Finally got bitten by the notorious DSG

[turbojetta83]

I thought I'd post an update.

It's been 4 weeks now, without my car - which is still at the dealership. The mechatronics unit was replaced however this did not solve the problem - a full gearbox change is now being undertaken.

To say the least, my frustration is mounting.

[Wolfsburger]

Sorry to hijack this thread again guys but it’s something you Tig owners might need to keep in mind considering they run a version of the DQ500 or even the same, however this DQ500 in the RS3 felt and sounded vastly different, no mechanical clunks and gear changes that were on point.

My RS3 has just gone in for an interim service, something I do with all of my cars every 7500klms. Although the RS3 wasn’t due, I got it done for peace of mind. Anyone who has followed my comments on the DQ500 in my Tig will know I went through two gearboxes (leaking bevel box) and both replaced under warranty.

I can report that I’ve now had THREE gearbox failures. All three were during unmodded phases and the RS3 I just purchased with 15k on the clock has a leak at the bevel box. It has never been modded (checked with both Audi with its VIN and OBD-11 and the two most well known ECU upgrade companies) and both reported definitely no bolt on footprints and zero ECU footprints, as did Audi.

That’s three failures, either I am the most unlucky person in the world to ever own a DQ500 or there are serious issues with the gearbox. Fortunately my car still has a years worth of warranty but for you guys owning Tigs with DQ500 trannys I suggest you get it checked out by a third party VW approved mechanic. The reason I suggest this is because VW initially told me there was no issue with the box and it was normal, once I showed them the report from my VW approved mechanic they changed their tune and said yes there is a problem and replaced the gearbox.

I will add that the DQ500 in my RS3 made zero noises unlike my Tig gearbox did, it was quiet as a mouse and changed gears like a demon. I had absolutely no idea there was any issue at all with the gearbox both mechanically or through the clunky downshift sounds I’d previously heard.

Just a heads up guys, I’d hate to see a car out of warranty get stung with a replacement at full charge. Get it checked out for peace of mind. My cars going in next week. Best of luck.

[franjae]

Sorry to hijack this thread again guys but it’s something you Tig owners might need to keep in mind considering they run a version of the DQ500 or even the same, however this DQ500 in the RS3 felt and sounded vastly different, no mechanical clunks and gear changes that were on point.

My RS3 has just gone in for an interim service, something I do with all of my cars every 7500klms. Although the RS3 wasn’t due, I got it done for peace of mind. Anyone who has followed my comments on the DQ500 in my Tig will know I went through two gearboxes (leaking bevel box) and both replaced under warranty.

I can report that I’ve now had THREE gearbox failures. All three were during unmodded phases and the RS3 I just purchased with 15k on the clock has a leak at the bevel box. It has never been modded (checked with both Audi with its VIN and OBD-11 and the two most well known ECU upgrade companies) and both reported definitely no bolt on footprints and zero ECU footprints, as did Audi.

That’s three failures, either I am the most unlucky person in the world to ever own a DQ500 or there are serious issues with the gearbox. Fortunately my car still has a years worth of warranty but for you guys owning Tigs with DQ500 trannys I suggest you get it checked out by a third party VW approved mechanic. The reason I suggest this is because VW initially told me there was no issue with the box and it was normal, once I showed them the report from my VW approved mechanic they changed their tune and said yes there is a problem and replaced the gearbox.

I will add that the DQ500 in my RS3 made zero noises unlike my Tig gearbox did, it was quiet as a mouse and changed gears like a demon. I had absolutely no idea there was any issue at all with the gearbox both mechanically or through the clunky downshift sounds I’d previously heard.

Just a heads up guys, I’d hate to see a car out of warranty get stung with a replacement at full charge. Get it checked out for peace of mind. My cars going in next week. Best of luck.

When you refer to gearbox, you mean the bevel box? So you’re had three replaced.

I’m still investigating the vibration issue in the drivetrain of my Tig. Yesterday they found a leaking bevel box, I think the rear one? Hopefully this is the cause of that vibration. Took another 162 out for a drive, nothing, no vibration, and neither did the 132. The 132 drove just as nice..... :-0

[turbojetta83]

Another update

So I finally got my Tiguan back after 7 weeks. Complete gearbox change. All seems to be okay, but I'm sure I can hear this new gearbox shifting. It's smooth and behaving like I'm used to DSG gearboxes behaving, but I'm convinced this one is more audible when doing so.

