Volkswagen announced another possible problem with its direct-shift gearboxes. Some VW and Audi customers have reported transmission performance problems. The recall addresses a "faulty component inside the Mechatronic unit" of about 43,000 VWs and over 10,000 Audis.
The 2009 VW Jetta is listed among the models being recalled. We're not sure if this includes our TDI or if that is a special case. But we'll look into it.
Read more details in this Inside Line news article:
VW Continues To Tackle DSG Woes
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
subaru123 says:
02:47 PM, 08/31/09
@Inside Line readers
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http://youwritethecaption.webs.com/
There are instructions on the homepage on how to get to the picture and how to leave a comment.
*Website also includes crash test vids
zcalvert says:
02:55 PM, 08/31/09
D'oh... looks like my '07 GTI will be going in for its first ever repair.
Wonder how much this is going to cost Borg Warner (you know VW isn't going to take the hit for this by themselves)?
wobbly_ears says:
03:01 PM, 08/31/09
Legendary reliability & quality from VW.
carguy622 says:
03:07 PM, 08/31/09
I'm generally a manual transmission guy, but I do appreciate the DSG for what it is. With that said, I wouldn't consider buying one until they were on the market for at least 3 generations.
misterfusion says:
04:12 PM, 08/31/09
I was wondering if IL's Jetta was going to be affected by these recalls & TSB's. I hope they keep it in the fleet long enough to let us know how the dealer experience was!
I am in awe of the technology behind the DSG -- but I don't know if I'd be willing to spend my money on it just yet...
roadburner says:
06:47 PM, 08/31/09
In retrospect I'm glad I didn't purchase a GTI with DSG. I thought it might be a nice compromise since my wife doesn't like to drive a stick. The rank incompetence of the Louisville VW dealers-on both the sales and service sides-dissuaded me from buying a VW. I guess I should write them a thank you letter.
blueguydotcom says:
09:16 PM, 08/31/09
Weird that the 06s aren't mentioned.
tryan says:
03:57 AM, 09/ 1/09
blueguy - It was a specific batch of the mechatronic component that was faulty, much like the Bosch-manufactured coil-pack fiasco with the 1.8T a few years ago.
My GTI is affected by this and I have actually had all the symptoms of a faulty mechatronic (low speed lurching, late engagement of the first clutch pack, etc.). Luckily, I was able to convince my dealer that that's what the problem was - before the recall came out. I do find it ridiculous that I had to "convince" them, but either way it's getting taken care of....sort of.
You see, there's a month-long backorder on the Mechatronic units, or so my dealer says. We shall see. Either way, it's interesting to note that VW wants dealers to send all faulty Mechatronics back to Germany for testing.
fandsw says:
05:21 AM, 09/ 1/09
Disappointing to me as well, as my 08 GTI has been flawless until this point. As good as this transmission is, I'm starting to wonder if it is worth it: teething issues as well as high maintenance costs. Hearing about the costs people are paying for the 40K service (which includes a full DSG maintenance) is making me shudder.....
dougtheeng says:
06:18 AM, 09/ 1/09
Real manual = win!
stephen987 says:
07:00 AM, 09/ 1/09
@fandsw: can you elaborate? How much $ are we talking about for the 40k service?
roadburner says:
07:46 AM, 09/ 1/09
"Hearing about the costs people are paying for the 40K service (which includes a full DSG maintenance) is making me shudder..."
Back in 2007 there was a topic on VW Vortex concerning the fact that most VW dealers weren't even aware that the DSG required servicing at all. Here's my contribution to the thread:
" I called the three dealers in the Louisville, KY area(a 50 mile radius). In each case I asked for the service department. Once I was connected I asked how much it cost to service the DSG in a new Golf GTI. Here are the results of my informal survey:
Bachman Volkswagen, called on 2/28/07- "The newer transmissions are sealed and don't need service. Everything is done through the computer." Huh?
Neil Huffman Volkswagen, called on 3/1/07- The first person in service who picked up asked me what a DSG was. I was transferred to a second person who stated that there was "no recommended service" for the DSG.
Clapp Volkswagen, called on 3/1/07- "The service costs $339 and is performed every 40,000 miles." Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!!!
So...
Kudos to Clapp VW, which has the only service department in Kentuckiana that appears to know the service requirements of newer VWs.
OTOH, if ignorance truly IS bliss, then Bachman VW and Neil Huffman VW must have the happiest service departments in the area..."
I wonder how many DSGs have failed because some idiot VW service departments didn't do their homework.
ptcdawg says:
10:45 AM, 09/ 1/09
A regular automatic, or a regular manual...why complicate things?
fandsw says:
11:21 AM, 09/ 1/09
@stephen987: For the complete 40K service, which includes a bunch of other stuff besides the DSG 40K service quotes for $750 to 1000 are given depending on the stealership and/or region of country.
stephen987 says:
11:39 AM, 09/ 1/09
That's a fat chunk of change!
pinskier says:
01:44 PM, 09/ 1/09
Another interesting note in this sago of the DSG recall: On Aug 28th, VWGOA issued a press release about the Mechatronic unit in addition to their standing recall of the faulty sensor. In this latest press release, they state that the company will extend its New Vehicle Limited Warranty to cover DSG transmissions affected by the customer service program (Mechatronic unit) and the voluntary safety recall (sensor) to 10 year/100K miles. When I called the VW Loyalty Center on Sept 1st, they had NO idea of what I was talking about and would not confirm the press release!! This is getting SCARY!