skoda superb 1.8 tsi automatic defective dsg gearbox failure 3 times.

Hi Guys,

I have the misfortune of owning the new Skoda Superb 1.8 Tsi Automatic August 2009 model bought from Krishna Auto Sales Chandigarh.

I have already owned two skoda's before and my experience has been pretty ok but this superb is simply not an automobile as it does not serve the purpose of transporting you from point A to Point B with any reliability.

The Brief description of problems i have faced until now:

1.    Auto Transmission breakdown / Mechatronic failure not once, not twice but 3 times with first one happening within 48 hrs of purchase of the car with only 200 kms on the odometer and the last one just last week on the highway with my entire family with me and the car is still at dealership. All the times leaving me stranded in the middle of the road and the car had to be pushed to the side.

Infact the last time on the highway called my friend who picked my family and dropped tham home while i came back on the flatbed tow truck. That's the 7 star experience for me.

2.Clutch replaced two times as it had developed problem leading to vibration while accelerating from low speeds.

3. High engine oil consumption with the engine needing a litre of engine oil top up every 2500 kms. And the company says its normal consumption. I think even a truck might be having less engine oil consumption. i have to remember when i topped so that i must get it topped up before leaving on a long journey.

4. Whole drive train from gearbox to axles faulty as there was lot of vibration during hard acceleration at speeds above 80 km/h,  took them 2 months to diagnose the problem and procure parts all the while car at workshop.

5. Engine heating problem as coolant was leaking from  the water pump. Water pump replaced.

All these problems i have faced in 2 years of ownership and the car having done only 41,000 kms i.e not telling you about other minor problems.

My car has spent around three months and counting at the workshop of my two years of ownership leading to great hardship and now I have no intention of taking delivery of this car at it does not serve the purpose of it as it has zero reliability. As repeated catastrophic failure of major components like transmission is totally unacceptable and then the car does not move an inch after the mechatronic gives up that too with out any warning. It is a very high safety risk as i dont want to get stranded at night at some isolated area with my family or imagine this happening at high speed while overtaking... it can be fatal and it totally is not worth risking the safety of myself and my family which includes my 1 year old son.

I have had tons of interaction with skoda via emails to all levels of their management but to no avail. The management is blatantly arrogant and shameless and gives too hoots about its customers safety forget conveniece adn other small hardships. I think they waiting for an incident to happen and then maybe they will understand.

I have seen other many mechatronic failure cars at the dealership during my innumerable visits in these two years and  the internet is full of these horror stories it is clear that their 1.8 tsi auto transmission if flawed and a threat to the lives of the owners and must be taken back by skoda auto and money refunded.

All your help will be highly appreciated.

Thanks

Manu Puri

The DSGs are indeed very unreliable and yours is not a rare case. There are innumerous Mechatronic failure complaints. This points out the 7-Speed DSG especially. Using all the references you have stated above, you can file a suit against the company for a compensation. This may help you out. Replacement of the car can be demanded, but again getting the same car with the same problem will not help. So, its left to you to decide in which way you will take action against the company. 

As said by Sankalp , file a suit immediately against dealer as well as Company for replacement .This is the only way you can fight with them . You have spent enough time & now time has come to act .

Thanks Sankalp and ashish for your advice ... actually i have filed a suit against the dealer and the company as this is the only way to tackle a company like skoda auto . They have zero sense of resposibility towards its customers who put faith in their products. The car was finally repaired on 31-10-2011 of which i have refused to take delivery . The skoda head of north Mr. Kulkarni writes mail and i quote him "We once again request you not to have any apprehensions about the problems in future; any concern will be addressed to your entire satisfaction as per the Service history of the car and in line with the Skoda Auto warranty policy." which clearly shows that they don't have confidence in the gearbox and will continue to repair the gearbox everytime it beaksdown and at the same time they are telling me not to have apprehensions i.e. somebody who has already gone through three traumatic gearbox breakdown.  I think they just copy paste their replies not taking into consideration the gravity of problems.

They want me to keep getting stranded on roads and i can't imagine travelling with my family in this car as it can lose power in a split second and is a extreme safety hazard. 

Hoping for the best from court only will keep you guys posted on any developments.

Looks like Skoda is all interested in launching new models and facelift existing ones than improve their existing image in the Indian market. Its ironical that good products are getting wasted because of such callous attitude of the service center and skoda management.