VW Atlas Misfires Point to Intake Manifold Problems

I experienced nearly identical issues with my 2020 VW Tiguan diesel last winter. Having some experience with VW diesels, those symptoms immediately made me suspect an intake manifold problem. The check engine light and rough idle were my first indicators. After a manifold sensor scan revealed multiple vacuum leak warnings, the workshop confirmed scorching damage on the intake manifold, causing significant air leaks. The complete repair included: Full manifold replacement, New air intake sensors, System diagnostics and recalibration, Vacuum system integrity check Total repair time was about 6 hours and cost 1180€. Since the fix, the engine runs smoothly with no misfires or power loss. Before suggesting more specific advice, could you share: Current mileage, Service history details, Any recent repairs, Specific error codes if scanned, When symptoms first appeared This information would help determine if your Atlas has similar underlying issues. The car manifold problems often show consistent patterns across VW diesel models from these years.

Last serviced at 19259km just two weeks ago, so the maintenance is up to date. The symptoms started appearing shortly after. The scan showed error code P2015 related to manifold pressure regulation. I checked the air intake system visually and noticed a small tear in one of the vacuum lines near the manifold, which likely explains the air leak symptoms causing engine performance issues. Given the recent timing after service, I wonder if something was disturbed during maintenance. The manifold pressure readings are definitely unstable according to the OBD readings. Would it make sense to first replace just the damaged vacuum line before considering a complete manifold replacement?

Thanks for providing those details. Actually, when I had similar manifold issues on my Atlas, I initially tried replacing just the vacuum line too. While it temporarily improved things, the underlying manifold problems quickly resurfaced within a week. The P2015 code combined with unstable manifold pressure readings strongly suggests a failing intake manifold unit, not just the vacuum lines. In my case, the workshop found microscopic cracks in the manifold housing itself, causing vacuum leaks that a simple line replacement couldn't fix. The timing after your service is interesting, the same happened to me. The manifold was likely already developing issues, and the service work may have accelerated the problem by disturbing aging components. This is pretty common with these VW diesel manifolds. If you want to try the vacuum line first, it might buy some time, but based on my experience with the same symptoms, you should be prepared for a complete manifold replacement soon. The check engine light and engine misfire patterns are nearly identical to what I experienced before the full repair became necessary. Just monitor these carefully if you replace only the line: Manifold pressure readings, Idle stability, Acceleration response, Exhaust smoke volume

My mileage is actually 25000km now, and the gasket leak symptoms have definitely gotten worse since my last post. Following your advice, I went ahead and replaced the vacuum line, but the engine performance issues are still present. The unstable manifold pressure readings continue, and the engine misfires are even more frequent now. I called the workshop that did my recent service, and they acknowledged seeing similar cases where minor vacuum line repairs only provided temporary relief. They quoted 1250€ for a complete manifold replacement including new sensors and recalibration. Based on your experience and others in the forum, this seems like the right path forward despite the cost. Will book it in next week and update the forum on whether this resolves all the symptoms. Really hoping this fixes the rough idle and stalling issues since they make the car practically undriveable at this point. Thanks for sharing your similar experience, it helped confirm my diagnosis and saved me time trying other partial fixes.