Tag: flaw

VW Denmark is not budging in DSG7 problems

  • Posted on
  • Blog

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%.

Evidence against theory of “Serial Production Standard” …

  • Posted on
  • Blog

Last time I spoke to my VW Service Partner and VW Importer for Denmark, they wanted to find a reference car to see if this car has the same noise, and if it behaves the same way as mine does. I guess they are hoping to prove to me, that this car/model is supposed to do this. As they keep on telling me, that this is normal behavior for this make and model. And they need exact car as mine, to use it as reference point. I tried to argue and reason with them, in regard, that I could find evidence of others having same problems, on different makes and models. But it felt to deaf ears.

Here I will try to prove that this has nothing to do with the car/model or make but that it has to do with DSG7 design, which is most probably, flawed by design. And this is not going to be that hard, as this is easy to prove by simple search on the internet. So their reasoning, is, this is “serial production standard”. I wrote about this in my last post, here.

If this is Serial Production Standard for my car;

  • why is this happening to other models and makes;
  • why this did not happened from the start;
  • when they replaced the flywheel on my car, problem disappeared for about 18.000 km and then it came back, why.

No answers to these questions.

Let’s have a look on what models I have been able to find same complaints from their owners.

  • AUDI
    • A1 (1)
  • SKODA
    • Fabia (1) (2)
  • SEAT
    • Ibiza (1)
  • VW
    • Touran (1)
    • Scirocco (1)
    • Golf (1) (2) (3) (4)
    • Jetta (1)

This makes it easy for me to logically conclude that my car/model is not alone in this so-called, “Serial Production Standard”, and trying to prove it by finding a reference car that has the same configuration as mine is not going to prove anything. This is again, most probably an attempt to extend their time in which they have to figure out what to do, or how to reply to my inquiries, and waste mine.

Thread (in Danish) about problems with DSG7, on one of the big names in online used cars websites of cars in Denmark  Link: http://www.bilbasen.dk/forum/generelt/erfaring-med-automatikdsg/23512

On a Danish website, for owners of all Volkswagen AG (VAG) cars, are gathered and discuss all aspects of their cars, there is a poll about problems in general with DSG (6 and 7), and result is showing it clearly. Poll and discussion: http://www.vagcars.dk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=73&t=60305

Results as of writing this are, 110 people answered the poll, 68 (62%) did not have problems and 38% did have problems. Out of these there are 21 with DSG7 gearboxes. Of those, 10 (48%) had problems, while 11 (52%) did not have problems. I know, this poll is not scientific in any way, but that’s what it shows.