Volkswagen Polo Gearbox & Transmission Problems

Even though your car has no clutch pedal, its transmission is what’s called a DSG, or dual-clutch, which means it’s actually a conventional manual gearbox where a computer controls the clutch operation. That’s why it drives like an automatic yet still has a clutch assembly, part of which is the clutch pressure plate, or multiple plates in the VW’s case.

Replacing this will require the transmission to be removed, so it’s not a small or simple job. Which also means it won’t be cheap, either. The problem is that digging into a DSG transmission often reveals wear in other areas, and you might find it needs more than just a clutch late at the mileage you’ve covered.

A VW or transmission specialist should be able to do an electronic analysis of the transmission and its general health to help you make an informed decision on which way to go.

Some owners have had a great run with this transmission, others not so much. Highway driving will be kinder to the unit, and a lot of city driving will be harder on it (although the DSG gearbox is by no means alone there).

The main wear issues are with the clutch-packs that control the transmission. These can wear prematurely and require costly replacement. Any shuddering when taking off from rest is the first sign that this process has already started.

It’s possible to read too much into it, but it remains that VW itself dumped the DSG for a conventional torque converter for some of its Australian models, including the Polo, in 2021.

The seven-speed DSG transmission in your car is a known trouble-spot and has caused lots of grief for owners over the years. Failures can occur in the clutch-packs, the electronic control units or the gearsets themselves and, once the failure has occurred, it's usually time for a whole new transmission.

Mechanics can often become a bit jaded when they see multiple failures of the same component, but in this case, they're probably right. Your problem then becomes one of the cost of repairs being more than the repaired car is worth.

It’s a dual-clutch transmission, which raises the question of a problem with the transmission or the electronics that control it. Have a dealer or an automatic transmission mechanic assess it for you.

It’s not a common fault. Given that your car has only done 94,000 km I would suggest you contact VW to see if they might come to the party with at least part of the cost of repairs as a gesture of good will.

You're pretty safe with the 2015 model; the years to avoid are really around 2010/11.

The later you can afford the better, particularly as the 2010 model is quite an old car now, without even considering the possibility of an issue with the gearbox. I would recommend you go for a model that is no more than five years old. It would be also be a good idea to have it assessed by an automatic transmission specialist.

It is unusual to have to replace a manual gearbox at any time, but to have to do it at just 199,000 km is unacceptable. Take it up with VW and see if they would cover at least part of the cost of the replacement.

It would appear you’ve got a good claim against VW for repairing the car, even though the warranty has expired. Remember, the car is still covered by the statutory warranty under local law. It is most likely to be the same problem that has reappeared; if it is it’s a well known one. Go back to VW through the dealer and ask for the problem to be fixed again.

It’s a common problem. A friend of mine has one and she has taken it back to the dealer so many times to have it fixed that she has lost faith in the car and VW. Every time she has taken it in they have updated the transmission software or adjusted it, but the problem has never been fixed. My reading is that VW is saying that it is acceptable and aren’t planning to do anything more about it. Go above the dealer and speak directly to VW’s customer relations people and let them know that you will not be fobbed off.