DGS Failure - Is VW DSG Gearbox Reliable?? 

Thanks for your summary on DSG. This saved me reading lot of blog posts.

My DQ200 had the mechatronics replaced at 275,000km and still has the original clutch pack at 318,000km (Germany) on a 2013 Skoda Octavia 1.6 tdi. The early DQ200 (pre mid-2013) had issues with contaminated fluid. The DQ200 is generally reliable, but not necessarily long-lived, meaning it runs well until catastrophic failure. Mechatronics failure manifests in two ways, the first being the car won't shift into drive or does not accelerate or change gear smoothly. The second one is what happened to me, mechatronics pump failure which means the car loses power while driving. Overall I'm still quite happy with the car, modern automatics (8-Speed, DSG, CVT) are complicated and I don't really think that any of them are all that reliable (perhaps AMT, but require clutch replacement and calibration) The issues with the DQ200, are both by design and user error: 1. It's a dry clutch system, prolonged driving in stop-start traffic will cause heat to build up, and thus the car will start lurching when starting and changing gear, it may also hold gears much longer. This problem is worse than in wet clutch DSGs like the DQ250. 2. According to EU spec, the mechatronics fluid is not to be changed, and therefore mechatronics failure becomes inevitable. Although, this is a factor that VW has taken into account and it should nonetheless last quite a long time. 3. User error: Holding the car on a hill with the transmission by using the accelerator pedal will lead to massive premature clutch wear, as will creeping forward by releasing and holding the brake pedal. The best way to drive, is stay on the brake until there is a gap in traffic, and then be decisive (but not aggressive) with the accelerator. Make sure that the clutches engage fully as soon as possible even if this is not the smoothest way to drive. This I believe to be the reason that my clutch has lasted so long.

Very useful one👌👌👌💐

Thanks for the detailed feedback and your experience on DSG gearbox. I am planning to buy a 1.2 TSI Petrol but wasn't sure about the success of the DSG. Not much is written about this for Indian conditions and hence this was of great help!

Hi, I am planning to take 2018 Ameo 1.5 tdi highline AT from my friend, I read many forums DSG failure. Is it really expensive? Do we have any issues in DSG 2018 model?

The oil change referred to in this video is with regard to the oil in the mechatronic unit and not the clutch enclosure. Synthetic oil degradation causing sulphur particles to appear which in turn short circuited the electric signals within the mechatronic unit. Therefore they were subsequently changed to mineral oil based.

I am your sixth or seventh subscriber, you have hit the sweet spot talking about the things I am exactly thinking about for couple of months... vw tdi dsg, be it ameo, vento .. next option of my interest is Hyundai Crdi verna sx o. Vw is disappointing me and others by not launching latest polo and updated ameo in India yet.... very bad on vw...good video going to watch this again, want more..

mechatronics is the usually encountered failures in DSG DQ200 , the cost of which to repair is 2.25 to 2.75 lakhs depending on the workshop, it cant be repaired as it is not a DIY or alternative next door garage repair option. its not a dent on a wallet, for me it was an crash( gr8 loss) on wallet without insurance cover for it neither a warranty can help it as it is 3 1/2 years now.

By the way I guess the dq200 is a dry clutch and dq250 gearbox is the one in which the clutch is submerged in oil and Volkswagen Changed oil in the gearbox from synthetic to mineral in the Passat,jetta,superb and Laura and not the polo,Vento and rapid.

How is DQ200 gear box for car launched on or after 2017.. were there any issues reported All the issues I see on RU-vid were on cars purchased in 2014 or before

Hey! Did you face any major issue with your vw till date? Did you face any breakdown? The thing is I love vw/Škoda cars but at the same time I am afraid of breakdowns due to gearbox failures and electronic failures in this cars

Brother even i were in more confused state about DSG failures.. but i took a calculated risk and booked a DSG highline plus TDI .. Safety and Driving pleasure comes first than anything else . Thanks for your great video :-)

I have skoda octavia 1,6 Tdi 2010 116 000 miles. Im in UK no problem so far. Im the second owner.

I bought a mint 2008 GTI mk5. It was a stage 1. It was beautiful inside and out but it had one major flaw. The DSG mechatronics unit. It jerked very bad between 1st and 2nd gear when accelerating from a rolling stop. Slowing down to a yield sign then accelerating it made a loud bang and jerk. I was so disappointed. I’m sure it has improved

I've got one in bits, transplanted the mechatronics due to P177 code. Pressure failure.

Is the DSG from a GTI different than that of a CC?

My uncle had a gt tsi from 2013 and when the car completed 5 years in 2018 and by that time the warranty was over and the car had failure in it's mechatronics unit. The part costed 1.2 lacs and labour included, they had to spend almost 1.5 lacs to fix the car. I was so impressed by the cars driving Dynamics that I insisted my other family member to buy that car anyhow.and they did in 2017, and now the dsg problem has came into picture, I just hop the 2017 car doesn't have the same failure as well.

beauty of a gearbox

My friend has VW GT TSI bought in 2016 and already run 60000 kms, but no issues till today he regularly serviced in time and the car is excellent.... Many people said DSG is not reliable....

The DSG is primarily of two types one is a dry type and the other a wet type and trust me the wet type boxes are way more reliable not that is also a expensive equipment so to make it cheaper the company introduced dry type DSG cheaper to make but it isn’t as reliable and that’s the case with DQ200 their other DSG gearboxes are pretty reliable. DSG is awesome but it’s reliability is still questionable not only here but all over the world.

