VW Amarok Stalling: Bad Fuel Mix & Power Loss Fix Needed

I experienced nearly identical symptoms on my 2013 VW Tiguan. The check engine light came on, followed by rough idling and significant power loss. After scanning, it turned out to be a faulty fuel injector causing an inconsistent air-fuel ratio. The mass airflow sensor and oxygen sensor readings were normal, but the engine was getting a rich mixture due to the leaking injector. One cylinder was receiving too much fuel, creating the jerking sensation during acceleration. The repair involved replacing the defective fuel injector and cleaning the remaining ones. This was definitely a serious issue that needed immediate attention, as continuing to drive risked damaging the catalytic converter from the excess fuel. The symptoms you describe strongly point to a failed injector rather than a throttle body issue. When the oxygen sensor detects this rich mixture condition consistently, it triggers the check engine light as a warning. I would recommend getting it diagnosed soon, as these symptoms typically worsen quickly and can lead to more expensive repairs if left unchecked. A proper diagnosis will involve checking fuel pressure and conducting an injector leak-down test.

Thanks for sharing your Tiguan experience, that sounds exactly like what I am dealing with. Did the spark plugs need replacing as part of the fix too? Also wondering how much the total repair ended up costing you and if youve had any similar issues since getting it fixed? My local shop quoted me 4 hours labor plus parts but I want to make sure thats reasonable for this type of fuel system work.

Thanks for asking about the follow-up details. Since getting the repair done, my Tiguan has been running perfectly with no fuel injection issues. The mechanic found that the main problem was indeed the faulty injector causing the mixture preparation error. The total cost came to 515€, which included replacing the defective injector and a thorough fuel system cleaning. The spark plugs were actually fine and didnt need replacement, though they were inspected as part of the diagnosis. The rich fuel mixture hadnt damaged them yet, which was lucky. The oxygen sensor readings returned to normal once the new injector was installed. Four hours labor sounds reasonable for this type of fuel system work, as they need to properly test the fuel pressure, remove the intake manifold to access the injectors, and verify everything is working correctly after the repair. The most important thing is that they properly diagnose which injector is faulty using the right diagnostic equipment. Just make sure they check the catalytic converter hasnt been damaged from running rich before the repair. In my case, catching it relatively early prevented any additional issues with other components.

Just got back from getting my Amarok fixed and wanted to share how it went. The mechanic confirmed it was indeed a bad fuel injector on cylinder 2. They showed me how it was leaking fuel and causing the rich mixture. Total bill came to 490€ which included parts, labor, and a full fuel system cleaning. The repair took about 3.5 hours and they did a great job explaining everything. They checked the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors, both were fine since I caught the problem early. The mass airflow sensor readings also came back normal once they fixed the injector. Car runs perfectly now, no more stalling, jerking, or power loss. The check engine light is off and the idle is smooth again. Really glad I got it sorted before it caused more damage. Thanks for the helpful advice pointing me in the right direction with the fuel injection system. Saved me from getting unnecessary work done on the throttle body which another shop had suggested.