My daughter's 2012 Polo exhibits the same problem with the gas door release not opening. This is so frustrating. Seems like an obvious mechanical fault. VW need to recall and resolve this issue. Thanks for taking the time to share this video.

Thank you so much for posting this. It helped us get into the fuel door. My 2012 Passat TDI SEL has the same issue. We took it to the dealer and they acted as though it was our fault. They charged us for a diagnostic and said it would be over $100 to fix.

Have the same problem on my 2010 jetta tdi. Until today it was was a come and go problem... Until today... I'm tired of vw... fuel door, fuel pump, ac compressor lights and some miscellaneous stuff here and there starting right after the warranty ended... All service done on time at the dealer... The car is not even 5 years old and has little over 70k... I've had it... I'm getting a Toyota or Honda a TRUE PEOPLE'S CAR... Anyway... Thank you for sharing a good way to deal with stubborn fuel door...

Thanks for the video. Searching for help on the web stopped at the gas station with less than 20 miles of gas you save my day. I ended up in removing the external painted lip and dealing with the internal plastic cover only. the spring remain stick inside, but a metallic knife opened it. now i am looking on the web how to solve it once forever... almost forgot...Passat 2012....

This is why I love KZfaq. This happened to me on my 2012 TDI today. Read the comments and it clicked right open when I unlocked the car using the remote key FOB.

I was looking for a lever release for like 20 min til I found this video. Thanks. Just got it and love it

A great simple emergency fix that just needed my kitchen bread knife. Thanks.

Glad it helped. The dealer ended up replacing the whole fuel door assembly and it works again. They said the tolerance of the assembly is 1/16 of an inch. Good luck.

Thanks for taking the time to make the video. My wife's Passat tdi has the identical issue. Bringing it to the dealer this week. I will send them a link to this video prior to the visit.

I Bought (or rather am leasing) a 2013 VW Passat SE back on February 28th, 2022. It’s now (as I type currently-the 9th of October) & this happened to me for the very first time this past Friday (the 7th). I was SO DAMN CONFUSED & very much frustrated‼️‼️ My fiancé had to literally leave work, just to drive to the gas station I was at & pry off the dang cover. Now granted I I hadn’t ran it this issue before that day, so I really didn’t have much of a choice at that time. After sifting through google desperately trying to find a solution, I came across many blog posts where people have had the same issue & needed to replace the entire mechanism. Smh. 🤦🏾‍♀️ I’ve never driven a VW prior to this one now. Now that I think about it-I would like a recall *for said issue….so that I can get a trade in or an suv…..😩🤷🏾‍♀️ Who knows, hopefully, they get enough complaints & actually recall it in today’s time. Only time will tell. B/c excuse my French…. MUHFU*KAS need gas ‼️‼️‼️

I just filed the acuator itself so that it can’t grab the fuel door, still closes fine doesn’t stick out you just have to use something small to open the door. Don’t gotta worry about that again now. 2015 Passat

Thank you. I got the Golf as a rental car, and of course they didn't leave the owner's manual, and I couldn't figure out how to open that door!

VW Scirocco 2013, worked for me (with a random bit of flat wide plastic). Thanks.

I have a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan and have been having this problem today.... My thumb is completely sore from unlocking and locking and pressing on the fob..... I have never seen such a stupid design of a car in my life..... I can't believe they make it that hard to put gas in your car, the most important thing

This just started happening on my 2013 Passat TDI. I'll make the 'stick' when I get home from work tonight, but the car is going to the dealership for warranty work SOON, since I've got a little over 35,000 miles on it, and next month will be the 3-year mark.

The fuel flap will not open if the car is locked. The car must be unlocked for the fuel flap to release.

Hey Joe B thanks for reply. 2009 VW Polo 1.4 hasn't fuel door release button inside the cabin. All doors including fuel door locking and unlocking by the central locking system. The same system as your mom's car. So, listen what I did. I tried the stick few minutes ago. Sometimes works sometimes not. But I tried also another method. I call this R.C.K.M ''Remote Controler Key Method'' uh uh uh!!. How it works? The car is unlock but the fuel door remain stuck right? Just hold the key and press the lock button. Then press the unlock button in less than 1 sec (very very quikly) before the car had time to lock. The fuel door release perfectly!!! Try it! It works perfect!!

I have a 2014 Passat. I thought I was loosing my mind!!!! I am going to the dealer today. Scary part....I am on empty!!!!

The same issue with 2012 Tiguan , managed to open the door using plastic stick from bicycle tyre repair kit.

