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Golf DSG transmission problems

A year or so ago I started noticing a knocking or jerking motion when the DSG transmission in my 2009 VW Golf would move from D1 to D2. My VW service centre did their test and software updates but it didn't seem to fix it. The person there said that it's not an issue and it shouldn't worsen, so I made nothing of it and kept driving. But just a couple of weeks ago the engine light turned on and the DSG seemed completely messed up. The car would go from zero to D2 and then to D4 through a lot of revving and knocking. I took it to the same service centre and they again did the DSG software update, but again that hasn't fixed it. Now they tell me that the entire gearbox needs to be changed and have quoted $9,100 for the gearbox and $400 for labour. What are my options here? The car is not worth more than $15,000 at best. It has only done 58,000 km. Are there other places that fix VW gearboxes? My car was recalled as part of the DSG issue in 2013 and I got that fixed through a VW service centre.

You have a reasonable claim against VW to have the gearbox replaced free of charge. The DSG gearbox is known to be troublesome and yours has a history of malfunctioning. Because the car is seven years old and VW isn’t very forthcoming on customer issues you will have to suit up and take them on, but the DSG transmission is a dud and the company knows it, and they should come clean and fix cars like yours that are having problems. If you can’t get anywhere with VW and give up, try an independent VW specialist mechanic.

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