Which Amarok do you have?
| Older Amarok (2H) | Newer Amarok (NF) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sold | 2011 to 2022 | From 2022 |
| Background | The original Amarok | Built by Ford at Silverton in South Africa, on the Ranger platform |
| Engines | 2.0-litre petrol and diesels, plus a 3.0-litre V6 diesel from November 2016 | Include a 2.0 TDI and a 3.0 V6 developed by Ford and Jaguar Land Rover |
| Worth knowing | Serpentine belt and timing belt on the 2.0-litre diesels | Driveshaft and seat belt recalls |
Why does the serpentine belt matter on an Amarok?
Australian Car Reviews reports belts on Amarok turbo-diesels failing before their 75,000 km change interval. Fragments can get past the timing belt cover and hit the timing belt (the belt that keeps the valves in step). The valves can then hit the pistons, which can mean a new cylinder head or engine.
Volkswagen reportedly fitted a revised timing belt cover from May 2012, so an earlier ute deserves a closer look. The site suggests changing the serpentine belt when it starts making noise or at 60,000 km, whichever comes first, and says misaligned pulleys may cause early wear. That's their suggestion and not Volkswagen's schedule, but a noisy belt is worth acting on either way. Our page on a squealing belt explains what the noise usually means.
When is an Amarok timing belt replacement due?
When the schedule for your engine says so. The 2.0-litre common-rail diesel drives its camshafts with a timing belt and gears. Owners quote very different figures online, so go by your own book, and treat a used ute with no belt invoice as due until a mechanic has checked it.
A V6 is a different engine, and the 2022-on utes are different again. Ask the mechanic what your schedule lists for those. Don't let anyone quote you from the wrong Amarok.
Which Amarok recalls should you check?
2011 to 2022. Utes sold from August 2016 to March 2019 were recalled under campaign 66L9 because the spare wheel winch cable can snap. Campaign 97DL covers a front seat wiring harness on utes sold from October 2016 to October 2017. 2017 and 2018 V6 utes were recalled because a clip may damage the power steering return hose, and MY2015 utes for front brake calliper bolts. The 2011 and 2012 2.0-litre diesels were in the EA189 emissions software recall.
2022 on. Campaigns 39F7 and 39F8 cover the front driveshaft and the rear driveshaft bolts on 2023 utes, where the risk is a sudden loss of drive. Campaign 690V covers a driver's seat belt that may be incorrectly anchored on 2023 and 2024 utes.
Your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au will show what applies to your ute. Volkswagen's warranty is five years with unlimited kilometres, and a qualified independent mechanic servicing an Amarok to the maker's schedule and specifications doesn't by itself void it.
Tell us the year, the engine and whether it tows. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.
If this Amarok were ours
On a 2.0-litre diesel, we'd ask for the serpentine belt and pulleys to be inspected at every service, and we'd find the last timing belt invoice now, before it's urgent. On a newer ute, tell us it's the 2022-on model: CarExpert calls it essentially a Ranger in a nice suit, so a mechanic who knows Rangers may suit it better than one who only knows the old Amarok. Run the recall check on either.