VW TDI Engine Jerking & Misfire: Common Causes Revealed

I had a similar experience with my VW Scirocco 2.0 TDI from 2013. The symptoms you describe are very familiar, and in my case, it turned out to be a leak in the exhaust system that was causing irregular readings from the oxygen sensor. After the check engine light came on, I initially suspected fuel injectors or a crankshaft sensor issue. However, when I took it to the workshop, they performed a thorough diagnostic and found the actual problem was a crack in the exhaust manifold, which was affecting engine performance and sensor readings. The repair involved replacing the damaged section and checking all related components. The total cost came to 265€, including parts and labor. Since the fix, the engine has been running smoothly with no jerking during acceleration or rough idle issues. To better assist with your situation, could you provide some additional information: Have you noticed any unusual exhaust sounds or smells? When exactly did the symptoms first appear? Does the jerking occur at specific RPM ranges? Have you had any recent maintenance work done? What specific error codes did the diagnostic scan show? This information would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced or if it might be related to other components like the fuel pump or ignition system.

Last service was at 138000km. Based on my scan results and the symptoms described above, this could likely be related to my fuel system, particularly the fuel pump or injectors. The error codes P0087 and P0101 appeared during diagnostics. The rough idle and jerking during acceleration really match what others have reported with failing fuel delivery components. I did check for unusual exhaust sounds as suggested, but could not hear anything obvious. The jerking mainly occurs between 1800-2500 RPM when accelerating. These symptoms started about 2 weeks ago and have gradually become more noticeable. The oxygen sensor and crankshaft sensor values look normal according to the scan data. This leads me to believe the issue lies elsewhere in the fuel delivery system. Has anyone dealt with similar error codes and symptoms?

Thanks for providing those additional details about your VW Eos. After reading your latest update, I am even more convinced your symptoms differ from my exhaust system issues on my Scirocco. The error codes P0087 (fuel rail pressure too low) and P0101 (mass airflow sensor circuit range) strongly point toward fuel delivery problems. Your observation about the jerking occurring between 1800-2500 RPM matches a fuel pump issue I later experienced on my car. The rough idle and inconsistent acceleration were quite similar. In my case, the high-pressure fuel pump had started failing, causing irregular fuel pressure. The repair involved replacing the fuel pump assembly, which resolved both the rough idle and jerking symptoms. The total cost was around 850€ including parts and labor. After replacement, the check engine light cleared and performance returned to normal. Since your oxygen sensor readings are good, and the symptoms match fuel delivery problems, I suggest having the fuel pump and injectors tested. A failing fuel pump often shows these exact symptoms before complete failure, and its best to address it before getting stranded. Consider requesting a fuel pressure test at your next workshop visit. This will confirm whether the fuel pump is delivering proper pressure across all RPM ranges.

Based on this helpful discussion, I will book a workshop appointment next week to have the fuel system properly tested. The symptoms and error codes really do point toward fuel delivery problems, especially given how the jerking occurs in that specific RPM range. The fuel pump seems the most likely culprit based on the P0087 code and inconsistent performance. While 850€ for a fuel pump replacement is significant, it makes sense to address this before potentially getting stranded somewhere. At least I can rule out the oxygen sensor and exhaust system issues. I will request they perform a complete fuel pressure test across different RPM ranges to properly diagnose the high-pressure fuel pump and injectors. This should confirm whether my engine misfire symptoms are indeed related to irregular fuel delivery. Thanks for sharing your experience, it helped narrow down the likely cause and gave me a realistic cost estimate for the repair. I will update this thread once I get the workshop diagnosis and repair completed. This information could help others experiencing similar symptoms with their TDI engines.