Reliability after 5 years

**enzso** · 05-05-2023, 08:33 AM

My 2020 132 Comfortline Tig has been a pleasure to own and I'll likely pass it on to my 18 yr old son next year. How has the reliability been for those who've held the car for 5+ years?

**nermal** · 05-05-2023, 09:56 AM

You should expect to get at least 5+ years of decent reliability out of it. Didn't the 2020 come with a 5 year warranty? Just make sure you get it well checked over as it starts approaching end of warranty.

This is our first Tiguan (MY22), but I do see quite a few of the older versions from the same vintage as our old Passats around the area still. Our 2x 2008 Passats both lasted 14 years+ and now onto their 2nd/3rd owners. They were very reliable, but needed parts replaced over time (as any car does).

I guess a lot comes down to how well you look after the car - run it in gently, service it etc. Our Passats were always serviced at VW and parts replaced with genuine (where possible) at the first signs of failure. VWs typically aren't a cheap car to maintain though.

**Nickfj** · 06-06-2023, 07:10 AM

I currently have a 2019 R-line and some components are starting to fail. They are amazing cars when brand new but even with VW service throughout the complexity and number of sensors mean that things will inevitably go wrong. This is my second VW and both have had serious issues with DSG systems - this has always happened inside of warranty so just inconvenient but they are not a rock solid transmission solution and if seeking an older car I would be looking for something with a CVT Auto.

Also starting to regret paying out the lease a few months ago and owning a car that only has a few months left of warranty - what was I thinking???

**Hillbilly** · 07-06-2023, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by Nickfj

I currently have a 2019 R-line and some components are starting to fail. They are amazing cars when brand new but even with VW service throughout the complexity and number of sensors mean that things will inevitably go wrong. This is my second VW and both have had serious issues with DSG systems - this has always happened inside of warranty so just inconvenient but they are not a rock solid transmission solution and if seeking an older car I would be looking for something with a CVT Auto.

Also starting to regret paying out the lease a few months ago and owning a car that only has a few months left of warranty - what was I thinking???

Having trouble with 2 trannys gives a suspicion of driving style being a possible cause. DO you drive in slow moving traffic a lot, do you let car creep with foot lightly on the brake. Im on my 4th VAG car since 2010 and havent had any tranny trouble with any of them. BUT I mainly drive on the highway and never creep in traffic. Wife has been given severe instructions to do the same and her two cars are still OK. The Rline does not have the problematic DQ 200 transmission
I wouldnt have a CVT on my backside for a wart.

**Nickfj** · 08-06-2023, 07:23 AM

Thanks Hillbilly but have you seen the other thread running next to this? There are 14 pages of Tiguan owners reporting Gearbox Emergency Mode faults on longer drives and with older models (2017 - 2019) - would suggest to me that there is something more than one person with a driving style issue. Besides, cars are supposed to be driven in the city which is always stop/start and should be designed to cope with this - most of us live in cities after all…

By the way does anyone know why DSG is not available in US Tiguans? They run the same transmission as Lexus from what I have been told.

**Sharkie** · 08-06-2023, 07:54 AM

Blaming the driving style is utter BS.

VW should design the gearboxes to take whatever driving style the owners would reasonably use. The fact is that there are inherent flaws in the DSG designs and that they will all fail at some point in time, some sooner some a bit later. Some way sooner than what can be considered reasonable at law. The litigious nature of our USA friends has forced VW to now employ normal automatics in many models in the USA where there have been successful class actions against VW in relation to DSG failures.

In the 2 years the MK8 has been out, how many gearbox failures have been noted against the TSIs in Australia? By now this forum (and others) would already have had DSG horror stories (like what happended to the Mk6, Mk7 & Mk7.5s), yet not a peep about that "normal" automatic in the Mk8 1.4TSIs anywhere really. Lose some "performance", gain massively improved reliability. Win for VW and its owners.

**Hillbilly** · 08-06-2023, 08:13 AM

AFAIK they are all Allspaces from Mexico in the USA and maybe have the 8spd used in the Golf 8 and the T ROC here in Aus.