Same problem just came up on my 2012 Tiguan. Past 3 fill up I been locking and unlocking the doors with my key fob and banging on the tank do till I get I to open. Takes longer each time. RECALL PLEASE

You don't need the key to be in the ignition to do this. On my mom's car there wasn't even a button in the car to release it. If your car has a fuel door release inside the cabin then you should probably do that first.

I made today the same stick but I didn't test it yet. I have a question. Should the car's key be on the ignition switch when using this stick in this emergency situation or not? I am just asking because my wife's car a VW Polo 1.4 TDI model 2009 has exactly the same problem. Your video is very helpfull for this case, thank you and thanks once more for your reply.

Resolved also with a little piece of tape or plastic with 2/3mm,place inside the door hole,where the lock system work!

same problem with my 2013 passat, I just use my credit card to open

I had this problem on my 14 jetta. very simple fix. put a drop of diesel on the mechanism shaft. Hasnt done it since.

My 2014 Passat tdi filler door stuck at 97,000 miles. There is no way to open it redundantly. Called VW of America and was told there's nothing they can do as the car is past its original warranty however tdi's have an extension out to 123,000 miles. The fuel filler door waa broken off to access the cap and needs replacement and repainting along with the solenoid to the tune of almost $500. Kind of pissed off.

Same problem here with my 2012 Jetta TDI Highline. Will get a hold of the dealer... Sigh....

That is preposterous, giving you a stick to pry it open. Almost comical. Glad they eventually fixed it. I would have held their feet to the fire.

Had problem opening flap on my 2013 TDI Passat, 500 miles from home with empty tank. Found a dealer to open it but flap is disabled now. Looking forward to dealing with VW; don't want to replace it with similarly defective part.

2017 gti same problem..what a joke that hey haven't fixed this issue

My 2013 passat has same issue and it's so frustrating! Was this a recall ?

My vw Tiguan 2013 had the same problem last year dealer replaced the solenoid now 12 months on failed again i found that locking and then repeatedly pressing the unlock button on the key fob gets it to release.

I do a little trick I lock the doors and open them with the remote control then try to open the fuel door again and it works sometimes I do it 2 or 3 times ... but I don't like that and in the dealer shop they just but some lube to clean the lock there less than a week and it back again ( VW Tiguan 2011)

Oh thanks, my passat is dying it’s on 5 miles range. I will try it now

My 2016 GTi had the same issue during thanksgiving it was in the teens Fahrenheit. Of course it happened on a road trip. The dealer did replace the actuator though. It’s just a bad design, over engineering. Never had this issue on old 2009 Accord.

My 2015 Jetta has the same problem. I bought a new actuator for $36.

Having same issue with my 2012 Jetta. Taking it back to the dealer for the second time.

It's happening with my 2009 Jetta TDI. I will have to find a stick before I'm out of gas...

Same problem with my 2005 Polo ughhhh

my volkswagen tiguan 2008 has same issue today! Thanks man

Our 13 Passat Gas does the same thing, after pushing about 10 times on the unlock door buttons it opens Now we have a Airbag recall . Its embarrassing trying to fuel a newer car and cant. Audi {Germans] Needs to make cars for vw again !

Just happened to my 2011 Jetta -- the stick trick releases the door and let's me reset the actuator position! Thanks.

I have the same problem with my 2014 Volkswagen Polo

Interesting -- my 2013 door is stuck and the dealer just said if I pry on it, it won't be covered.

Same thing with the 2015

2017 golf same problem. Get your shit together VW.

2012 Passat TDI...same damned problem! I already broke the fuel flap off the car trying to pry it open to refuel. ARGH!

This exact thing happened to my 2012 VW Jetta and I was on empty and had to go to work so I had to take my key and pop it open. Only problem is it won't close anymore because the spring thing that clicks into place won't stick. I don't know what to do if anyone can help

Just started experiencing this on the 2013, calling the dealer as we speak..

Thanks

Same problem with my 2013

Same problem with a passat 08

classic vw rotten arrogant nice driving car though

Same thing happened to me. But find out the car wont open the gas door if the alarm is activated. When you deactivate the alarm, then you are able to open the gas door.

Same issue with my 2011 Passat.

Gas door is not suppose to open if car is locked.

VW can design a killer TDI motor but can't figure out how to design a reliable fuel door actuator. Same issue on my 98 TDI New Beetle. It never ends... it's almost like they do it on purpose.

Do you think spray WD40 will help?

happening to my 2013 passat

2020 Passat and this just happened to me at the pump. Looked like an idiot trying to get it open 😅 This has to be a known issue to VW given the # of views on this video alone. Pitiful they haven’t fixed it.

I have same problem with my 2013 passat..... it is hell......

Same problen passat 2018

anyone try using spray lubricant on it???

Same issue on 17 Tiguan. Fookin rediculous.

me to

Top quality heap of junk!