Volkswagen’s operations in Australia and New Zealand have announced a recall for cars equipped with its seven-speed dual shift gearbox (DSG). It's announcement was followed 24 hours later by a similar recall by Audi and Skoda in the region.
It also adds to the list of countries that have already recalled the dual clutch unit and raises questions as to why cars in the UK have so far escaped an electrical upgrade to the gearbox's mechatronic system.
In an official announcement made today, Volkswagen recalled a range of models, including the Caddy, Volkswagen Golf, Jetta, Volkswagen Polo and Volkswagen Passat, produced between June 2008 and September 2011 and sold in Australia and New Zealand.
“In isolated cases, an electronic malfunction in the control unit inside the gearbox mechatronics may result in a power interruption,” said a VW Group Australia spokesperson.
The recall of the DSG comes after 100 Volkswagen owners in Australia and New Zealand complained of an apparent power loss.
Australia and New Zealand join Volkswagen operations in other countries, including China, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia, in recalling the low torque version of the seven DSG – the so-called DQ200 unit used in models boasting torque loads of up to 148lb ft (200Nm).
Significantly, the DQ200 used in Australian-specification Volkswagen models is produced in the same factory in Kassel, Germany as the DQ200 gearbox fitted to cars sold in Britain.
Volkswagen has responded to the announcement, saying that since the announcement of its recall in China it has been in touch with VOSA and reached a joint agreement that there was no safety issue.
The gearboxes for China are produced in VW's Dailan plan, with all others coming from the Kassel factory.
Volkswagen says that any customers who feel concerned about the issue should contact their local Volkswagen dealer.
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Australian Recall
You might be interested in the story behind the Australian recall. Volkswagen behaved very poorly, and didn't do anything to support customers until there was a death, a coronial inquest and a media backlash - my video report is here: http://autoexpert.com.au/video/volkswagen-australia-defective-dsg-recall-fiasco
And on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXEVuXLwMcs&feature=share&list=UUKcC11ircL-HI7TieCr9XQg
VW RECALL
DO NOT BUY VW, ANY MODEL THATS MY ADVICE. SECONDLY AUSTRALIA HAVE HAD TO ADMIT DEFEAT IN THEIR MASSIVE COVER UP REGARDING DSG GEARBOXES WHETHER THEY ARE 6 SPEED OR 7 SPEED AUTO DUAL GEARBOXES THEY ARE ALL RUBBISH AND THE RECALL NEEDS TO REFLECT THAT, AND THE UK AND EUROPE NEED TO START A CAMPAIGN FOR THE TRUTH REGARDING THEIR VW'S PROBLEMS IN ORDER TO GET A RECALL OVER THERE. ISSUES ARE JOLTING THROUGH THE LOWER GEARS EITHER UP OR DOWN, THE CAR SHUDDERS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THE CHANGING GEAR. ALSO RAPID DECELERATION, AND SLOW ACELERATION, das auto i dont think so
Why is recall a bad word?
Well, there's a cue for Volkswagen owners in the UK. Go and tell your dealers of the problems you're facing and hope they'll be fixed in this unannounced recall. Any compensation for those who suffered issues and got rid of their DSG-fitted cars?