DSG tried to kill me...

[mtj007]

Was coming up to a roundabout in Sport mode (as I often do to avoid the lag when it doesn't want to downshift), it did its usual downshift/revmatch and then when I went to accelerate (moderate prod of the accelerator, didn't floor it, so it definitely wasn't a case of tricking it) out of the roundabout - nothing - it just revved like it was in neutral and the car kept slowing down, the MFD showed "S2". Then there was a huge jolt and it took off again. Not fun being a sitting duck in the middle of a roundabout in an 80 zone...

No warning lights (except low washer fluid), no flashing gear display.

I pulled over and restarted the engine. I was near Wangara VW so went there hoping someone might still be around but no luck so I called road side assist. He didn't ask any questions about what happened, just organised for the RAC to come out.

RAC guy arrived, didn't seem to know anything about the DSG. I kept trying to explain it but he kept talking about slushbox related stuff and went looking for the transmission oil dipstick. He drove it 100 metres up the road and came back and said it's driving fine. He said either leave it at the dealer and get someone to come and pick me up or drive it home in manual mode "because it's completely separate and different from having it in Drive" and he gave me a towing slip so if it did it again I could have it towed.

I drove it home in manual mode, got home fine apart from it stuttering coming up to a set of lights.

I'm absolutely furious at the moment. The car is just over 2 months old and has 7300km on it. It's already booked in next week to have the entire back end ripped apart so they can find where water's getting in (it runs down the inside of the rear hatch and comes out of the plastic panels), replacement of the numberplate lights which are full of water, both front power windows have issues (one squeals, the other doesn't always auto up/down), headlight adjustment motors are very loud/make grinding noises, the turbocharger makes an odd noise as it spools up (I've previously owned a Golf GTI and a Golf TDI and it definitely doesn't sound/feel right), it also shudders around 70km/h and has done since the day I picked it up which I'm guessing is wheel balance... then there are the rattles from the back of the car.

My previous 2 VWs both had DSG problems too... My GTI was perfectly behaved 99% of the time, it was just very jerky reversing up hill, once the mechatronics unit was replaced it was perfect. My Golf TDI was a total lemon with regards to the gearbox and VW's attitude was "computer says no", no faults on the computer, nothing they can do.

My 3rd Volkswagen. My 3rd Volkswagen with DSG. My last Volkswagen

Funnily enough on the way home I saw another black Tiguan, it was a diesel and every time it took off from the lights there was a huge cloud of smoke... Definitely something not right with the DPF in that one.

[Drift]

Mines just on 3 months with similar k's to yours. I've experienced the very same thing a couple of times in both sport and drive. I cant always replicate the issue, but it seems to happen when you put your foot down, it's not quite on boost and it's thinking about changing. Regards the odd noise from the turbo, there's a lot of reports about a rattle coming from the waste gate actuator or something along those lines and apparently there's little you can do about it. It's been mentioned in a few threads across several forums.

Have the stealer look at the DSG but I'd expect they'd say nothings wrong.

[mtj007]

Mines just on 3 months with similar k's to yours. I've experienced the very same thing a couple of times in both sport and drive. I cant always replicate the issue, but it seems to happen when you put your foot down, it's not quite on boost and it's thinking about changing. Regards the odd noise from the turbo, there's a lot of reports about a rattle coming from the waste gate actuator or something along those lines and apparently there's little you can do about it. It's been mentioned in a few threads across several forums.

Have the stealer look at the DSG but I'd expect they'd say nothings wrong.

Yeah I'm expecting if nothing shows up on the computer they won't/can't do anything... it is a safety issue though when you've got cars coming towards you and you can't move. Will have to take a tech for a drive and hope it faults. Edit: I think it's different to what you're describing though, coz I've experienced that too but only in Drive, that's why I often put it in Sport, so it's already in a low gear ready to accelerate out the other side. This was quite a long pause with no acceleration, not the normal DSG hesitation where it can't decide which gear it should be in.

If the dealership's solution is to drive it in manual mode I'll be thoroughly unimpressed. If I wanted a manual I would have bought one.

I've seen a lot of posts about the turbo noise particularly in the Golf VI section but when I was at the dealer the other day they seemed unsure so we'll see what they say about that.

To give the dealer credit, the service manager seemed genuinely sorry about the other problems and booked it in for 3 days so they could pull it all apart.

