I read it on this forums, but the description vaguely matched my symptoms. I wasn't sure 100%.
If your van ...
- Starts to pop up the Check Engine message (with audible warning).
- Sometimes goes into limp mode (but you can reset by re-starting the car) (and you get the same check engine / service now). And it's totally random...
It's very likely the MAF filter.
Of course, we took it to the dealers (all) but they had zero idea. We were not really surprised, we had the same experience with our MK7.
And until it's a permanent issue, the ECU clears itself after each start. So it's not like you can just go into a dealership once you experience because it will most likely happen far away.
It will produce this on and off thing (we had it since 1st year of purchase), and after a while it goes into permanent limp mode.
The sensor is very cheap and easy to replace, so we plan on buying 1-2 more just in case.
The story:
Like 2 months ago we had a busy day planned.
Once we left the city, the light came on, except this time it went into permanent limp mode. The restart did not make it go away.
So we hit the dealership on the way back, they saw the error.
After sitting an hour in the lounge, a guy comes up to us. He says they found the problem, and it's a warrantial issue. (we have 21k miles on the van only and it just passed 2 years)
However. IF I want it to get fixed for free (i.e.: warranty), I have to leave my van at the dealership, and I can get it fixed tomorrow. (Which meant Monday, because this was on Friday afternoon.)
BUT IF I PAY RIGHT NOW and I won't try to get it fixed in warranty, it will be fixed in 5 minutes.
Of course, I paid the money since I did not want to walk 100km home, and I need it for work. But yeah, if you get into warranty issues, go with 2 vans, or prepare for public transport on the way back. Unless you are loaded with cash.
Hope this helped. (See pic, this is what it looked and it kept popping up once in every few weeks/months, total random.)