Volkswagen Australia is recalling DSG7 (DQ200) gearboxes, this time, it’s the oil that is thought to be the cause of some problems with this gearbox. http://volkswagenaustralia.com.au/internationalrecalls/
I wonder what will VW in Europe, or at least Denmark do. My car is soon to reach 60.000 km service mark. Will they change oil as precaution or just leave it as is?
Some more news from China, about DSG7 (DQ200) gearboxes. VW in China is issuing recall on imported cars as well. That is, VW cars with DSG7, not manufactured in China. Which was the fundamental excuse for Volkswagen’s claim for not recognising the same problem in the rest of the world. Even thou symptoms and problems are 100% identical to those in China. Volkswagen, so far, is still refusing to acknowledge existence of the problem in Europe and elsewhere.
With this latest recall, one could conclude following;
Across Europe and world as well, VW is claiming that only Chinese manufactured gearboxes are defective and therefore, no other markets are affected by this problem with their DSG7 (DQ200) gearboxes. But this new recall, that is actually recalling imported cars (non-Chinese manufactured) with DSG7. Which throws out of the window VW theories/reasons for defective gearboxes. On all continents there are customers with DSG7 gearboxes, with same problems. Only difference there is, how Volkswagen is “forced” to react. Everything else about this problem is actually identical.
Read the original article :: http://english.cri.cn/6826/2013/07/04/2702s773954.htm
Was sent this few days ago. It’s a document that dwells a bit more into problems of VAG 7-speed DSG gearbox. In a bit more detail, than I was able to do and found before.
DSG DQ200 0AM – Problems and thoughts
There is one interesting thing here, that I was not aware of before, and it is the knowledge of the problem. According to this document, VAG/VW knew about the problem, at the time I bought the car. They did not acknowledge this, when I was ordering my car. I asked them specifically about any problems with this gearbox, and they told me in a way, that it is “the best they made”.
While I am waiting for the verdict of my complaint to danish authority for car complaints, I have discovered an article from Teknikens Värld (Swedish car mag). This article is rising an important point in the defective DSG7 gearboxes from VW.
Some taxi companies in Sweden, have been advised, by VW, not to buy models with DSG7 gearboxes. As they are not suitable for this behaviour, again, according to VW. As the gearbox and its clutches wear prematurely because of the high frequency of starts and stops. Which basically in my opinion means, that VW is selling cars where they are well aware that combination, engine and gearbox is not optimal. More precisely, in one specific case, VW is claiming that Passat EcoFuel DSG7 is not suitable for taxi behaviour. And VW is proposing their VW Touran with DSG7 as a better option for taxies.
But then, I own a Touran DSG7, that they are claiming is better then Passat, but as you can read here, I have plenty of problems with the gearbox or overall combination, TDI engine with DSG7 gearbox. So much for their expert opinion!
In my search for a solution, and research of the problem with my car, I came across lot of different car models (VW, SEAT, Škoda) with same problems. And one thing that is notable for me is, that very few Polo’s have this problem. All larger/heavier models, and more powerful engines have problems with this specific transmission (DQ200 – DSG7 with dry clutches). So I am tempted to conclude, that this gearbox seems to be too weak for anything that has more than 90 bhp (break horsepower). If it’s gearbox itself, or the clutches/flywheels that are problems, I am not sure. But one thing is, that they keep on selling a combination, that will cause problems for a buyer.
Last time, my car was serviced for DSG7 problems, was in August 2012, where VW refuse to do anything to the car, as they deemed it as working. Now, 5-6 months later, previous symptoms with gearbox/transmission are coming back again. I have lost all confidence in VW that they are willing to fix this.
Anyway, read the original article in Swedish here: http://www.teknikensvarld.se/2013/02/08/37996/volkswagens-dsg-skador-drabbar-alla/
As agreed last time I spoke to the Service Partner, where they are looking to find a reference car to compare it to mine. No news yet and they are not going to do anything before they can find this reference car.
While we are waiting, I have finally decided to file a complaint to Danish officials. So we will see what comes out of this.
I wanted to comment on few things regarding Volkswagen’s conclusion on my problems with DSG7 gearbox.
