Volkswagen Celebrates 3.5 Million DSG Transmissions Sold

[AutoGuide.com]

Dual-clutch transmissions are becoming increasingly popular offerings by all automakers in the search to save every drop of fuel. But the auto-boxes have another benefit: not only do they shift faster than a traditional slushbox, they easily out-match your best manual-transmission heel-toe efforts.

Combine those two qualities and you've got a solution that will please the greenies and performance junkies, so it's no surprise that everyone from Hyundai to Ford are now offering dual-clutch gearboxes.

But long before it was popular, Volkswagen introduced its DCT, the DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox). Debuting in the golf R32 and Audi TT in 2003, VW is now celebrating 3.5 million DSG units produced. Initially offered for mid-range vehicles, VW has since developed versions compatible with smaller engines, and more recently with high-performance large-displacement engines for the Audi brand.

Almost all of the DSG units were manufactured at the automaker's Kassel Plant in Germany, while just over 100,000 have been manufactured in China.

More: Volkswagen Celebrates 3.5 Million DSG Transmissions Sold on AutoGuide.com

[Cadenza]

What's the fail rate?

[kcfoxie]

3.5 million waiting to fail dual mass flywheels....
See TDIClub ... (oh, lookie, an 09 failure here. Those got recalled...)

When it can slip from 6th to 2nd on the downshift, like I can in an actual manual transmission, I'll consider this a plausible replacement. As it stands it can only skip upward, not downward, it's still an automatic. Just one that isn't a rubber band, and wears out expensive flywheels faster than the manual counterpart! (Also that $200+ 40k fluid service)

[Phil C55]

I can't believe they would recognize anything that has had such problems as the DSG. That's like Ford talking about the number of Pintos they built, it should be forgotten about more than celebrated. Wonder if they'll announce the number involved in a class action lawsuit too. The DSG is the VERY reason I didn't buy my wife a Jetta Wolfsburg edition.

[fedia]

Worst experience ever, bought Vw jetta TDI DSG transmission it broke flywheel on 45 k miles VW dont cover nothing even all of the DSG will broke between 30K and 70K miles guarantee, you will be lucky if it is under waranty. fixed now 59 K miles Transmission valve body gone again nothing VW will do dealer dont want to give me the corporate phone. anyway I find it called Emily was on the phone say nothing they can do my Vin was not on the recall same DSG transmission Same problem. So be ready if you buy VW with DSG to spend extra $6K repairs before 60 k miles
Worst car ever i had..........DONT BUY VW Period all the new 2009 2010 still have that problem ...

[Pushing Fifty]

I didn't know that the DSG was that bad....... I've never had one nor intended to get a VW with one, but this is news to me.