Incident on the Highway

It was October 2025, and I was driving my 2018 Volkswagen Sportwagen on the highway on my way to Walmart for groceries when the check engine light and EPC warning light suddenly appeared on the dashboard. A few moments later, the car lost boost power. I experienced limp mode for the first time while driving at highway speed.

Sudden EPC and Check Engine Warning

A wave of panic hit me, and I could feel my leg trembling. With cars behind me and no immediate way to change lanes, I pressed harder on the gas pedal, hoping the car would respond. Instead, acceleration became sluggish and the vehicle struggled to gain speed. I immediately turned on my hazard lights, carefully moved into the right lane, and pulled over onto the shoulder.

Emergency Stop and Restart Attempt

After stopping, I turned the engine off and restarted the car. The EPC light disappeared, but the check engine light remained on. Unsure of the cause, I continued driving slowly to Walmart and parked. I performed a few basic checks in the parking lot but couldn’t identify the problem. After buying my groceries, I avoided the highway and took secondary roads home.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t prepared for what came next. With my car out of service, I had to rely on public transportation to get to work. The following morning, I boarded the 6:00 a.m. commuter train and then transferred to Boston’s Red Line subway. The trip took more than two hours, and I didn’t arrive at work until 8:15 a.m. Normally, my commute takes only 30 minutes by car.

The situation left me frustrated. My Volkswagen had broken down, my daily routine had fallen apart, and I knew I needed answers fast.. In the next post, I’ll share my experience with the dealership and the surprising diagnosis they gave me.