[Mi16 Man]

Stick with VW's....just buy a manual!

[Creniac]

Mi16 Man, I agree, stick with VW for sure but manual is a good choice....... I too had a nasty experience with the DSG in my Jetta (Mechatronics unit). Loved the Jetta but I couldn't risk an out of warranty cost if it did it again so.... along came the manual tiggy!! Love it to bits, best move I ever made.

[tanalasta]

Oh dear... that's concerning. Which dealer did your purchase and service at? I believe there is a 7500km service sticker for new VW Tiguans at some dealers.

My DSG jerks between D1 and D2 but doesn't behave the way you describe. Did you run in the gearbox and engine in the first 1500km?

I'm more worried about your water leas also. Who knows what damage, corrosion, electrical damage that may be causing in the long term?

[Transporter]

Was coming up to a roundabout in Sport mode (as I often do to avoid the lag when it doesn't want to downshift), it did its usual downshift/revmatch and then when I went to accelerate (moderate prod of the accelerator, didn't floor it, so it definitely wasn't a case of tricking it) out of the roundabout - nothing - it just revved like it was in neutral and the car kept slowing down, the MFD showed "S2". Then there was a huge jolt and it took off again. Not fun being a sitting duck in the middle of a roundabout in an 80 zone...

No warning lights (except low washer fluid), no flashing gear display.

I pulled over and restarted the engine. I was near Wangara VW so went there hoping someone might still be around but no luck so I called road side assist. He didn't ask any questions about what happened, just organised for the RAC to come out.

RAC guy arrived, didn't seem to know anything about the DSG. I kept trying to explain it but he kept talking about slushbox related stuff and went looking for the transmission oil dipstick. He drove it 100 metres up the road and came back and said it's driving fine. He said either leave it at the dealer and get someone to come and pick me up or drive it home in manual mode "because it's completely separate and different from having it in Drive" and he gave me a towing slip so if it did it again I could have it towed.

I drove it home in manual mode, got home fine apart from it stuttering coming up to a set of lights.

I'm absolutely furious at the moment. The car is just over 2 months old and has 7300km on it. It's already booked in next week to have the entire back end ripped apart so they can find where water's getting in (it runs down the inside of the rear hatch and comes out of the plastic panels), replacement of the numberplate lights which are full of water, both front power windows have issues (one squeals, the other doesn't always auto up/down), headlight adjustment motors are very loud/make grinding noises, the turbocharger makes an odd noise as it spools up (I've previously owned a Golf GTI and a Golf TDI and it definitely doesn't sound/feel right), it also shudders around 70km/h and has done since the day I picked it up which I'm guessing is wheel balance... then there are the rattles from the back of the car.

My previous 2 VWs both had DSG problems too... My GTI was perfectly behaved 99% of the time, it was just very jerky reversing up hill, once the mechatronics unit was replaced it was perfect. My Golf TDI was a total lemon with regards to the gearbox and VW's attitude was "computer says no", no faults on the computer, nothing they can do.

My 3rd Volkswagen. My 3rd Volkswagen with DSG. My last Volkswagen

Funnily enough on the way home I saw another black Tiguan, it was a diesel and every time it took off from the lights there was a huge cloud of smoke... Definitely something not right with the DPF in that one.

I have a few questions for you;

Is your Tiguan chipped/remapped?
Do you drive with a left foot on brakes?

Could it be that your water leak inside the Tiguan is related to the accident you mentioned in this post? http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...tml#post682466 maybe your crash repairer didn't do a good job? Or wasn't it your Tiguan involved in that accident?

The 9.9L/100km as your Fuelly says, indicate a spirited driving to me. What's your driving style?

BUT regardless, there could still be something wrong with the DSG or engine ECM, especially if you would be driving normally in mixed city/hwy conditions. Because some other Tig owners swear that they get a better economy even with the stage 2 remaps.

As for your note that there could be something wrong with other Tiguans with the DPF (because of the excessive smoke you saw from the exhaust), don’t worry about them, they could be just regenerating when you noticed the smoke.

[Lucky13]

Why buying a car with DSG and Automatic? especially when owned one before
Thats crap, they always give problems.

[moped899]

I've had exactly the same thing happen to me twice now in my 77TSI Golf DSG.

