DSG woes in The Age

[kaanage]

I haven't had any major issues with my Golf yet. I have a 2007 Golf 2.0 TDi with DSG.

the vehicle has performed perfectly.

I am concerned about any possible issues of engine shutdown while driving but after 300,000 kms I have seen any problems.

Your car has the 103kW PD engine and the 6 speed wet clutch DSG so it's not one of the drivetrain types that is experiencing the failure types discussed here - just like OzVWCrap who had problems caused by the original dealer but who's car has been otherwise fine (although VW seem to have treated him in a disgraceful manner leading to his overall disgruntlement).

I really wish they would fully specify the model in these news stories so that we could properly gauge the relevance to our particular vehicles but I guess thorough reporting in newspapers is too much to expect

BTW Many people would envy your 300,000km of trouble free motoring

[Ideo]

The level of complaints (in general) on this forum alone would suggest that not everyone is/was as fortunate as you.

So only the whingers should get an airing?

[pologti18t]

Is this a threatening legal letter or something any legal company would send to someone who is threatening a company?

I note your client's threats to use the internet and in particular his stated expertise as a "website builder'' to publicize what he considers are his grievances and to cause damage to my client should it not accede to his demands.

Your client is of course at liberty to take any action he sees fit in the circumstances. However, please inform him that if any conduct by him or on his behalf is defamatory and hence damaging to my client, a Volkswagen dealership or the Volkswagen brand, and/or amounts to misleading or deceptive conduct within the meaning of s 52 Trade Practices Act 1974 (CTH) and/or s 10 Fair Trading Act 1987 (WA), my client will have no hesitation in taking all necessary steps, including commencement of litigation seeking an injunction, damages and costs, in order to protect its various interests. I trust you will advise your client fully as to the seriousness of Federal Court and other litigation and of the cost implications of his threatened conduct.

[Hail22]

Is this a threatening legal letter or something any legal company would send to someone who is threatening a company?

Pretty much so...what did you say to them?

[pologti18t]

Pretty much so...what did you say to them?

I didn't say anything. It's the "threatening letter from VW" that someone on this thread was whinging about.

Only one side of any of these peoples' grievances are being heard (whether they are valid or not).

[Transporter]

Yes, everybody is responsible for his/her actions, only babies, kids up to the certain age (but parents would be responsible depending what the offense is) and people locked up in the mental institutions aren't. Everybody else could be taken to the court, even for the posts on the internet, since everything is traceable these days.

[benwest]

Kaanage, That's good to know and you are right, there should be some clarification on which models, configurations have the issues.

[nyc863]

How many VWs were sold and are being driven around over the last 5-8 years?

pretty much everyone VW owner or not is reading this stuff in the press - but fairfax say they got 92 complaints 10% of which were manuals anyway (and probably another 10% are just trolls).

I don't have many statistics on unhappy customers in the car industry but I feel if you canvass any group of half a million customers, many will feel aggrieved enough to write in with a story, a response rate of about 1% would be normal.
What would be the response rate for a splashy story that some iphones didn't work right, or some range rovers are lemons?

Given the focus the fairfax newspapers are putting on this, I'd have expected 900 pissed off complaints - just as an average for any large scale car seller - not 92.

[wai]

2. More and more public pressure which would tip the scales at the office of the ACCC / Department of infrastructure forces VW to hand over all documentation relating to complaints of drive, power loss and DSG complaints to which they will review and decide whether to force VGA to commence a recall on affected parts and have them replaced rather than "looked at".

Unfortunately this is highly unlikely to happen. The thing is the complainant needs to have all the evidence provided first hand and not second hand.

It all becomes very technical. For example, if your complaint is about power loss, how did you measure the loss of power? Was it power loss or something else, and how did you rule the something else out? What tests did you carry out? If you scanned for a fault code, was this done using authorised testing equipment?

I am not doubting issues some may have had, but simply getting on the bandwagon will not achieve anything.

Legal letters from VW can be expected as they have a brand and market share to protect. In the main, unless you have assets, the best that can be done is to "shut you up". No point in suing you for damages if you have no assets. Also, that is not a good look for VW. They simply do not want you to keep saying what you are saying.

You need to look at the consumer laws in the jurisdiction where these "recalls" and "fixes" have happened.

If it happened to me and VW refused to fix it, I would have the vehicle crushed into a cube and shipped to Wolfsburg with the press being notified. It would cost me, but also give me a lot of satisfaction Oh, I would not damage the VW logos and name. That could see me in trouble. They would be preserved and carefully attached to the crushed cube.

[Ideo]

Just had a client talking to me about this, and how crap his wifes Golf was.

Turns out a car should run perfectly after not being serviced for 65,000kms because his mid 80s Hilux could do it.

[sVWatt]

Now there's a VW owner with a car that wont switch off - VWA going to look very stupid very soon...
VW owner films his car malfunctioning | Video

and Toby Hagon, Drive Editor has just noted;

"Editor's note: We are more than happy to let the debate continue and have only rejected comments that have had potential legal issues.

Regarding the story on a manual Golf - it is not something we have tried to hide or ignore; in fast we have mentioned this in each story published on the issue.

From the huge volume of feedback we have received (including these comments, phone calls and emails) it seems the problem is not limited to diesel automatics, as Volkswagen would have us believe. Our articles have also highlighted the huge quality issues being faced by many Volkswagen owners, something we feel is worth pursuing.

So the short story is we are happy for people to have their say and be critical of our coverage, but we will not be publishing comments in poor taste or those with potential legal ramifications. "

[team_v]

Now there's a VW owner with a car that wont switch off - VWA going to look very stupid very soon...
VW owner films his car malfunctioning | Video

Would that be the KESSY system?

[Hail22]

If this is something to go by, its certainly going to damage the brands image...proof in the pudding.

[Umai Naa!!]

Just had a client talking to me about this, and how crap his wifes Golf was.

Turns out a car should run perfectly after not being serviced for 65,000kms because his mid 80s Hilux could do it.

That's how I found out how long a MK5 GTI Golf timing belt will last.

Neglect is not the same as poor manufacture.

[Ideo]

That's how I found out how long a MK5 GTI Golf timing belt will last.

Neglect is not the same as poor manufacture.

Exactly.

I drive a long way and have highish kms in all my cars before I get rid of them - I'm pretty sure I will be the first R owner to crack 100,000kms.

I've had a fair few "unreliable" cars (SA manufactured BMW 3 series, Audi S3, Pug 306, VW Golf) and I've never had any major problems with any of them.

I drive with mechanical sympathy. I'm meticulous with servicing and parts needed and I keep on top of maintenance.

It's the drive and forget culture that causes a lot of the lesser problems.

Except for the DSG woes and the 118 engine issues. They are both just ****.