Yes they are used in traffic but people tend to think of them as an "Auto" when they arent. They are a manual gearbox with electronically operated clutches. Worst thing you can do with them is let them creep in traffic with foot lightly on the brake ,thereby slipping the clutches. As the probable most popular VW there are bound to be some with faults and they are the only ones you hear from. Also often has been mechatronic faults and therefore is not the actual transmission.

**Hillbilly** · 08-06-2023, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Sharkie

Blaming the driving style is utter BS.

VW should design the gearboxes to take whatever driving style the owners would reasonably use. The fact is that there are inherent flaws in the DSG designs and that they will all fail at some point in time, some sooner some a bit later. Some way sooner than what can be considered reasonable at law. The litigious nature of our USA friends has forced VW to now employ normal automatics in many models in the USA where there have been successful class actions against VW in relation to DSG failures.

In the 2 years the MK8 has been out, how many gearbox failures have been noted against the TSIs in Australia? By now this forum (and others) would already have had DSG horror stories (like what happended to the Mk6, Mk7 & Mk7.5s), yet not a peep about that "normal" automatic in the Mk8 1.4TSIs anywhere really. Lose some "performance", gain massively improved reliability. Win for VW and its owners.

I agree to a certain extent but havent seen any Lamborghini owners complain and they have a DSG in them. Also was basically one version ( DQ200) that had all the problems and VW promoting them as an "Auto" when they arent causes owners to use them somewhat incorrectly in certain situations.

You will be good with your T Roc then as seems it has the 8 spd slush box in it

**Sharkie** · 08-06-2023, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Hillbilly

You will be good with your T Roc then as seems it has the 8 spd slush box in it

Actually no, the T-Roc R (like all current R models) has the heavy duty 7spd DSG in it. Unlike my manual Golf R, which I will keep as long as I am allowed to drive, I intend to only keep the T-Roc R for as long as the warranty lasts. Will likely have the DSG tune done to prolong the life and improve the drive whilst I have it.

My daughter had the DQ200 in her A1 and even though the DSG was tuned (improved it a lot) it was still a worry, with some niggles, and towards the end started showing some concerning signs .... Her T-Roc Style does have the 8spd auto and it is magic. So smooth and responsive compared to the DSG. Best VW decision ever fitting that box to the 1.4TSI models IMO.

Originally Posted by Hillbilly

Also was basically one version ( DQ200) that had all the problems and VW promoting them as an "Auto" when they arent causes owners to use them somewhat incorrectly in certain situations.

It was not just the DQ200, other models all have reported issues. This very forum has numerous complaints about the "stronger" DQ250/DQ350/DQ500 fitted to Tiguans, Golf GTIs and even the odd R failing prematurely as well.

And BTW, it is just an auto (which a DSG essentially is as it shifts gears automatically) any driving style should be acceptable. Blaming drivers for inferior tech is just BS.

**Ozsko** · 10-07-2023, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Sharkie

Actually no, the T-Roc R (like all current R models) has the heavy duty 7spd DSG in it. Unlike my manual Golf R, which I will keep as long as I am allowed to drive, I intend to only keep the T-Roc R for as long as the warranty lasts. Will likely have the DSG tune done to prolong the life and improve the drive whilst I have it.

My daughter had the DQ200 in her A1 and even though the DSG was tuned (improved it a lot) it was still a worry, with some niggles, and towards the end started showing some concerning signs .... Her T-Roc Style does have the 8spd auto and it is magic. So smooth and responsive compared to the DSG. Best VW decision ever fitting that box to the 1.4TSI models IMO.

It was not just the DQ200, other models all have reported issues. This very forum has numerous complaints about the "stronger" DQ250/DQ350/DQ500 fitted to Tiguans, Golf GTIs and even the odd R failing prematurely as well.

And BTW, it is just an auto (which a DSG essentially is as it shifts gears automatically) any driving style should be acceptable. Blaming drivers for inferior tech is just BS.

If I had all your doubts with having a DSG there is no way I would buy a car with the transmission in it.