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Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - Tom Roberts

Hi all, wondering if any car savvy people could lend me some advice on my particular issue.

Basically, I purchased an automatic seat leon from a second hand dealership back in Nov 2016. I was very pleased with it and have been for the past 18 months. Until two weeks ago, where completely out of the blue with no warning, the car lost gears 2,4,6 and reverse. My usual mechanic couldn't fix the problem and advised a trip to seat themselves, where they diagnosed the problem as a full gear box failure and quoted me a huge repair cost of £4,600.

The car had recently been serviced, and I always drove it with care. I cannot afford this repair bill and due to the car being so young (manufactured in 2013) with only 34,000 miles on it, I feel really, really hard done by.

I have no warranty to fall back on, insurance counts it as wear and tear, which to me again sounds ridiculous.

Has anyone else had a similar issue? I am coming to terms with losing a serious amount of money, but I feel Seat themselves should admit some fault for making a shoddy car and offer some goodwill towards the repair.

Any input would be greatly appreciated

Thanks, Tom.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - Falkirk Bairn

DSG gearboxes have a history of failures.

HJ says do not buy a DSG.

Google DSG & VAG cars

£4600 repair cost is less than the small claims court limit

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - Tom Roberts

I've done plenty of research into the problem after it happened and yes I now have a good idea of the issues surrounding DSG gearboxes. Didn't have anyone to warn me off this purchase. Very frustrating.

I've got a feeling that there is no help for me and I'm going to be shackled to the buses until I save up the money.

Wish I had a time machine!

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - gordonbennet

Might be worth contacting a member of www.fedauto.co.uk/ and see if they can help you out, alternatively a *known* used box from a crashed car might be another solution.

Main dealers are not interested in fixing things these days even if they have anyone on the staff with the foggiest idea of how to, the modern method is throw expensive new units in.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - sammy1

Sorry you have a problem, are you sure it is the box and not the selector lever. Had a problem with a golf gti and warning lights on the dash highlighting all the gear numbers in red. Fitted a secondhand selector and all was back to normal.

I would advise you to get another opinion on the box and even get in touch with SEAT customer service with the known history of these gearboxes. The box is run by an electronic unit and this could be faulty? Try a independant gearbox specialist or independant AUDI/VW specialist These boxes are in all the Audi?VW group cars so worth trying reputable breakers if the box has gone. If you look on ebay you will get an idea of prices for boxes or parts. I agree with pevious post that Seat are probably not interested. £4600 is silly money.Secondhand market in engines and gearboxes is full of ripoff people so choose wisely try and get a warranty unit and pay by card

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - Peter.N.

I never have and never will run an auto box largely for that reason. I know some are much more reliable but its unlikely if any will last as long as a manual, which is usually the life of the car.

I appreciate some people have a need for an auto and if they can afford to have it repaired fine, but I can't, it would cost a lot more than I pay for my cars.

I would think a second hand one would probably be your best bet, one that comes from a damaged car is more likely o be OK providing of course the gearbox isn't damaged. Have you tried a gearbox repair firm?

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - SLO76
“its unlikely if any will last as long as a manual,”

Take a look through any classic car selling sites or peep through the window of any you find at shows and you’ll find a very high percentage of autos. A good straightforward torque converter box can outlast a manual car. I drive buses on a daily basis with over a million miles up and a simple three or four speed auto box which is rarely the source of any problems.
Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - Auristocrat

Not sure why you would think your insurance would cover the problem, as they are there to cover against accidents, etc.

Goodwill - usually a manufacturer will only offer goodwill outside the new car warranty where a vehicle has a full service history from their dealer network.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - nellyjak

Gotta have some sympathy with the OP...that's one heck of a repair cost to find on a 2013 car with low miles..BUT, I agree that the "issue" IS a well known one and just shows the importance and value of doing your research BEFORE you buy. (hindsight of course)

I totally agree with SLO about the TC auto boxes....I've had dozens over the years and have had no problems with ANY of them..most of them did 100k miles + and were sold on without any issues at all.

My current V6 Toyota has a TC box and done 80k miles...and I expect it to give me the same reliable service as all the others.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - bazza

Good advice from Sammy. Objective here is to minimize financial losses. Phone around for quotes from an independent dsg vag gearbox specialist, should be cheaper than dealer. Once fixed, sell car unless you feel lucky. Recoup losses by running something like a Corolla or Yaris or Civic bought for a grand or 2, petrol, manual, loads of previous advice on here. Cheap bombproof cars that won't bite you like the dreaded vag dsg models. Good luck, I'm sure many on here sympathize with you on facing a bill like this.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - badbusdriver

I don't know how much of that £4.6k is fitting, but i had a look on ebay, and as well as a few used DSG boxes, i came upon this listing for a new one from a German outfit. This version is for the 2.0TDI but they also have a listing for the 1.8TSI (same price). Just under £2.2k + £130 shipping. 2 year warranty and up to 72 months finance.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DSG-Gearbox-6-Speed-PZN-sq-mm-A...9

This is a used, low mileage one,

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/seat-leon-fr-7-speed-auto-DSG-g...y

You do have my sympathy.

