VW China reassures customers that recall will fix problem with DSG gearboxes

In response to concerns over the recent recall of direct shift gearbox (DSG) transmission Volkwagen vehicles in China, VW China and its two joint ventures, Shanghai VW and FAW-VW, have insisted that the solution they have prepared will fix the gearbox’s problems, the Guangzhou Daily reported, citing an official statement made by the manufacturer. VW also repeated that it will not abandon the DSG technology.
According to VW’s official explanation, the problem with the seven-speed DSG gearboxes was due to sulfur in the gearbox’s transmission fluid and iodine-based inorganic head stabilizers in its plastic components damaging its metal parts, leading to corrosion of internal electronics.
This corrosion, which may be further worsened by humid climate conditions, ultimately caused some gearboxes’ electronic control units to malfunction and short circuit. The manufacturer will replace the electronic components in the gearboxes of recalled vehicles, as well upgrade the gearbox’s software, thereby resolving the issue.
VW previously offered a software upgrade to Chinese vehicle owners last year. However, customers complained that the upgrade failed to resolve any problems. Representatives from Shanghai VW’s public relations department quickly emphasized that the upgrade used in this recall is different from the previous one. A mechanic from a FAW-VW dealership likened the upgrade to “replacing a computer’s hard drive..
Chinese drivers have reported numerous problems with DSG gearbox-powered VWs, Audis and Skodas. Common issues include spontaneous vibrations and noises when driving. There have also been reported incidents of the vehicles’ engines not functioning properly or the drive systems shutting off entirely.
Last month, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) officially released the results of a year-long investigation into the issue. AQSIQ arrived at the conclusion that the transmissions were indeed defective and posed a safety risk to the vehicles’ occupants, and ordered VW to recall the vehicles. In response, VW China, FAW-VW and Shanghai VW jointly issued a recall of 384,000 vehicles in the country manufactured from May 2009 onwards.
(April 2, 2013)