2021 Tiguan R line transmission delay

[Mustafa]

Hello everyone.
2 weeks ago I purchased 2021 Tiguan r line from a vw dealer. I could not have a chance to do the test drive. It was arrived in Australia/Melbourne and I went there to pick up the car. Based on my previous experiences with vw cars and having 2018 passat 2018 r line convinced me to buy Tiguan R line with peace of mind.
The story started in the same day with the car. I love everything about this car but I have this issue and it kills me.
When I drive this car (up to D4) I hear clunking sort of noise. I hear that noise first when I accelerate the car and then lift off my foot from the gas pedal. If I put the gear in reverse, the noise gets louder. I booked the dealer that I purchased this car from. They have checked the car. And the result they told me that is ''WE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING NOT NORMAL. WITH THAT PARTICULAR VW MODEL THAT IS NORMAL".

Can you imagine how frustrating it is to hear that?
So is there any 2021 Tiguan R line owners here to help or having the same/similar problem?
Your help highly appreciated guys.
Thanks in advance.

[lolcats]

I don’t think I get it as bad as you, but I get a noticeable thunk sound on 2nd to 3rd shift before the gearbox/clutches warm up. Does it go away after a while or always there? The Haldex also makes a bit of clatter.

I don’t have experience with any other Haldex and DSG combos so just assumed what I’m hearing is “normal”, but maybe not…


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[Mustafa]

I don’t think I get it as bad as you, but I get a noticeable thunk sound on 2nd to 3rd shift before the gearbox/clutches warm up. Does it go away after a while or always there? The Haldex also makes a bit of clatter.

I don’t have experience with any other Haldex and DSG combos so just assumed what I’m hearing is “normal”, but maybe not…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

First of all thanks for your help.
I have 2018 vw passat r line. I can understand what you mean. I hear the similar things with the passat and can notice it. However, this is believe me not normal.
Because passat has 206 hp and it is like a beast, I do not have any hesitation to put the gear in sport mode and drive a bit aggressive and get that feeling.
Unlike passat, with 2021 Tiguan R line I am scared to drive aggressive, thinking might something can happen.

I was told about this issue at the dealer that because everything controlled with computer in this car, between you accelerate and stop accelerating the computer of the car tries to get the command and do whatever is needed. However, there is a delay to register by the computer of the car clearly. So that makes like you are driving sort of old manual car that you hear gear clunk and you feel the hit of a running car.
You do not hear that noise if you constantly increase your speed.
Unfortunately, it does not go away. It is always there. You hear the noise and feel the delay/gap more when you put it in reverse. It is exactly an old manual car you put in reverse, it closes the gap and starts pulling the car.
I also realised that the fuel consumption is also worse. 11.5/100km it was supposed to be 8.5. Like I said I am scared to drive aggressive so I do not use turbo much. Time to time if I need to change like or get ahead of the other at lights but not always. I do the same thing with passat but I did not notice that much of a fuel consumption.

[Mustafa]

I don’t think I get it as bad as you, but I get a noticeable thunk sound on 2nd to 3rd shift before the gearbox/clutches warm up. Does it go away after a while or always there? The Haldex also makes a bit of clatter.

I don’t have experience with any other Haldex and DSG combos so just assumed what I’m hearing is “normal”, but maybe not…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I have driven Tiguan rline 2020 too. It has that sort of noise but does not bother plus you do not feel much.
However, with mine there is a kind of gap. If you accelerate and lift off your foot and put your foot back to the gas pedal, it feels like you are being hit behind.
Unfortunately, it does not go away after a while.

[lsmi4126]

My 2018 162 Rline is pretty 'clattery' too between first and reverse and when I ease off the throttle. There's the occasional gear change thump, especially when super cold (in Sydney terms) and driving up a hill. Has done it since I got it (not new but with 40k on the clock) but hasn't changed.