Anyway, I'll monitor and see how it goes. It's nice to have my Tiguan back.

[REXman]

Sorry to hijack this thread again guys but it’s something you Tig owners might need to keep in mind considering they run a version of the DQ500 or even the same, however this DQ500 in the RS3 felt and sounded vastly different, no mechanical clunks and gear changes that were on point.

My RS3 has just gone in for an interim service, something I do with all of my cars every 7500klms. Although the RS3 wasn’t due, I got it done for peace of mind. Anyone who has followed my comments on the DQ500 in my Tig will know I went through two gearboxes (leaking bevel box) and both replaced under warranty.

I can report that I’ve now had THREE gearbox failures. All three were during unmodded phases and the RS3 I just purchased with 15k on the clock has a leak at the bevel box. It has never been modded (checked with both Audi with its VIN and OBD-11 and the two most well known ECU upgrade companies) and both reported definitely no bolt on footprints and zero ECU footprints, as did Audi.

That’s three failures, either I am the most unlucky person in the world to ever own a DQ500 or there are serious issues with the gearbox. Fortunately my car still has a years worth of warranty but for you guys owning Tigs with DQ500 trannys I suggest you get it checked out by a third party VW approved mechanic. The reason I suggest this is because VW initially told me there was no issue with the box and it was normal, once I showed them the report from my VW approved mechanic they changed their tune and said yes there is a problem and replaced the gearbox.

I will add that the DQ500 in my RS3 made zero noises unlike my Tig gearbox did, it was quiet as a mouse and changed gears like a demon. I had absolutely no idea there was any issue at all with the gearbox both mechanically or through the clunky downshift sounds I’d previously heard.

Just a heads up guys, I’d hate to see a car out of warranty get stung with a replacement at full charge. Get it checked out for peace of mind. My cars going in next week. Best of luck.

You are not unlucky. We all are. As I have mentioned before in an earlier post, we had the Polo (x1), Golf R (x1) and Tiguan (replaced twice!!). All brand new cars. All needed changing. The Tiguan I bought after the golf and did so with some confidence given it was supposedly tough DQ500. It got changed twice. To be fair though my current one is lovely and the Golf R I sold to my sister and both are now driving we’ll touch wood. Smooth and quiet.

What a **** around though to get to that point.


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[Wolfsburger]

You are not unlucky. We all are. As I have mentioned before in an earlier post, we had the Polo (x1), Golf R (x1) and Tiguan (replaced twice!!). All brand new cars. All needed changing. The Tiguan I bought after the golf and did so with some confidence given it was supposedly tough DQ500. It got changed twice. To be fair though my current one is lovely and the Golf R I sold to my sister and both are now driving we’ll touch wood. Smooth and quiet.

What a **** around though to get to that point.


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I could be lucky and find it’s only a seal, won’t know until Audi techs look at the car. Driving it, you wouldn’t know, and the leak is small. See how it pans out. Glad I waited until a full service and inspection of the underside of the car before I got a tune.

[Wolfsburger]

When you refer to gearbox, you mean the bevel box? So you’re had three replaced.

I’m still investigating the vibration issue in the drivetrain of my Tig. Yesterday they found a leaking bevel box, I think the rear one? Hopefully this is the cause of that vibration. Took another 162 out for a drive, nothing, no vibration, and neither did the 132. The 132 drove just as nice..... :-0

Yes, bevel box leak. Which can either mean the tranny is stuffed or a seal issue. I’ve had TWO complete DSG gearbox replacements in my Tig which I no longer own. The first was detected at just over 1000klms and I had to wait 4 weeks for a new gearbox, the second was replaced at 8000klms and again had to wait for a new box. My new car, which has a DQ500 as well (RS3) has a leak at the bevel box, until Audi techs look at the car in a few weeks I won’t know if it’s a seal or another gearbox replacement. The car has 16k on the clock, is unmodified and has had two services done by Audi. (Interim at 7.5k and scheduled 15k). After I purchased it I sent it straight to my VW Audi service and Euro specialist and gave it a full birthday, that’s when the bevel box leak was detected. They serviced it and wrote a report and because it’s a warranty claim it’s now booked in with Audi.

