13-3-2012: 3 year old, 32,000 mile Volkswagen Golf Estate 2.0TDi with DSG automatic transmission. Started making a noise a couple of weeks beforew, then reader was told by the dealer it needed a new gearbox. After various calls to Volkswagen were 'offered' 70% off the price of a new gear box, and 50% off the cost of fixing it, which left over £1,300 to pay.
3-7-2012: As well as problems in China, European drivers are reporting 'strange noises' from twin dry clutch 7-speed DSG when shifting from 4th to 3rd, 3rd to 2nd and 2nd to 1st. Source: www.autoevolution.com
11-1-2013: Warranty on 7-speed dry clutch DSG extended to 5 years or 150,000 kilometres in Russia and China. Followed by recalls in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. Problem is with the Mechatronics unit, replaced in the Singapore/Malaysia recall. The transmission reportedly makes strange noises heard inside the car when shifting from 4th to 3rd, 3rd to 2nd and 2nd to 1st. Outside the car the noise is a metallic and repetitive sound, made when the car goes over speed-bumps. www.autoevolution.com reports that an angry group of French VW owners claim that Seat, Skoda and Audi drivers are also reporting the same problems.
14-1-2014: Panoramic roof of January 2008 Golf V estate sprung a leak. Reader quoted £1,450 by VW dealer to replace it, plus £350 to dry out the sodden interior of the car.
10-2-2014: Loud rattle at idle from DSG transmission of 62k mile 2009 Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion estate. Quoted £287 +VAT for initial investigation.
15-6-2014: Another 2008 VW Golf 1.9TDI (estate) dropped a rod at 82k miles.
15-5-2015: All you need to know about VAG EA288 TDI DPFs: http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/DPF-Adblue-FAQ-VW-Audi.htm
21-1-2016: Report that VW's free or dealer contributed fix of the ATE Teves Mk 60 ABS/ESP module failure has ended in August 2015 because the cars were all then more than 6 years old. Fault discovered by VW dealer on Golf GTI Edition 30 in November 2015 and reader forced to pay, since when the reader has been attempting to get a contribution to the fix. By 26-1-2016, VW agreed to meet this claim in full.
23-3-2016: ABS/ESP light flashing on 2010 VW Golf estate. Supplying dealer told reader that VW had stopped repairing these FoC or at discounted rates and wanted £1,400 for the repair. We advised that as the car is still less than 6 years old he may be able to claim against the supplying dealer. Otherwise a case of sewnding the ABS/ESP module to ECU Testing for the brake pressure sensor to be replaced. Total cost shoul,d not be more than £600.
22-8-2016: Report of 2009 Golf V diesel estate virtually worn out at 130k miles. Had regular service and was very well maintained. Trouble includes: loose injector; clutch and DMF, will need a replacement soon.
8-9-2016: Report of 2010 VW Golf 1.6TDI Bluemotion estate needing EGR replacement.
23-10-2016: Owner of 46,770 mile 2012 VW Golf Estate SE 1.6 TDI 105PS asked to pay £1,365.58 for replacement of EGR valve and both the dealer and VW UK refused to offer any goodwill. Referred to Leigh Day that is handling a class action against VW UK over the EA189 emissions defeat device issue.
5-4-2018: No official word from VAG, but ECU testing believes that the DQ200 7-speed dry cutch Mechatronics control box was finally re-engineered in 2016. This DSG 7 control unit is a common failure with engines under 2.0 litres on the VW Golf (2003 – 2016)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) announced it would initiate a new customer service program to address concerns raised by its customers with certain Direct Shift Gearboxes (DSG/S-Tronic) in Volkswagen and Audi models, and to affirm its confidence in the sophisticated technology represented by those components. This new comprehensive service program affects a limited number of model years 2007-2009 Volkswagens and Audis. Covered models are the Volkswagen R32, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen (UK Golf estate), GTI, Eos, as well as Audi A3 and TT. Some customers have reported transmission performance issues under certain driving conditions. This was due to a faulty component inside the Mechatronic unit within a limited production range. VWGoA will repair or replace the components in the transmissions of approximately 43,000 Volkswagens and 10,300 Audis at no charge to the vehicles' owners. Additionally, VWGoA will reimburse customers who have had this repaired at their own expense. The company has begun increasing the parts supply to expedite this customer service program. As the parts become available, owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted to schedule an appointment at their dealer. The company will make loaner vehicles available at no charge. In the meantime, owners who may have experienced problems with their transmissions are requested to contact their dealers or the Audi/Volkswagen toll-free customer service numbers. This new customer service program is unrelated to a voluntary safety recall that VWGoA announced August 20. Under that recall, VWGoA is replacing a faulty temperature sensor in a separate and smaller group of vehicles. (The earlier action addresses a potential for a faulty temperature sensor to cause the transmission to shift into neutral while the vehicle is being driven.) The company will extend its New Vehicle Limited Warranty to cover the DSG transmissions affected by the customer service program and the voluntary safety recall. This extended warranty is for 10-years/100,000-miles, transferrable to subsequent owners. VWGoA is confident these actions will address issues noted by owners of the affected Volkswagen and Audi models. The DSG gearbox is an industry leading technology that combines the fuel economy of a manual gearshift with the automatic shifting capacity of an automatic transmission.