After replacing a DSG7 gearbox, flywheel, dual clutches (twice), mechatronic (reset twice and replacement once) the car/gearbox is still making grinding noise and shuddering/juddering and having uneven acceleration on periodical basis.
They (VW) concluded that this is “Serial Production Standard”.
Well in my mind, this means that the car is behaving within normal parameters of operation they are expecting to see. Which in turn means, they can acknowledge my complaints, but they are not going to do anything about it, as they mean I should live with it.
There are few things, in their conclusion, I don’t agree with;
When they replaced flywheel, noise and shaking disappeared. But, it came back again after some time, so this makes me think replacing flywheel is not the permanent solution. But it might have solved it temporarily. So, to claim that this is standard noise, is just rubbish and trying to avoid real cause of the problem. I might conclude following if I am to believe their conclusion.
I can live with the noise, but I just want to be assured that this is not premature ware, as I am suspecting it to be. And reports/letters from VW officials in China, Russia, Malaysia and USA are not assuring me in this. They are extending warranty on all DSG7 gearboxes to 10 years or 150-160.000 km. Reasoning being, “no permanent fix for the problem exist”, so to assure owners in the product they are extending warranty. Guess what, if it’s the same gearbox and same problems worldwide, why keep it isolated only to few countries, when this gearbox is sold worldwide? Economical reasons, probably.
All this amounts to not being happy with the way car is behaving and I am expecting it to behave.
When I went to dealership where I bought and serviced the car to trade it in for another car. Same make and model, only younger (in hope that this one is not going to behave like the first one). I was given an estimate of losing 35-40% of cars value. Car, at that point was, 17 months old, and had 42.000 km on the clock, in mint condition. My car is a TDI (1.6) Highline model with DSG7 with all kind of extras for at least €15.000. And yet, I am losing 35-40% of its value. Why?
Dealership have in their used-cars department a Comfort and Trendline models, same age, with manual transmission and about 15.000 km less on the clock then mine, and they are selling them for more than what they estimated my car value is. I understand they need to earn some money on the resale of the car, but 35% is a bit too much of the value loss, especially if Volkswagen AG is saying there is nothing wrong with the car.
For comparation take a look at this…
Alone the difference in DSG7 vs. manual should give at least 45.000 DKK more in value for my car, not even taking into account that the car has;
After waiting for more than 7 business days, and no contact by them, I decided to call them.
So I call them, and they are waiting for a “reference” car. Which means, a car that has same specs and similar mileage as mine. This, I was told a year ago as well. Their plan is, find this reference car and check if it is making the same noise and behaviour as mine does. If it does, they will see what they can do. If it does not, then I have no merit in my complaints. That’s what they are planing and saying.
I told them about this reference car, that I was promised last year, and was “never found”. What would make it any different this time? They assured me that they are good in finding stuff like this. Well, I guess we will see. A bit less than a month left on my warranty.
All this, to me, sounds like dragging feet, until my warranty expires. I hope I am wrong, but they haven’t heard last from me just yet.
At the same time I informed them about my research from here, they claim that they never heard about China, Russia, USA extending warranties and complaints on other models with DSG7 gearbox around the world. So I sent them links to the documents. If in China more than 1 million DSG7 units are sold and they all got extended warranty, hard to believe there were no internal memos sent throughout VW concern. But I guess 1 million (probably) faulty units are not cause for concern in VW.
Did a search on “TPI2026097”, which is an internal technical note (for lack of original term) to see what shows up, and found the article on a RTL Belgium (original article link).
Here is the article in its translated form, from French to English. Continue reading
Just used Google, Translate to read the description of the problem in Russian DSG7 owner complaint. Read more about it on DSG7.com (translated to english)
For documentation purposes, I am copying the description page from Russian complaint site, where they managed to get their claims acknowleded.
