This is what it's like owning one of Volkswagen's Dieselgate vehicles a decade after the scandal
Published on Sep 22, 2025 at 8:05 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Sep 23, 2025 at 12:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A man has revealed the secrets of what it’s like owning one of Volkswagen’s Dieselgate vehicles, a decade after the scandal.
Back in September 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that Volkswagen had installed ‘defeat devices’ in diesel cars.
During testing, there was software designed to detect when a car was undergoing an emissions test, at which point it would activate full emissions controls to make the car appear compliant.
The scheme ran for about 11 years, with around 11 million vehicles worldwide affected, and this guy still owns one of the dieselgate cars despite many being recalled or bought back by VW.
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What it’s like owning one of Volkswagen’s Dieselgate vehicles
It’s been a whole decade since Volkswagen’s infamous ‘dieselgate’ scandal, feel old yet?
After the EPA exposed the German automaker for using software that was designed to detect when a car was undergoing an emissions test and fudge the numbers.
But most of the affected cars were recalled or bought back.
Some were even ‘fixed’, so it’s hard to find a classic VW made in the dieselgate era that still runs as it did back at the time.
However, during an interview, this man talks about a car that still runs well. In fact, his old Volkswagen SportWagen did nearly 295,000 miles before it needed a fix.
The negatives of these vehicles
Despite the cars tending to be reliable, efficient, and fun to drive, which were traits that drew a lot of owners to them, many old SportWagens suffer from corrosion in doors and tailgates.
The emissions fixes sometimes hurt fuel economy and performance, and the extended warranties tied to the fixes are limited.
Dieselgate cars also have a poor resale value, because they still suffer from legal fallout and a bad reputation due to the incident.
Despite all these flaws, though, there’s a certain cult appeal – people who love these cars often really love them, warts and all.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