I have a Jan 2014 tsi....fingers crossed...ntn has happened to the Dsg box

I subscribed..😁😁

You talked on and on for seven long minutes, repeating the same things.... yet you didn't once mention what is uniquely Indian habit: that is, hand over your sophisticated car to a dumb idiot of a driver who gets paid below Rs. 10,000 per month! It is these moronic drivers (who only know the stick-shift cars) who out of old habits, abuse the DSG shifter at high speeds, thereby damaging the mechatronics or even the dual clutch mechanical parts. As a owner, instead of feeling guilty for employing a driver even for an automatic car, they go to the VW service people and start bad-mouthing the DSG technology! It's quite sickening to blame an impeccable German technology such as DQ200! I have a 2011 Skoda Superb with DSG and I refuse to hand over my car even to a valet attendant. Moral of the story: Never hand over sophisticated cars to stupid, lowly paid professional drivers! If you don't have what it takes to drive on our crazy roads, just buy a plain old manual transmission car and employ a driver. He will have a hard time destroying a manual gearbox. Of course, he will do other damages... like stealing petrol.

I am planning to buy Skoda superb 2010, Are you trying to say that Skoda Service centre will repair dsg failure without any charges ,provided its not modified or Tampered.

I like the Indian accent while speaking. Indian English!!!

It's a risk vs reward situation. The gearbox is amazing when it works but unreliable.

Dq200 does not have a wet clutch, it uses a dry clutch.

Hello all Glad to read such valuable inputs from experts like u all I’m standing on wall between Verna 1.6 Crdi vs Vento 1.2 TSi Concerns with VW like mentioned is higher spare cost and poor service network across India . People who buy DSG definitely want take on long drives in all sorts of terrain !! Driving with a fear or driving with confidence on Verna Which is better pls guide My budget is 13.50 lacs

all Dq200 fitted in 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 are manufactured in 2013, the power KW are changed in tdi and tsi if at all if the problem comes in a car you can buy a new car without RTO reg keep a spare car with you and when problems comes just fit the parts from new car if the gear box and clutch and flywheel damaged then the total cost of it for today is 5,84,000rs which is almost near to the comfort line DSG ameo (instead repair you can buy new car) the only question comes is when the entire cost of the car is so less in over all Manufacture, then if an gear box costs come to 5,84,000rs then what is the cost of rest of the parts of the car if you take spare by spare and build the car the vw ameo TDI DSG then the car cost comes to 25,00,000rs (i had calculated also and some customer faced the insurance issues where the repair is going beyond the car cost and there insurance made customers forced to make total loss where the car was repairable) a simple DSG service to make costs 8,000rs (oil change of it and filter) (if you have read the online portals they have also mentioned servicing DSG every 20,000kms is best then 60,000kms) when higher tech are fitted to low cost car, then there service and cost of part is too much which is unbearable costs so avoiding the car buys will be good till 2020 or until they manufacture all spare parts in india or wait till people complete 1,00,000kms only in city drives with a span of 10, years. for there reviews

Dq200 is dry clutch. Clutches are not in oil. It was the dq250 6 speed which you were talking about. It came first in India in Skoda Laura I guess

I think, the people buying first need to learn atleast some technicalities of the car/gearbox. Though it seems very simple to drive DSG automatic you should keep in mind some do's & don'ts. Like simple thing, example- engaging Park gear while the vehicle is still moving. Habbit of shifting from N to D to N with Button pressed(on gear lever). You may & you should down shift using tiptronic mode if you are going downhill or breaking hard than normal, this will ensure better mileage, better engine breaking, & less break wear. Few more simple point can be kept in mind & you'll not face any problems at all. 2 clutches will last longer than any other gearbox.

It's not fixed issues still persist

why make such gearbox and then fix it. it hurts the long term prospects of owning this car. im considering to buy gt tsi 2nd hand but am skeptical because of this. i really need an automatic. they should have just used a wet clutch and increase few thousand rupees.. its still better than those heavy bills..

Sir thanks for your valuable information about DSG , before and upto 2013, year problems, but now I am planning to buy Rapid diesel automatic which also has DSG, so it will be problem driven by me in city and some time on highway, sir with your deep knowledge of automatic DSG, I am expecting your valuable advice very soon to make dissicion.

Dsg gearbox is not meant for hot humid Indian climate

Sorry to say, you sound like a Volkswagen fan boy. I drive a 2015 Vento TSI 1.2 dsg. Took a calculated risk. SOMETIMES There has been a distinct MASSIVE jerk when it down shifts from 3rd to 2nd, especially in stop go traffic. In jam packed traffic it can even threaten to hit the car in front!! I now am more aware and try and maintain a 3 feet distance. SOMETIMES , on rapid deceleration , before a sharp speedbreaker, a grinding com jerking noise is heard, on just from the jump. Not noticed on gradual speedbreaker.. I easily get a mileage if 12-13 km in city traffic, when driven over 15 km at a stretch. On the highway, at even high constant speeds of 100+ , I get easily 16-17. Not much of a mileage drop when Sports mode is used. MAJOR issue I face is also sound insulation, it's very poor, I SOMETIMES look around thinking that the glass is down. Another issue that even in air recirculation mode on the AC , outside foul smells momentarily enter the cabin. My previous car was the Maruti Baleno old (1995) model. The Vento does not come close to it in quality of ride handling, or sound insulation, or outside smells. I came here looking for extra info on the DSG. Found none. The best source I have found on this gear box , from actual drivers, is on www.team_bhp.com Both technical and long term usages are discussed threadbare. Thank you.

bakwas