Tag: dk

Possible ex gratia rumour for DSG7 owners in Denmark

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Few days ago, I’ve been notified about some reports that VW Denmark has issued ex gratia on DSG7 gearboxes. According to the rumours, which I was not able to confirm just yet, it will cover DSG7 gearboxes not older than 6 years, or 200.000 kilometers.

Al though it is not warranty, this could be positive in reassuring confidence in VW DSG7 gearboxes, that were hit with massive global problems on almost all markets except European.

Must point out that this rumour has not been confirmed, only something I’ve read on a Danish VAGcars.dk forums. According to posters of the rumour, they are either working in Volkswagen Service Partner or know someone who does. Which is of course positive, but I will need to have some written documentation, before I can take it as granted. Too many times I’ve been burnt by oral agreement and later on, they forgot all about it. So, for now, this is only to be considered as a rumour, and nothing else but that.

What does “ex gratia” means?

It means that Volkswagen covers partial costs of parts, and only, parts or repairs/replacements of parts, out of the goodwill/kindness. You will still have to pay hourly rate your service partner charges.

VW Denmark is not budging in DSG7 problems

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In the last few months, some major media, here in Denmark, reported on DSG7 problems, and had interviews with PR-reps from VW Denmark. VW Denmark is not budging in DSG7 problems. Journalists were mostly asking same questions, and getting the same answers. Or, perhaps VW Denmark only answered on selected questions.

But, common theme in the articles were mostly asking, if VW thinks they have general problems with DSG7 transmission (internally known as DQ200). They of course answered with “no”. Volkswagen is claiming that they know about very few cases with problems, and that these were taken care of, either under warranty or ex-gratia, where consumers were asked to pay a part of the repair.

Another common theme in the VW answers were, indirect blame of the consumer for the problems. Declining to acknowledge the problems and responsibility, VW is automatically blaming consumer for the problems. They even used numbers to deflect the blame, and informed  journalists they sold 8.500 cars with DSG7 transmission, out of those VW claimed “only” 311 had problems. This is a 3,66% error margin, if we are just to take look at their numbers. Which I am not completely confident that the numbers are true. Even if the numbers are true, there is a question about what models it was sold with.

There are some models and engines more suitable for DSG7 specifications, and others are less suitable. Eg. engine torque, and the size/weight of the car.

An example to illustrate the issue

Another example of this (bad engine combinations) could be following;

DSG7 is rated at max. output of 250 Nm of torque.

  • Polo 1.2 TSI 90-105 BHP has about 160 – 175 Nm of torque
  • Touran 1.6 TDI with 105 BHP has 250 Nm of torque.

As you can see… Touran with TDI engines is riding on the limits of the DSG7 gearbox specifications. And this is only asking for troubles. That VW went anyway with this combination of engine and gearbox is beyond my understanding.

And consumers are to be blamed and pay for their design/manufacturing flaws?

So, now if I could only get VW of publicising the numbers of sold Polo’s and other models well within limitations of the DSG7 gearbox, and deduct that number from those 8.500, I am pretty sure error rate will be a lot higher, than 3.66%.

Sent yet another mail

Just sent yet another mail, asking for updates.
Last time I spoke to them on the phone, they told me, that they are not going to do anything unless they can find this “reference car” that matches my model. Deadline for this was on November 9th, but they extended it indefinitely. Wanted to know if I am waiting for this car till kingdom come or what?

UPDATE: Got the reply. They are doing nothing, as result of my complaint to Authority for car complaints (or whatever it is called in English :-)) …
Which is understandable. But I would still prefer, VW tried to fix this, instead of waiting for some bodies conclusion on, whether they should have sold me the car or not.

So for now, there is nothing but to wait…