Used VW Diesel Prices Decline Through October

It’s been about a month and a half since news broke that certain Volkswagen four-cylinder diesel cars contain software designed to bypass emissions control devices, and earlier this week the EPA claimed that V-6 diesel engines in other VW, Audi and Porsche models are noncompliant too, an assertion disputed by VW. While it’s too early to tell what effect these new allegations will have on prices for the latest crop of vehicles, prices for used VW diesel cars involved in the earlier action are mostly down since our last look two weeks ago.

Related: More VW Diesel Recall News

Used Jetta TDI models have seen some of the biggest decreases in seller-set asking prices, with the largest decline, a 6.4 percent drop from Sept. 15 to Oct. 31, hitting 2009 and 2015 model years of the sedan. Prices were also off more than 5 percent for model-year 2012-2014 Jettas.

As in our previous analysis of prices of used VW diesel cars, the 2013 Jetta SportWagen TDI had the biggest decline in seller-set asking prices of any of the affected diesel cars. Its average price has fallen 7.7 percent ($1,567) from Sept. 15 to Oct. 31.

Prices for used Golf TDI hatchbacks are down from Sept. 15, but 2012 and 2015 models have made up a little ground and are now down 3.8 percent ($679) and 5.4 percent ($1,209), respectively. Prices for other model years continued to slide, with 2010 models down the most to-date: 5.7 percent ($750).

Diesel Beetle and Passat prices continue to lose ground. Prices for the 2013 version of the Beetle TDI are off the most, down 4.1 percent ($780), and the biggest slump in Passat TDI prices is for 2013 models, too, with prices down 5.3 percent ($1,017).

Source: Cars.com used-car listings, 2009 to 2015 model years