2021 Tiguan R line transmission delay

[Mustafa]

Hello everyone.
2 weeks ago I purchased 2021 Tiguan r line from a vw dealer. I could not have a chance to do the test drive. It was arrived in Australia/Melbourne and I went there to pick up the car. Based on my previous experiences with vw cars and having 2018 passat 2018 r line convinced me to buy Tiguan R line with peace of mind.
The story started in the same day with the car. I love everything about this car but I have this issue and it kills me.
When I drive this car (up to D4) I hear clunking sort of noise. I hear that noise first when I accelerate the car and then lift off my foot from the gas pedal. If I put the gear in reverse, the noise gets louder. I booked the dealer that I purchased this car from. They have checked the car. And the result they told me that is ''WE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING NOT NORMAL. WITH THAT PARTICULAR VW MODEL THAT IS NORMAL".

Can you imagine how frustrating it is to hear that?
So is there any 2021 Tiguan R line owners here to help or having the same/similar problem?
Your help highly appreciated guys.
Thanks in advance.

[lolcats]

I don’t think I get it as bad as you, but I get a noticeable thunk sound on 2nd to 3rd shift before the gearbox/clutches warm up. Does it go away after a while or always there? The Haldex also makes a bit of clatter.

I don’t have experience with any other Haldex and DSG combos so just assumed what I’m hearing is “normal”, but maybe not…


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[Mustafa]

I don’t think I get it as bad as you, but I get a noticeable thunk sound on 2nd to 3rd shift before the gearbox/clutches warm up. Does it go away after a while or always there? The Haldex also makes a bit of clatter.

I don’t have experience with any other Haldex and DSG combos so just assumed what I’m hearing is “normal”, but maybe not…


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First of all thanks for your help.
I have 2018 vw passat r line. I can understand what you mean. I hear the similar things with the passat and can notice it. However, this is believe me not normal.
Because passat has 206 hp and it is like a beast, I do not have any hesitation to put the gear in sport mode and drive a bit aggressive and get that feeling.
Unlike passat, with 2021 Tiguan R line I am scared to drive aggressive, thinking might something can happen.

I was told about this issue at the dealer that because everything controlled with computer in this car, between you accelerate and stop accelerating the computer of the car tries to get the command and do whatever is needed. However, there is a delay to register by the computer of the car clearly. So that makes like you are driving sort of old manual car that you hear gear clunk and you feel the hit of a running car.
You do not hear that noise if you constantly increase your speed.
Unfortunately, it does not go away. It is always there. You hear the noise and feel the delay/gap more when you put it in reverse. It is exactly an old manual car you put in reverse, it closes the gap and starts pulling the car.
I also realised that the fuel consumption is also worse. 11.5/100km it was supposed to be 8.5. Like I said I am scared to drive aggressive so I do not use turbo much. Time to time if I need to change like or get ahead of the other at lights but not always. I do the same thing with passat but I did not notice that much of a fuel consumption.

[lsmi4126]

My 2018 162 Rline is pretty 'clattery' too between first and reverse and when I ease off the throttle. There's the occasional gear change thump, especially when super cold (in Sydney terms) and driving up a hill. Has done it since I got it (not new but with 40k on the clock) but hasn't changed.

[iDiesel]

2018 162 R-Line here too
Manually changing gears in the first 5mins of driving, the shifts have a very small clunk. Fine if left in D or S
Also, a little clunky when shifting between D and R - if still slightly rolling when I do it
I’ve assumed it’s “normal” for DSG

[Mustafa]

I don’t think I get it as bad as you, but I get a noticeable thunk sound on 2nd to 3rd shift before the gearbox/clutches warm up. Does it go away after a while or always there? The Haldex also makes a bit of clatter.

I don’t have experience with any other Haldex and DSG combos so just assumed what I’m hearing is “normal”, but maybe not…


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I have driven Tiguan rline 2020 too. It has that sort of noise but does not bother plus you do not feel much.
However, with mine there is a kind of gap. If you accelerate and lift off your foot and put your foot back to the gas pedal, it feels like you are being hit behind.
Unfortunately, it does not go away after a while.

