VW Aust have agreed to replace my mechatronics unit 100% parts 30% labour

[Christine]

As other posters have said, the German built 6 speed DQ250 DSG gearbox which you have in your TDI Passat has been relatively trouble-free.

Relatively trouble-free, I guess the definition depends on whether or not you're unfortunate enough to own one.

https://www.recalls.gov.au/content/i...itemId/1048861
Volkswagen Australia recalls DSG cars - motoring.com.au

Today I've learnt that replacing the mechatronics unit has not fixed my problems, the dealer now tells me they have to replace the gearbox and the clutch. They have gone back to VW Australia with another goodwill request. This car is only five years old, it cost me $43,000. I think I'm entitled to better.

[bon123456789]

I've heard Australia's lemon car laws don't have much bite but that will change soon with local production ceasing soon, the government is going to get tougher on the car makers.


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[Umai Naa!!]

The car isn't a lemon. It has a worn-out transmission.

They will put another one in, and all will be right with the world again.

[XXX-1.8T]

Sounds like the problem was mis diagnosed.

This should be VW problem not yours.

I had the same issue but my car was under warranty.

Reverse wouldnt engage i thought 100% it was the mechatronics but turned out to be the clutches.

[kleung]

Relatively trouble-free, I guess the definition depends on whether or not you're unfortunate enough to own one.

That statement can apply to any car that has a failed transmission.

https://www.recalls.gov.au/content/i...itemId/1048861
Volkswagen Australia recalls DSG cars - motoring.com.au

Again, those recalls were for the 7-speed dry clutch DSG. There is a reference to a recall for the 6-speed DSG but that was only for 2009 and earlier DQ250s, and was for a defective temperature sensor.

Today I've learnt that replacing the mechatronics unit has not fixed my problems, the dealer now tells me they have to replace the gearbox and the clutch.

If that's the case, I'd be having a discussion with them about the labour costs for the mechatronics replacement - if it didn't fix the problem, I'd be arguing that you shouldn't have to pay for it.

[Christine]

The car isn't a lemon. It has a worn-out transmission.

It isn't worn out, nor should it be, it's only five years old. The reason VW Australia agreed to cover the cost to replace the mechatronics unit was due to MANUFACTURER FAULT. I am still waiting to hear if they're going to cover the cost to replace the gearbox and clutch.

[Christine]

I have a question I'd like to ask the VW people but my contact at the dealership sounds like she knows as much about cars as me, diddly squat, the VW customer care people are just rude and go out of their way not to enter into conversation and the technical people, the ones I really want to talk to are like a threatened species, so protected a mere pleb like me is totally forbidden from contact.
Maybe you guys might know.
I don't know for sure but think it's possible my car started having problems finding first and reverse after I reversed backwards up my neighbours driveway. I fed their animals for a week and so reversed up an incline every day. My neighbours do it all the time and have lived there for 20 years and it's never been a problem for any of their cars. It's not a steep incline but possibly one of the only times my car has been reversed up hill in it's life. I read somewhere on the internet about a guy who's Passat also started the false neutral problem straight after he'd had to reverse up a hill out of a car park. Anyone think there's a connection? So far it's been confirmed that the mechatronics unit had a manufacturer fault so they've paid to replace it but now they've found the problem is also with the gearbox and clutch.

[Darks RS]

Sorry to hear of your troubles!

In hindsight, the whole transmission should have been suspect rather than just the mechatronic unit.

My old R36 6 speed had the whole lot replaced by VWA and the dealer through good will as the car had all services undertaken by VW here in Canberra so they're not all without fault.

[Christine]

The car isn't a lemon. It has a worn-out transmission.

They will put another one in, and all will be right with the world again.

You must really love VWs to continue to defend them. I have been reading older posts on this site and see you are always quick to give excuses when people write in with VW problems. My son drives a 2008 holden commodore. We bought it cheap from friends who'd owned it since new. They drove it like they stole it and I doubt it ever went back to a workshop after the new car warranty ran out. It's done over 240,000klms and the automatic transmission still has no trouble getting through the gears.

[VW Convert]

You must really love VWs to continue to defend them. I have been reading older posts on this site and see you are always quick to give excuses when people write in with VW problems. My son drives a 2008 holden commodore. We bought it cheap from friends who'd owned it since new. They drove it like they stole it and I doubt it ever went back to a workshop after the new car warranty ran out. It's done over 240,000klms and the automatic transmission still has no trouble getting through the gears.

I can't understand your negativity towards VWA when they agreed to replace the faulty component as diagnosed by the dealer and they are now going through the process of determining the revised claim, a process that any manufacturer would go through before simply handing over a new transmission. VAG have built many millions of DQ250 DSG boxes and far and away, the majority work flawlessly but as with any manufactured item, some do not, this is why there is a warranty.

I worked for some years for one of the largest aftermarket importers of auto transmission components including DSG components, I can assure you, the volume of sales of DSG components was very small when compared to others even the later model Holden autos and Hyundai had such issues with warranties on one particular model that they could not keep up with the supply of components for warranty claims so Hyundai dealers were buying components off us to keep the vehicles on the road.

You've intimated that Subarus and Holdens are fault free but a quick Google search shows otherwise, at this point I'd ask, do you know if your Subaru is subject to recall because it is fitted with a Takata airbag that may spray metal shards in your face during deployment and has been identified as responsible for a number of fatalities? Maybe yours is, maybe not but some Subarus are so they are definitely not perfect. There is not a single automotive manufacturer that makes 100% perfect vehicles.

You've also told us that VW should have recalled the 6 speed DSG when there is no cause to do so. I've been driving 6 speed DSGs for 10 years with not a hint of an issue so why would I want a recall to be carried out?

As for your above comment to Umai Naa!!, he's a very respected member of this forum, a dealer trained mechanic whose advice to other members is greatly appreciated and valued. I'd suggest he knows a lot more about VWs than you or I or the majority of the members on this forum.

This forum is the place where owners come to discuss their cars and share knowledge about the good things and the bad things, in the main we like our VWs, some of course do not but if your sole purpose in coming on the forum is simply to bag VWA out when they are in fact working to resolve the situation, I'm sure you'll understand that some of us may suggest to you that is not what this forum is about.

Cheers

George