Volkswagen DSG-7 DQ200 0AM – collective claims
Friends! Daily work on the problem box DSG – ours and our partners (public officials and lawyers), and your support – have brought the first positive results. July 24th we received a letter from the representatives of JSC “Volkswagen Group Rus” as follows: (1) a guarantee of the diagnosis and repair free of charge at the box DSG-7 DQ200 0AM be extended to 5 years or 150 thousand km run, (2) it applies to all group brands (VW, Skoda, Seat), except for Audi. Scan the letter here . Present is a formal letter to the dealer if it is “not in the subject.” This is not kulants is the official warranty extension! Many thanks to all who supported us morally and financially. We also take out thanks to the concern “Volkswagen” for the thorough and detailed response. Unfortunately, however, our colleagues at Audi cars under the program were not included, although these expensive cars set the same gearbox DSG-7, with the same problems.
DSG-7 – the seven-speed robotized gearbox with double clutch DQ200 0AM, installed in the production of Volkswagen Group Rus .Over the lifetime of the box in the series (a / m 2008-11 onwards), its users faced with many faults .
Description of the main problems DSG -7 shown in official report on the repair and maintenance of a / m group Volkswagen (called TPI ) number 2026097:
vibration / shudder during acceleration by 2 transfer ;
jerks / vibration during acceleration by 2 transfer for about 1-2 seconds (for example, when passing obstacles or renewal dispersal between 5 and 10 km / h);
vibrations, jerks / shudder when switching from 1st to 2nd gear at low speed (not a single push);
jerk / shudder when starting at the back of the transmission .It is valid for all the a / m all model years and explains design feature – namely, “sags friction multi-disc clutch” . TPI recommends replacing the clutch (for a / m Volkswagen, Skoda, etc. by unknown). There are also a number of other typical faults:
In slow motion, up to about 30 km / h, from the front of the car are heard knocks (vibration noise) – when driving on a strip of the Congress (“washboard”), on a cobblestone street or other public road bumps. Twitch when starting off, when the engine stalls several consumers. (TPI № 2023351)
The display instrument panel blinks transmission. Jerking the car. Box does not switch to the next gear. (TPI № 2024664)
Refusal automatic transmission. Inability to establish communication with the automatic transmission control unit tester. In the event log of some control units reported a communication error with the automatic gearbox control unit. (TPI № 2023768)
When repairing a transmission (replacing the unit Mechatronik, noise, etc.) found on the chip plugs switching solenoids. (TPI № 2026829)There have also fault block “mechatronics”: a total failure, and the occasional break clutch while driving. This is a serious malfunction, which in some cases have led to situations where miraculously managed to avoid accidents.It is possible that cases of this kind, but it led to failure at this point is still unknown.
In fact, users and / m with DSG-7 were unwitting participants in the global testing of the new box. Thus, when buying a / m on possible malfunctions of the box to consumers was provided. As a result, some of the owners and / m production Volkswagen have 2-3 replacement parts alone transmission with mileage is 30-50 thousand km., and the problems begin to show with three thousand miles.
Unfortunately, in Russia , Volkswagen closes direct calls users of its products to authorized dealers . Instead of specific answers to questions about the essence of troubleshooting methods and timing of their removal, the Group makes the following responses: “Our company appreciates your car of choice” … “. On your question of …, we asked for comments on the Retail Network Ltd. “…”. ” , “You need to contact an authorized dealer, the staff are trained in a specialized training center company” Volkswagen Group Rus “and have the necessary experience and qualifications for service. ”
Some dealers, in turn, do not recognize the problems DSG box and do not remove them within the official reports on repair and maintenance and / m Volkswagen Group . There are many cases where the dealer explained above faults: the feature of the unit DSG; its adaptability; overheating in city mode at traffic lights, failure of the machine created by users. In this case, information about the nature of the problem reports of dealers is not given , is proposed to fill the form recommended by DSG problems . Often dealers claim state the absence of errors, computer readable, and offer to come to them for repair only when the machine is no longer ride .
The authors of this website offer those who have encountered problems DSG -7, tackle them together . Compiled claim , which can be signed online, and the signature will be legally correct. After collecting sufficient signatures complaint will be forwarded to Volgswagen Group Rus . forum of this site is intended to record all cases of failure , discuss problems and solutions. To the site will be brought to the attention of concern Volkswagen, other manufacturers and / m, specialized media and lawyers.
Russian VW DSG7 owners also have prolonged warranty …
