How big are Volkswagen's problems in China and how big are Wolfsburg's problems with dual clutch transmissions in Germany?
If you believe a survey of Community magazine Motor-Talk.de, then VW has enormous problems with the small double clutch transmissions. Volkswagen has various dual clutch transmissions, small refers to the maximum torque that this transmission can handle. Affected is the internally DQ200 seven-speed gearbox, which only made its debut in 2008 and was designed for a drive power of up to 250 Nm. There is another important difference compared to the “larger” DSK transmissions: This DQ200 is the first dual clutch transmission from VW that works with dry clutches.
The problem DSG
In China, there were increasing problems with jamming clutches, the starting and stuttering gear changes that are perceived as impairing driving comfort. At the beginning, Volkswagen had apparently not given enough attention to these problems, so the government of China was forced to intervene.
After the government in China intervened and threatened to carry out a recall by order of the state, those responsible at VW decided to undertake a “voluntary” recall and an additional extension of the guarantees. VW is now a guarantor for the transmission for 10 years and up to 160.000 KM.
If you look at the English Wikipedia entry for the DSG transmission in addition to the survey by motor-talk.de, there were also problems in the USA and in Sweden with the DSG transmissions. In the case of the Swedes, it was mainly about the use as a taxi.
As I have also learned from a trustworthy source, the DSG transmission has fallen into disrepute among German taxi drivers. A non-representative survey showed that 30% of all DSG owners have already been to the workshop once or several times because of problems with the transmission. Sometimes taxi drivers speak of a durability that is less than 50.000 kilometers. If this were true, the Volkswagen Group would have a real quality problem.
quality problems
After the timing chain disaster and the freezing burst engines in Polo and Lupo, this breakdown at the DSG would be the third major disillusionment in a group that likes to see itself as a technology leader.
I myself will talk to VW once again about these problems and also listen to fleet managers and taxi drivers. As soon as I have more news on this topic, you will be able to read this in my blog.
In the meantime I'm looking forward to emails from you - who drives a VW with DSG himself and is satisfied, or already had problems. Write me an email to: bjoern.habegger@gmail.com