and sincere he gave me some great tips - I kept his number for future reference and I’m glad I did ! My V6 Amarok just ran out of warranty and I looked to buy a new one - but honestly couldn’t see the difference apart from a 30k odd extra price - I wanted an… Read more

alternative as my particulate filter was starting to act up etc. I phoned Josh who in the last 5 years developed a remapping etc for the Amarok V6

I pickup up my car the other day - I was given a dyno chart and an excellent briefing - far out - it’s truly amazing - a huge performance difference - the fuel economy is better, I can’t keep my behind out of the seat! I don’t have any reason now to sell/ trade in my Amarok !

Talk to Josh take a test drive in his Amarok - you won’t be disappointed from the moment you phone him on 0422770660 Thanks Josh you’ve helped my pocket and put a huge smile on my face and thanks for the loan car

PS

I'm not being paid for this review its a true and honest account

Brilliant Ute. Wouldn’t buy anything else – For power comfort economy towing ability braking you can’t beat the Amarok. I test drove everything else and this won hands down wifis doubt. Best of them all by a country mile.  Show details

Awesome ute – Had it nearly 3 years now, no issues what so ever, brilliant fuel economy (8.6 mostly) even with a steel bull bar fitted. Particulate filter light came on a couple of times but driving on the freeway at 100kph for 5 minutes and it goes out, obviously not getting hot enough around town. Use to have a Colorado, there is no comparison, the V6 Amarok… Read more

is so much better in every way. I read a lot of criticism about Amarok off-road, from my experience unjustified, last year I was even lucky enough to do the Spirit of Amarok event at the Melbourne off-road proving ground, amazing what these can do without a transfer case and in my opinion they are the future.

this car is no good at all 9 days all i got out of it – 9 days 423.7 km all we got from it 1/2 tank of fuel but fault with these seem to be the serpentine belt failure on engines running a timing belt we have no car know for a long time saved along time for this car so let down by VW we have to save for long time just to fix it know buy a VW ever again so let down by the way they made this 2015 motor fail so dam easy Amarok just no good and any VW with them 2.0l TDI motors Show details

Starter motor failure on 2017 V6 Amarok Ultimate – I purchased the vehicle new, just before it's second birthday and below 30000KMs it wouldn't start eventually after approximately ten attempts it started.Two days later it went into limp mode that is stuck 6th gear(auto) while towing our 2.4 Tonne van.I called VW road side assistance ,before he arrived I shut the engine down and restarted it and… Read more

the alarm cleared and normal operation continued the Service Technician arrived up loaded the fault code and texted it to me . I booked the the vehicle in for the annual service giving the the fault code to the VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT 24 hours earlier to allow them to gather any additional information and or parts required.After a day a the service department no fault was detected however the service MANGER informed that he was aware of some starter motor failures. Approximately 6 weeks later the auto stop/start shut the engine down and it wouldn't restart,VW roadside assistance again arrived and jump started the vehicle .I decided to have the vehicle towed to the dealership where other non related issues were scheduled.The planned work was completed and then the starter motor issue was investigated,finding it was faulty and 3 week wait get one from Germany. VW Autsralia and the VW Dealership were aware of this potentially fatal fault and STILL allowed me th to drive out the Dealership playing RUSSIAN ROULETTE..

2014 mechatronics warning – My car has recently been towed to Volkswagen aftwr it got stuck in 6th gear while driving with no warning. I have been told the issue is the mechatronics. It is a 2014 model. I know there was a recall in 2013. Volkswagen service centres suggestion was pay for a new transmission as well because they coudnt tell if that needed replacing so instead… Read more

of a potential $20,000 bill just replace the transmission?!. Otherwise pay $6600 for the mechatronics and possibly then pay for a transmission totally $20,000 which the car isn't worth!!!! It's not an old car and having had these issues in the model before mine. Not happy as I now have a car that doesn't drive.