[Mustafa]

I have got 2018 passat and got it second hand. It is a beast. It is such a nice feeling to drive that car. I hoped the Tiguan was the same but unfortunately not. I hear the noise in between when I accelerate and stop accelerating in D1 to D4 but not after D4.

Thanks for your reply and help.
Have nice rides

[iDiesel]

I hear the noise in between when I accelerate and stop accelerating in D1 to D4 but not after D4

That doesn’t sound normal
shouldn't be like that

[Timmy35851]

Just to add to this, I have recently been through a bit of a saga with VW and my DSG.

I purchase vehicle second hand (2019) with 15,000km's on it. Occasionally I noticed the car 'bunny hopping' when taking off on a slight incline (my driveway) without any throttle input but thought this was normal. Changes from 1st to 2nd were also a bit slow. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but oh how I wish I had done something about it.

Fast forward 6 months, I get the car tuned (ECU & TCU) which made the bunny hopping significantly worse.
Reverted the car back to stock and took to 1 dealer (absolutely useless) saying that because there were no fault codes showing there was nothing they could do.
Took to another dealer which were very helpful. Had the mechatronics replaced after a long wait, but this didn't fix my symptoms at all.
VW Australia investigated logs further (another long wait), they found that car had been tuned and said no further coverage. They advised that K1 clutch packs had been overheated at some stage.

There is no way that the tunes would create more torque than these gearboxes are designed to handle, and it was obviously faulty from factory. I think all of the issues described above are only going to become more apparent as these cars get older.

I have bitten the bullet and am getting my tuning shop to replace the clutch packs at ~$3K cost to me (parts are $1,500 from VW).

I guess I am lucky that VW replaced the mechatronics and that I know that isn't causing my issues.

Over the past month or so I have noticed the symptoms getting worse, especially at low speed in second gear.

Just thought I would post as I couldn't find indication of repair costs anywhere for clutch packs. I know Mechatronics replacement is significantly higher (~$4-5k).

I could have replaced with a low k second hand gearbox but may end up in the same position in the future.

Here's hoping the clutch replacement works....

[Mustafa]

Here is my google review, if anyone interested, and like if you like.

Google Maps

Thanks in advance.

[Timmy35851]

Just a quick update on the below - I had by clutches replaced and car is 100% better.

Tuner commented that he has had a couple of Tiguan's in for servicing with similar issues and thinks it is probably a bad batch made somewhere.


Driving home I thought there was an issue with the tune, but it was traction control kicking in

Just to add to this, I have recently been through a bit of a saga with VW and my DSG.

I purchase vehicle second hand (2019) with 15,000km's on it. Occasionally I noticed the car 'bunny hopping' when taking off on a slight incline (my driveway) without any throttle input but thought this was normal. Changes from 1st to 2nd were also a bit slow. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but oh how I wish I had done something about it.

Fast forward 6 months, I get the car tuned (ECU & TCU) which made the bunny hopping significantly worse.
Reverted the car back to stock and took to 1 dealer (absolutely useless) saying that because there were no fault codes showing there was nothing they could do.
Took to another dealer which were very helpful. Had the mechatronics replaced after a long wait, but this didn't fix my symptoms at all.
VW Australia investigated logs further (another long wait), they found that car had been tuned and said no further coverage. They advised that K1 clutch packs had been overheated at some stage.

There is no way that the tunes would create more torque than these gearboxes are designed to handle, and it was obviously faulty from factory. I think all of the issues described above are only going to become more apparent as these cars get older.

I have bitten the bullet and am getting my tuning shop to replace the clutch packs at ~$3K cost to me (parts are $1,500 from VW).

I guess I am lucky that VW replaced the mechatronics and that I know that isn't causing my issues.

Over the past month or so I have noticed the symptoms getting worse, especially at low speed in second gear.

Just thought I would post as I couldn't find indication of repair costs anywhere for clutch packs. I know Mechatronics replacement is significantly higher (~$4-5k).

I could have replaced with a low k second hand gearbox but may end up in the same position in the future.

Here's hoping the clutch replacement works....