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gearbox malfunction

10K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  rafletcher 
#1 ·
HI ....Anyone experienced warning light stating NO REVERSE GEAR on Ateca
Had this come up while driving on motorway, got car home in backup mode with only 1,3,5th gears. Next day, car started and attempted to get car to local garage for diagnostics. After 2 mile , RED light stating GEADBOX MALFUNCTION and no drive at all, called recovery , after 1hr of waiting car decided to drive on to recovery truck, and drive OFF

took car to gearbox specialist who couldn't pinpoint problem. possible mechatronics, clutch plates, ECU or other electrical problem, and suggests SEAT main dealer.
Quoting £5,600.00 for new gearbox :x

Car is SEAT ATECA 2016 2.0L Diesel 190 EXELENCE 4Drive 190 with 61000 mile

Would be grateful for any advice from anyone with similar experience of VAG group DSG gearbox
 
#3 ·
Whatever you do, don't get it done at the main dealer unless you absolutely have to. Find a good local VAG specialist and get them to do the work, including diagnostics. At the very least you'll save c£70/hr on the labour charges (independents are half a main dealer rates) and they are generally more interested in happy customers that maximum profits. If you're anywhere near Aylesbury I can recommend VAG-Tune in Aylesbury, or VASS-TECH in Whitchurch. There's also Total VAG in Leighton Buzzard.
 
#4 ·
I would ultimately take it to a SEAT dealer as there is a good possibility that they will fix it outside of warranty as this sort of problem was common in the past and SEAT will not want any more bad press about DSG problems. Incidentally the box you have is not the one that has the really bad reputation, that's on the 1.5 petrol models.
 
#5 ·
Fred99 said:
I would ultimately take it to a SEAT dealer as there is a good possibility that they will fix it outside of warranty as this sort of problem was common in the past and SEAT will not want any more bad press about DSG problems. Incidentally the box you have is not the one that has the really bad reputation, that's on the 1.5 petrol models.
I've not heard of any recent 7 speed DSG issues, and have driven them since 2014, albeit coupled to the 2.0l petrol engines.
 
#6 ·
Neither have I, although Honest John is always slagging them off.

It's the DQ200 dry unit that gave problems in the past. That's fitted to the under 2 litre engines.
 
#7 ·
Rather spookingly, same thing happened to me on Sunday. 2017 fr Dsg petrol. Heard a clunk and then noticed an oil drip. About a mile from home, amber and no reverse warning then outside my door, red light gearbox failure. Sept 2017 and only 20k miles. Got it taken to local gearbox specialist to look as seat garage 20miles away.

Report came back tonight that catastrophic internal failure in gearbox. Specialist had never seen anything like it and not caused by any misuse or road damage. Now the inevitable battle with SEAT to try to get them to fix out of warranty. 😭.

Any advice or help on how to approach it would be very welcome but interesting within a week two guys with similar problems?
 
#8 ·
You may have a stronger case that me jd, as yours only has 20,000 on the clock, and I think your service manual will recommend oil change at around 35,000. Therefore it should be put down as a fault rather than negligence on your part, that's assuming you have kept up the service with a seat dealer

Good luck
 
#11 ·
Same as mine; I'm glad I've got the 5 year warranty. It seems that the dry clutch DQ200 is now more reliable than the wet DQ381. However, VW Group must have sold 10's of thousands of these units and they can't all be bad. The only reason I went for the 2.0 TSI is because it is supposed to have a more reliable box. My sympathies to you and I hope SEAT sorts it out for you.
 
#12 ·
Hi All
Got results of gearbox malfunction (dq381-7a)...on my Seat Ateca 2.0l diesel 4drive excellence from Seat service department.
Diagnostic report states mechatronic unit has failed and will cost £2140 to replace...only has 61000 miles on clock, but as previous services were not carried out by approved service center, and no records of any oil change at 40,000 miles
Seat are refusing to pay any contributions :(
So beware of dsg oil change intervals guys....it will cost you.
 
#13 ·
Limpleg said:
Hi All
Got results of gearbox malfunction (dq381-7a)...on my Seat Ateca 2.0l diesel 4drive excellence from Seat service department.
Diagnostic report states mechatronic unit has failed and will cost £2140 to replace...only has 61000 miles on clock, but as previous services were not carried out by approved service center, and no records of any oil change at 40,000 miles
Seat are refusing to pay any contributions :(
So beware of dsg oil change intervals guys....it will cost you.
Then if you can I'd get the mechantronic replaced by an independent VAG specialist garage, not a SEAT main dealer. At the least the labour cost will be substantially lower. Also they may be more interested in customer care, as I belive some mechatronics can be repaired. There are even suppliers of reconditioned units https://www.reconditioned-gearbox.co.uk/reconditioned-gearboxes/dsg-gearboxes/

Awkward to get your car out of thier workshop of course, but probably less expensive in the long run - and as SEAT don't value your custom why give them more money.
 
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