First time was in drive mode accelerating normally from traffic lights and the car suddenly felt like it went into neutral changing from 1st to 2nd. No flashing warning lights or chimes. MFD showed D2. Car revved, but no go. Changed to sport mode and still no luck. Stopped and restarted engine and ran fine again. Thought it was a one-off.

Second time about a week later was in sport mode turning at an intersection and the car again went into neutral whilst turning. Almost got rear-ended. Exactly the same symptoms as the first time.

Went to my dealer next day and got a technician to test drive and check for fault codes. Came back saying no codes and drove fine. Mechanic admitted he has seen faults in other DSG cars, but unless it acted up on the spot or logged any error codes, nothing could be done.

This is my first time owning a VW and I was a very happy customer. The car drove beautifully and is so well-built. But this experience has me worried that the DSG may give up or play up at anytime and the dealer can do nothing about it unless it acts up again in front of them... Please VW, don't make this experience my first and last purchase of a VW.

[Candyman]

Thats crap, they always give problems.

Incorrect.

They can give problems but to suggest they always give problems is false.

[mtj007]

I have a few questions for you;

Is your Tiguan chipped/remapped?
Do you drive with a left foot on brakes?

Could it be that your water leak inside the Tiguan is related to the accident you mentioned in this post? http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...tml#post682466 maybe your crash repairer didn't do a good job? Or wasn't it your Tiguan involved in that accident?

The 9.9L/100km as your Fuelly says, indicate a spirited driving to me. What's your driving style?

BUT regardless, there could still be something wrong with the DSG or engine ECM, especially if you would be driving normally in mixed city/hwy conditions. Because some other Tig owners swear that they get a better economy even with the stage 2 remaps.

As for your note that there could be something wrong with other Tiguans with the DPF (because of the excessive smoke you saw from the exhaust), don’t worry about them, they could be just regenerating when you noticed the smoke.

Hi Transporter

Nope completely stock, not remapped. I never left foot brake and can't stand people who do haha so definitely not that, I know what you're thinking though with the way VWs cut accelerator input when you're on the brakes.

The accident mentioned in that post involved my (now written off) Commodore. The Tiguan replaced the Commodore.

9.9L/100km is fairly good I thought - my Tiguan is petrol and does a fair bit of driving in traffic.

Dad's Golf Mk VI TDI never belches out huge clouds of smoke even when it's doing a DPF regen so I thought it was odd.

Oh dear... that's concerning. Which dealer did your purchase and service at? I believe there is a 7500km service sticker for new VW Tiguans at some dealers.

My DSG jerks between D1 and D2 but doesn't behave the way you describe. Did you run in the gearbox and engine in the first 1500km?

I'm more worried about your water leas also. Who knows what damage, corrosion, electrical damage that may be causing in the long term?

Purchased at Wangara Volkswagen. It does have 7500km written on the sticker and Wangara do recommend it on the basis of what's written in the handbook about harsh driving conditions. Wangara is 45 minutes from home, Osborne Park is still a bit of a trek but much closer so I tried booking it in there and the service staff said no, wait until 15'000km/12 months... Odd I thought, usually they'll do whatever they can for money. I'm more concerned with the water and gearbox issues at the moment so the service can wait a few weeks and I'll try Melville VW.

Given I bought from Wangara I'm going to keep sending it back there for warranty work at the moment because based on bad experience with other dealers they're not as interested if you didn't buy from them.

In terms of running in, I drove it gently while it warmed up. Once the oil was up to temperature I drove it normally with the occasional run through the rev range. Took it for a drive through the hills a few times to get the engine loaded up.

They can give problems but to suggest they always give problems is false.

Yeah I agree. My mum used to have a Passat with DSG and apart from it clunking as it engaged Reverse every now and then it was fine. Shifts were always smooth as silk and it never hesitated. My dad has a Mk VI Golf with DSG and it has never had an issue, smooth as silk.


I took the Tiguan out for a drive late last night to see if I could replicate the issue but no luck... just the usual hesitation before downshifting in Drive mode. I did manage to capture a video of it doing a huge jolt on the 1st to 2nd upshift when I gave it WOT so at least I've got something to show the dealer. It also bunny hopped and made a clunk sound as I came to a stop at a set of lights. I just hope there's a fault code logged.