16-12-2010: Volkswagen AG said on Wednesday it would recall over 413,000 cars in the United States and Canada for the risk that they could develop fuel leaks and potentially catch fire. The recall covers the Golf, Rabbit, Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen models from the 2007 to 2009 model years. The Jettas Sportswwagon was sold in the UK as the Golf estate. The New Beetle from the 2006 to 2010 model years is also covered under the recall, VW said. Golf, Rabbit and Jetta models have a plastic tab on the windshield fluid container that could rub against a fuel line and cause a leak to develop. In the case of the New Beetle, a fastening clamp that is part of the powersteering system could cause the same kind of problem, the automaker said in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. All of the cars are manufactured in Mexico and shipped to the United States and Canada. But Beetles, Jettas and Golf estates are also shipped to the UK and Europe. VW said it had not received any reports of fires, injuries or crashes related to the condition in either market. Owners will be notified of the recall in January, VW said in its filing with U.S. safety regulators. VW said it would pay for its dealers to inspect all of the vehicles covered by the recall and replace the fuel line if needed. In addition, dealers will either remove the potentially risky plastic tab from the Golf, Rabbit and Jetta models or adjust the problematic clamp in the case of the Beetle.
31-12-2011: Apparently, all VAG models with the 2.0TDI engine from around 2005 fitted with Siemens peizo injectors are subject to a recall which involves replacing all the injectors FOC. Job takes around 3 hours. A short circuit within the injectors causes the fuel system to shut down and engine cuts out.
28-1-2012: Manufacturer recall to replace Siemens Piezoelectric injectors of 2006 - 2009 2.0 TDI BMN engines. All the injectors from the the 2.0 TDI PD engines that use piezoelectric Siemens injectors and Siemens ECUs are affected by this problem. The most problems are on the Passat BKD 2.0 TDI 140HP. No problem from 2009 and the introduction of the common rail 2.0 TDI engine (CEGA).
12-6-2013: Australian VW DSG Recall
and Australian VW DSG You Tube Video
Due to electrolysis, the DSG 7-speed transmissions are susceptible to conductive deposits forming in the gearbox control units, possibly causing the gearbox fuse to blow. Should this happen, the clutch will fully open due to power supply failure, causing the vehicle to roll to a stop if in motion. In the majority of cases, the fault occurs when the engine is started with the vehicle stationary. If the fuse blows while the vehicle is in motion, however, a sudden loss of power at the wheels could in certain circumstances occur while the vehicle is being driven. This may pose a hazard to the vehicle occupants and other road users. All other functions of the vehicle (steering, braking, etc.) remain fully active.
March 2007
Launched Geneva Motor Show March 2007 and in UK from August 2007. Estate from B pillar back. Loadspace accessed through wide, contoured boot incorporating a low load lip. To aid practicality the rear seats fold flat into the floor to reveal a versatile 1,550-litres of bootspace complete with multiple load hooks. A 12V socket plus stowage beneath the boot floor are useful additions along with heating elements built into the rear windows.
Engines include 1.9-litre TDI 105 PS and 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS, 1.4-litre TSI 140 PS and 1.6-litre FSI 102 PS. New 1.4-litre 140 PS TSI engine combines small capacity engine fuel economy with a supercharger and turbocharger to grant a performance edge. The TSI engine is mated to a choice of six-speed manual or quick-shifting DSG gearboxes. Six airbags, alloy wheels, ‘Climatic’ semi-automatic air conditioning, ABS, radio/CD player and a three-year/60,000-mile warranty.
Prices start at £14,347 RRP OTR for entry-level S 1.6-litre and rise to £20,417 for the 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS with DSG and DPF (diesel particulate filter). Three trim levels are available – S, SE and Sportline – along with three engines, a 1.6-litre 102 PS petrol and 1.9-litre 105 PS and 2.0-litre 140 PS TDI units. A DSG automatic gearbox is available with the two diesel powerplants.
All models have Climatic air conditioning, electric windows and door mirrors, a radio/CD player and remote central locking featuring as standard. Safety featgures include ABS with HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist) and ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) as well as front, side and curtain airbag systems and whiplash-optimised head restraints for front passengers.