[Mustafa]

I have got 2018 passat and got it second hand. It is a beast. It is such a nice feeling to drive that car. I hoped the Tiguan was the same but unfortunately not. I hear the noise in between when I accelerate and stop accelerating in D1 to D4 but not after D4.

Thanks for your reply and help.
Have nice rides

[cameleon72]

Hi
Mate don't try be maniplulted here or by VW , some ppl are so blind in love with they loving Tiguan .Some ppl just don't want to accept that this Tiguan 4moton version has factory clunking rubbish bug even is VW made by latest DSG tech . After 15 years of DSG, Clunking is worst than Golf V first DSG transition made by VAG . Don't talking about smoothness of shifting ,but clunking what you exactly described in every day , going back forward parking is clunking embracing ! . which you experience in every day city drive. I would never experience on any previous DSG car.
As you notice as pervious Owner of VW Car ( even used older Passat ,4 motion and DQ500? 7speed ) IS totally different car to drive and fill . With no this rubbish clunking find on Tiguan mk2 .
No one can convince you something to be normal and ''VW Characteristic'' , if not fill right than is not right ! and this problem should notice any one who ever have owned previously an DSG VAG car !
That what you notice is just not normal ,especially for new model car in this price range high mid range class !

Hope just finally some group of affected unhappy Tiguan Buyers will be formed here locally and sue VW for selling such defect clunking drive train as new cars to Buyers .

Just don't give up Mustafa .IF you fill this clunking is not acceptable for your new car received , fight for your rights!

Offcourse there is problem similar as yours on many Tiguan sold , not just here locally but is world wide problem , In Europe is obvious more, as Buyers there are more open to investigate ,discus and more technical knowladge and open to share problems without involving passion for favourite brand they like .
Use some German and Russian forums using Google translate and you will find 1000.... Similar Tiguan clunking DSG story's all coping same problems with clunking as you noticing now. Not just Tiguan are affected. but also Skoda Kodiaq , Qamiq ,some Seat ,Audi ... which sharing same DSG Drive train platform .

[Mustafa]

Hi
Mate don't try be maniplulted here or by VW , some ppl are so blind in love with they loving Tiguan .Some ppl just don't want to accept that this Tiguan 4moton version has factory clunking rubbish bug even is VW made by latest DSG tech . After 15 years of DSG, Clunking is worst than Golf V first DSG transition made by VAG . Don't talking about smoothness of shifting ,but clunking what you exactly described in every day , going back forward parking is clunking embracing ! . which you experience in every day city drive. I would never experience on any previous DSG car.
As you notice as pervious Owner of VW Car ( even used older Passat ,4 motion and DQ500? 7speed ) IS totally different car to drive and fill . With no this rubbish clunking find on Tiguan mk2 .
No one can convince you something to be normal and ''VW Characteristic'' , if not fill right than is not right ! and this problem should notice any one who ever have owned previously an DSG VAG car !
That what you notice is just not normal ,especially for new model car in this price range high mid range class !

Hope just finally some group of affected unhappy Tiguan Buyers will be formed here locally and sue VW for selling such defect clunking drive train as new cars to Buyers .

Just don't give up Mustafa .IF you fill this clunking is not acceptable for your new car received , fight for your rights!

Offcourse there is problem similar as yours on many Tiguan sold , not just here locally but is world wide problem , In Europe is obvious more, as Buyers there are more open to investigate ,discus and more technical knowladge and open to share problems without involving passion for favourite brand they like .
Use some German and Russian forums using Google translate and you will find 1000.... Similar Tiguan clunking DSG story's all coping same problems with clunking as you noticing now. Not just Tiguan are affected. but also Skoda Kodiaq , Qamiq ,some Seat ,Audi ... which sharing same DSG Drive train platform .

