VW Amarok Sensor Issues Causing Power Loss & High Fuel Use

I had almost identical issues with my 2015 VW Tiguan. As someone with moderate experience working on cars, I initially tried checking for visible vacuum leaks myself but quickly realized this needed professional diagnosis. The symptoms matched exactly what you described, poor acceleration, high fuel consumption, and the check engine light. The MAP sensor was showing irregular readings, but the actual root cause turned out to be a significant vacuum leak in the intake system. The workshop did a complete pressure test which revealed the issue. Total repair cost was 235€ including parts and labor. Since the fix, the car runs perfectly again, proper power delivery and normal fuel consumption. Before you proceed with just replacing the pressure sensor, I strongly recommend having a full vacuum system test done. Sensor failure symptoms can often be caused by underlying vacuum leaks. Could you share: Current mileage on your Amarok? Any recent maintenance work done? Are there any unusual sounds, especially at idle? Have you noticed any smoke from the exhaust? This information would help identify if your situation matches what I experienced with my VW.

Thanks for the detailed response. My Amarok just had its service last month at 25524km. I am not hearing any unusual sounds at idle and there is no smoke from the exhaust. The automotive sensor readings from my OBD scanner show erratic manifold pressure values, which align with the engine performance issues you described. Based on your experience, I will request a complete vacuum system test rather than jumping straight to sensor replacement. The consistent drop in engine performance combined with the diagnostic readings definitely points toward a possible combination of sensor failure and vacuum system problems.

Thanks for providing those additional details about your Amarok. Having dealt with similar manifold sensor issues in my Tiguan, those OBD readings definitely sound familiar. The erratic pressure values mirror what I saw before discovering my vacuum leak. Good call on getting that vacuum system test, it saved me from unnecessarily replacing components. While faulty MAP sensors can certainly cause engine performance problems, its often worth checking the entire intake system. My repair showed that automotive sensors can sometimes report errors due to other underlying issues. Since you mentioned having regular service last month, one thing to check would be if any work was done near the intake manifold area. In my case, I found out that a loose clamp after routine maintenance contributed to the vacuum leak, affecting overall engine performance. Your lower mileage compared to when I had the issue suggests this might be a simpler fix. Keep us posted on what the vacuum test reveals, would be interesting to see if your Amarok has similar vacuum system vulnerabilities as my Tiguan did.

Thanks everyone for the helpful feedback. After taking my Amarok to the workshop yesterday, they performed the vacuum system test as suggested. The diagnosis revealed both a minor vacuum leak and a failing MAP sensor, exactly the combination of issues discussed here. The total repair cost came to 380€, which included fixing the intake manifold seal and sensor replacement. After the repair, the engine performance returned to normal and the check engine light is now off. Fuel consumption has also improved significantly. For anyone facing similar issues, getting both the vacuum test and sensor diagnostics done together definitely saved time and prevented replacing parts unnecessarily. The shop confirmed that the erratic pressure sensor readings were partially caused by the vacuum leak, just as mentioned in the previous responses. Will monitor the engine performance over the next few weeks, but so far the car feels like new again. Really appreciate all the guidance that helped pinpoint the exact issues affecting my Amarok.