[Sydneykid]

In my family we are on DSG equipped VW #6;
MK6 Golf GTi
MK7 Golf 118 Comfortline (twincharger)
MK7.5 Golf 110 Highline
Mk7 Golf Gti
Mk5 Polo Gti (1.8 )
MK7.5 Golf R

Only one of them, the Polo Gti, has had a gearbox issue which required replacing the even gears mechatronic unit. All of the others have performed faultlessly with only regular servicing at the local VW dealer.

Tip, when the even gears mechatronic unit failed it still shifted 1/3/5/7 OK, but the engine went into limp home mode (super rich, low rpm limit, jumpy throttle etc). Rather inconvenient in peak hour traffic. I turned off the ignition, removed the key and then replaced it and restarted, this reset the limp home mode and it drove quite well the rest of the way to work and home again that afternoon, still just using 1/3/5/7. I dropped it off at the dealer the next morning, they told me if they had had a mechatronic unit in stock I could have waited while they fixed it as it's an external, bolt on parts swap.

Overall very little in the way of DSG issues and FWIW none of them has had a single other mechanical issue.


Cheers
Gary

[Sydneykid]

It is nice to see some positive stories but 1 from 6 is still a higher problem rate than most would expect or be happy with. I think I could buy 6 landcruisers or even 6 grand cherokees and expect to not have a single gearbox issue.

I posted on the turbo thread when it probably should have been here, but I am considering buying a Tig and modding it while in warranty and these posts certainly have got me nervous about VW's response. Most posts suggest they do eventually fix issues if pressed but they don't exactly seem to be bending over backwards to admit there are known problems or to take ownership like Toyota, Subaru and even Jeep have done in the past with my cars. I have had warranty engine work (valve train) performed by Subaru without them even losing a step when they learned about the turbo kit and flex fuel tunes on the car.

You must have been very lucky with your Jeep/s, one of our drivers tows his race car with his Jeeps and they are always being worked on for some reason or another. Trim loose rattling or falling of, bluetooth not working, noisy drive train requiring diff replacement, twice. Excessive tyre wear due to moving wheel alignment (I ended up fixing it with some aftermarket alignment parts) and the auto gearbox in his last 2 have been horrid when towing, hunts up and down between gears incessantly, been replaced once under warranty. Their terrible reputation is why Jeep has gone to 5 year warranty, to try and improve their quality image.

In the VW's one only issue of any kind in 10+ years, travelling many than 600,000 kilometres with 6 cars is not something I consider to be remotely an issue. And 3 of them have been driven hard, with 2 having seen track time.


Cheers
Gary

[REXman]

Finally got bitten by the notorious DSG

So wolfsburger 3/3 gearbox issues.
Me 3/3 gearbox issues.
sydneykid with the plethora of VWs, 1/6.

7/12. Not the best.


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[Hole46]

So wolfsburger 3/3 gearbox issues.
Me 3/3 gearbox issues.
sydneykid with the plethora of VWs, 1/6.

7/12. Not the best.


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How about the rest of us with no gearbox issues?


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[REXman]

Finally got bitten by the notorious DSG

How about the rest of us with no gearbox issues?


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7/13?

Actually my Tiguan has 2 done so 8/13

You’re never going to get definitive stats from a forum thread, the manufacturer, or anywhere really. But it is definitely an undeniable concern when I have had 3 VWs with 4 DSG replacements, and another member has had 3 DQ500 failures from 3. I have spoken to my best mans sister who also got a lemon. Where my wife for example has bought 2 Mazda’s brand new (MPS3) and a CX9 and has had zero issues.
I can’t speak for anyone else but all three VW vehicles I bought were brand new. Kind of disappointing. Only reason mine got resolved is because I stayed on it like a hawk, most of the time VW saying to me there was no issue. I was also lucky in that I found a quality service center who knew what they were doing. There’s a few other members who haven’t been so lucky.

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[DeanCoin]

Unfortunately, I am in the same boat. Does anyone have any experienced independent specialist that can assist with this issue in Melbourne? As I’ve noticed most of you are either in QLD or NSW. Thanks in advance.

[DeanCoin]

Unfortunately, I am in the same boat. Does anyone have any experienced independent specialist that can assist with this issue in Melbourne? As I’ve noticed most of you are either in QLD or NSW. Thanks in advance.

Can anyone recommend an independent specialist in Melbourne?