Thank you cameleon72.
I really appreciate your reply.
I guess it is kind of takata airbag story. It was found out faulty then recalled.
Check out this article
Supreme Court dismisses class action against Volkswagen over Takata airbags | CarAdvice

Do you know any German or Russian forums so I can have a look like you advised.
Thanks

[lolcats]

Interesting, yeah it is pretty noisey and does sound cheap / broken for what I expect from a vehicle at this price point. Heck even at half the price I’d still expect it to be much more refined than this.

I’ll have to raise it with my dealer as the clunking and clattering on downshifting is super noticeable especially when approaching a stop. So much so it sounds like something just isn’t right with the car.


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[iDiesel]

I hear the noise in between when I accelerate and stop accelerating in D1 to D4 but not after D4

That doesn’t sound normal
shouldn't be like that

[Timmy35851]

Just to add to this, I have recently been through a bit of a saga with VW and my DSG.

I purchase vehicle second hand (2019) with 15,000km's on it. Occasionally I noticed the car 'bunny hopping' when taking off on a slight incline (my driveway) without any throttle input but thought this was normal. Changes from 1st to 2nd were also a bit slow. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but oh how I wish I had done something about it.

Fast forward 6 months, I get the car tuned (ECU & TCU) which made the bunny hopping significantly worse.
Reverted the car back to stock and took to 1 dealer (absolutely useless) saying that because there were no fault codes showing there was nothing they could do.
Took to another dealer which were very helpful. Had the mechatronics replaced after a long wait, but this didn't fix my symptoms at all.
VW Australia investigated logs further (another long wait), they found that car had been tuned and said no further coverage. They advised that K1 clutch packs had been overheated at some stage.

There is no way that the tunes would create more torque than these gearboxes are designed to handle, and it was obviously faulty from factory. I think all of the issues described above are only going to become more apparent as these cars get older.

I have bitten the bullet and am getting my tuning shop to replace the clutch packs at ~$3K cost to me (parts are $1,500 from VW).

I guess I am lucky that VW replaced the mechatronics and that I know that isn't causing my issues.

Over the past month or so I have noticed the symptoms getting worse, especially at low speed in second gear.

Just thought I would post as I couldn't find indication of repair costs anywhere for clutch packs. I know Mechatronics replacement is significantly higher (~$4-5k).

I could have replaced with a low k second hand gearbox but may end up in the same position in the future.

Here's hoping the clutch replacement works....

[iDiesel]

Interesting…I have always thought the very slight bunny hopping is normal for DSG.
exactly like you said, slight incline, no revs, just ease off the brake…

[driver32]

I have the same issue. 2017 Tiguan 162TSI. Purchased brand new.
Gears 1 to 2/3 are rough and there is always a clunking noise. It is more noticeable when car is cold or first 10 minutes to 20 minutes of driving. Especially in slow-stop traffic. Same thing in reverse. Sometimes I hear a shudder sound as well when gears are dropping from 5/6/7 to 1. Another thing which is strange is a skip, it is around 12km/h to 14km/h range the car skips and there is a slight judder. This always happens and is very strange.
VW checked the car and told me the same thing of course!
It is getting worse and worse as the car is getting older. Funny thing is I went to a VW track day once and all the Tiguan's had the same noises. I think it may be limited to this model?
I am hearing transmission issues and other issues coming out more and more which is expected as I believe this model was released in 2016 here so we are at the 5 year mark.
Disappointing for a $50k/$60k car. Now I am thinking of all the stories you hear about these DSG/DCTs!
I had other issues with the alternator, sunroof, windscreen drainage, creaking etc but that's another story.

[Mustafa]

Interesting, yeah it is pretty noisey and does sound cheap / broken for what I expect from a vehicle at this price point. Heck even at half the price I’d still expect it to be much more refined than this.

I’ll have to raise it with my dealer as the clunking and clattering on downshifting is super noticeable especially when approaching a stop. So much so it sounds like something just isn’t right with the car.


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I think we all raise this issue so they will have to get that it is faulty and that does not meet the customer's expectation. We pay a bag of money and in return we get a bay of sh....