[Lucky13]

I see that every day.

[clip]

TBH mtj007, VW have made/sold over 1,000,000 (1 million) DSG's. They can't be all that bad (except the new dry clutch ones).

However, the best thing you can probably do, which is what you mentioned in your first post, and that's not buy another VW.

If you want reliability (not necessarly quality though) there is only one country that can consistently do this and that's the Japanese (no, not the Germans). So ditch the Tig and buy a RAV4 or CRV. You won't go wrong. Although on second thoughts, maybe don't buy the RAV4 as they have a few little gearbox problems too: "i will file a law suite against them...it doesnt have to last long. All i need it to do is last long enough for the media to hear about it, and down comes the most pathetic auto car maker in history", and then there's this one: "loss of power, gears sticking, loud bang and jerk when a gear decides to change,... unsafe to drive", and then this is even worse than your experience mtj : "it has been known by toyota that this model has problems with its ecu.....which makes the car shift at the wrong revs\times, at times at traffic lights or merging into highways the car completely looses power, sometimes at traffic lights it completely stalls leaving u completely vulnerable to other cars....it sometimes to revs to over 4000 revs and then suddenly engages into gear, which results in unintended accelaration. this might cause accidents especially in congested traffice". And another one: "Have just experienced transmission problems with my rav4 auto...they said it is a fault in the computer system that is sending incorrect signals to the transmission and damaging the transmission. Apparently it is beginning to happen quite a lot with some models of Toyota....I will still be paying around $3000 on a $7000 bill. Am talking to Consumer Affairs at the moment."

Good grief, so it's got to be the mighty Honda CRV then - or not: "Honda CR-V with automatic transmission has 8000 km on it, and is still under full warranty....experienced intermittent failure of transmission to shift into 2nd and 3rd gear. Even with full gas pedal, could only reach max speed of 50 km/hr. RPM would stay around 2000-2500 RPM" and: "Transmission idles very rough when in drive and stopped... vibration felt ...equal to the vibration one feels when riding a Harley... if I end up idling for longer then 40 seconds, I have to shift into neutral or the car stalls...when downshifting from 1st to 2nd, it hangs up and power is lost until it finds which gear it wants to be in. ".

So I give up - honestly, what do you buy? Problem is, new cars are so full of crap to make them "smarter" more "green" (what a crock!), that there is soo much to go wrong. I'm surprised they are as reliable as they are! Of course the BIG problem with new cars is they ARE more reliable than cars of 20 years ago, but when something does go wrong it costs $10000 instead of $1000! But this is just my $200 worth (used to be 2cents worth!)

[Lucky13]

So I give up - honestly, what do you buy? Problem is, new cars are so full of crap to make them "smarter" more "green" (what a crock!), that there is soo much to go wrong. I'm surprised they are as reliable as they are! Of course the BIG problem with new cars is they ARE more reliable than cars of 20 years ago, but when something does go wrong it costs $10000 instead of $1000! But this is just my $200 worth (used to be 2cents worth!)

exactly
I am fully agree with that

[mtj007]

So I give up - honestly, what do you buy? Problem is, new cars are so full of crap to make them "smarter" more "green" (what a crock!), that there is soo much to go wrong. I'm surprised they are as reliable as they are! Of course the BIG problem with new cars is they ARE more reliable than cars of 20 years ago, but when something does go wrong it costs $10000 instead of $1000! But this is just my $200 worth (used to be 2cents worth!)

I know exactly what you're saying... but wouldn't you be the least bit upset if your 2 month old car stopped in the middle of a roundabout?
I know VW have sold a lot of DSGs that haven't had problems... why do you think I tried my luck a 3rd time? Both my parents have had well behaved DSG cars. For me to get 3 out of 3 with problems, I'm not happy.

I'm not planning on filing a law suit or anything like that. And I've had the displeasure of driving a current model Rav4, Toyota certainly won't be selling one to me.

In my previous job I had the pleasure/displeasure of driving many different vehicles.
Holden Epicas with airbag faults and brake failure, Ford Falcons and Territorys that are delivered brand new with rust, Ford Focus' that have dodgy auto boxes, Corollas with oil leaks. Plenty of new cars have problems but I think I'm allowed to be a bit upset about getting 3 VWs which have all had gearbox problems + a mix of other different problems.