But, and its a bit one, it really highlights the importance of doing your homework before buying a used car to find out what, if any, problems the model you are looking at suffers from.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - skidpan

I have no warranty to fall back on, insurance counts it as wear and tear, which to me again sounds ridiculous.

Why does it sound ridiculous?

A warranty (manufacturers or independant) covers your car against unexpected mechanical failure.

Insurance covers you against accident damage and damage you may cause to others.

Totally different.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - Alby Back
That's a really horrible situation Tom. I feel very sorry for you. The repair quote is probably +/- half the current value of the car?

I think what I'd do, if you don't get anywhere with getting cheaper quotes, is look to sell the car as it is. Of course it'll not fetch what it would if it was running properly, but you'd get something for it. Perhaps others here would know more about how you'd do that.

You'll lose out big style of course, but whatever you get for it could then be your budget for its replacement. ( yes I agree, go for a Japanese petrol manual ! )

Not an ideal solution, but at least it means you not long term relegated to the bus and you're not throwing good money after bad if you see what I mean?

Good luck anyway with whatever you decide.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - KB.

All noted. And, yes, a real kick in the bits on a car of that age and mileage. And I note the empathy, sympathy etc offered by others - not many of whom are in the same position as the OP due to most of them not owning a DSG.

Unlke myself....

...who does...

...so it's pretty close to home...

...seven year old 1.2 petrol with 7 speed dry clutch DSG.

Has had a clutch pack under warranty and been fine since.

A local independant has said he wouldn't touch it if it required attention and said it would be better at a main dealer. When asked, my main dealer technicians (or mechanics, as was), invariably say how they don't go wrong any more and how they don't get them in for repair very often. But if it did need another clutch pack the parts aren't horrendous but that it's the labour that's expensive - apparently due to the shims that are required ... don't ask me any more about the shims coz I don't know any more than that.

And so, I continue to drive it (and very pleasant it is to drive) and have to hope it keeps going until such time as I chop it in.

Surely they wouldn't keep selling these DSGs (as they do) if they were such an ongoing liability?? Surely, Shirley??

The dealer has said, in the past, that I might get some goodwill help if there was a problem coz I've had it dealer serviced from new ... but it's now 7 years old!

The OP's car may well not have that dealer provenance and the fact he is not the original owner is likely to be a real drawback - and so is at the mercy of the world and his brother and it may well be that the advice to use an trusted independant may not be as applicable in this instance as it usually is due to the complexity of the box. But I would say a ring round of different VW/Skoda/Seat dealers service departments would be worth a try.

The OP did say he bought it with no knowledge of the possible problems that could be encounterd with a DSG. I do have to say he just can't have looked very far. It is plastered pretty much everywhere. You simply cannot have checked far if you wasn't aware of the problems.

I do wonder if driving the car with extra "car sympathy" does pay dividends. Because I'm aware of the issues I treat the car's transmission with kid gloves - and my mileage is low - and it's fine BUT I suppose I would be mad to buy another unless I took out the extra two years warranty from new and reckoned on selling it thereafter.

Edited by KB. on 04/05/2018 at 18:42

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - corax

Surely they wouldn't keep selling these DSGs (as they do) if they were such an ongoing liability?? Surely, Shirley??

VAG can take advantage of the fact that the general public in the UK is in love with their products and don't look beyond the soft touch interior furnishings, so they can continue to sell poorly engineered carp.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - Brit_in_Germany

Two comments on the OP's use of the word "insurance". Presume what is meant here is an insurance policy for repair work rather than accident insurance.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - brum

The DQ200 7 speed DSG box has been subject to a number of sneaky "service campaigns" which are in house under the radar recalls, where work is carried out usually without the knowledge of the customer during routine servicing at main dealers. A number of software updates and crucially the infamous campaign 347F (iirc) which changes the gearbox synthetic oil for mineral oil after it was found that the synthetic oil had additives that causes electrolytic corrosion in the mechatronics unit leading to failure of the inbuilt electronics. The symptoms the op has sound like a mechatronics failure, the unit itself is replaceable and costs a lot of money (but not as much as a complete gearbox) and requires a knowledgeable and skilled technician.

Because the OP had servicing outside the dealer network , SEAT wont readily offer goodwill having missed the benefit of this secret undercover service work. Goodwill usually stops at 5 years.

He should research these campaigns on vag forums such as briskoda.net, seatcupra.net etc and could try talking direct to SEAT customer service, and armed with knowledge of these service campaigns that SEAT should have been morally obliged to offer to all customers, he may get some goodwill. Legal recourse through small claims is the alternative.

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - brum

Other DSG variants have had service campaigns and WET DSG boxes (mostly 6 speed) require oil changes every 3yrs / 40,000 miles. Again Mechatronic failure is common if that oil was not changed which often independents don't do or owners refuse to pay up to £200 for.

Mechatronics is a fancy name for the unit on the side of the gearbox containing the electrohydaulic solenoids that operate the gear selectors and clutches and has built in control and driver electronics.

Edited by brum on 05/05/2018 at 02:55

Seat leon - Large and unexpected repair cost - daveyK_UK

Avoid DSG auto boxes, great when they work, expensive when they inevitably fail