2012 Tiguan 09G program is HORRID!!!!!!

[Charlie_M]

[/LEFT]
Update 1/22/12
The result is "Technician road tested vehicle. These are normal characteristics of this transmission. Compared to similar Tiguan - operating normally".

On the way home, it seemed to be even worse. While driving at about 32 mph and the car was laboring (vibrating), I threw the trans over from drive to Tiptronic and saw that it was in 6th gear (you can see it on the dash) and I down shifted to 4th and it ran fine. If this were a stick shift, who would drive it at 32 mph in SIXTH GEAR!!

The vibration could be a resonance with the motor at certain speeds ... Could you be feeling the engine & tranny rocking back & forth? If VW is trying to really isolate engine vibration, maybe the motor mounts are too soft.

What happens if you use tiptronic mode, keep in 4th or 5th at the same RPM as above? (Whatever RPM you see at 32MPH in 6th). Same vibration?

[mhackett]

What happens if you use tiptronic mode, keep in 4th or 5th at the same RPM as above? (Whatever RPM you see at 32MPH in 6th). Same vibration?

The same sort of lugging vibration will occur in any gear if the rpm is low, however, in the lower gears it tends to be a brief irritation since it doesn't take long for the car to accelerate above the lugging region, then of course the cycle is repeated immediately after the next upshift.

The prolonged irritation is mainly in top gear since the ratio is such that you are now at a speed (30-35 mph) where you may be spending a lot of time.

If there was simply a way to lock out top gear unless you really wanted to use it I imagine most people would find the short-shifting otherwise acceptable. In my car the Sport mode does this, using only gears 1-5, but is not very pleasant driving from stoplight to stoplight since it downshifts to keep rpms above 2k and mpg is lousy. I often wished they did this the old-fashioned way instead, with OD and D shifter positions, instead of D and S. While S can be fun sometimes I really don't have much use for it and would gladly give it up in favor of regular D behavior with 6th locked out.

Anyway, as I said before, Tiptronic is my solution to all of this. I don't expect one from VW.

[reneestan]

Okay, I take my Tiguan into the dealership tomorrow for transmission short shifting, loud vibration and lugging when doing the short shifting. This mostly occurs from anywhere from 25 to almost 40 mph.

I previously owned a 2010 VW Tiguan 4 motion and loved it. I heard about the 2012 getting much improved gas-mileage so I purchased one (very sad that I did) I wish I could get my 2010 back. This programming on the new transmission is horrible. I have read all the threads and agree with all of them and have had all of them happen to me. When the loud vibration and short shifting is occuring at 30 mph I also put it in (auto-stick) tip-tronic and was in 6th gear at 35 mph. I was wondering if the APR Stage 1 programming would fix this? (but then voids your warranty?) I wish VW would understand this problem as it is not normal and needs a fix. Calling VW only sends you back to the dealership and they will not recognize anyones problems. Again, I go tomorrow so will let all know what they say...

[/QUOTE]

Back from dealership. They had me drive another Tiguan, and of course it had the same lugging and short-shifting problems as mine. We put the transmission in tiptronic while lugging and loud bass resounation was occuring and at times we were in 5th gear at 30 mph and under @ around 1300 RPM. They state this is normal and until VW recognizes it as a problem nothing can be done. They also stated there are no TSBS concerning same.
I questioned them on getting the wastegate clip but they denied there is such a thing and stated my vehicle did not need this. After pressing, they did order me a part per another TSB# 21-11-07 for rattling noise from engine/exhaust they just did on a GTI??


(So I suggest everyone who is irritated by this same complaint call Volkswagen of America Customer Relations 1-800-DRIVE VW Toll free: 1-800-822-8987 Fax: 248-340-4660 Web site: www.vw.com or write them 3800 Hamlin Road - 2F02 Auburn Hills, MI 48326.

[vw_nc_dude]

Is there anything I can do for this auto to be like the 2009 Tiguan that I traded in? The transmission trys to get into 6th gear as fast as it can, so if I'm driving 35-40 mph, the engine is lugging around 1300rpm and that makes a low frequency vibration/noise that is awful. I really don't care that the Tiguan gets a couple more mpgs with this setup, it makes the car a complete turd. Would the dealership even be able to get me a less eco-minded tranny program? the rest of the Tiguan is nice, but this issue really sucks.

Same thing on my wife's 2012 Tiguan FWD SE. It shifts to 6 at around 35 mph!!! The car is roughly at 2500 miles, so I assume the "learning" phase is over. Also, putting in S is in my opinion not a solution since then it stays at high rpm too long. So, tiptronic is the only "solution" but is it really? Could have bought a manual instead then.

Is there any website or email address of VW where we can complain about this? Re-programming the ECU is what I hope for.

[vw_nc_dude]

Same thing on my wife's 2012 Tiguan FWD SE. It shifts to 6 at around 35 mph!!! The car is roughly at 2500 miles, so I assume the "learning" phase is over. Also, putting in S is in my opinion not a solution since then it stays at high rpm too long. So, tiptronic is the only "solution" but is it really? Could have bought a manual instead then.

Is there any website or email address of VW where we can complain about this? Re-programming the ECU is what I hope for.

OK, here it is. Go to the following VW link and submit your request:

http://web.vw.com/templates/Service?...e=customercare

[vw_nc_dude]

OK, here it is. Go to the following VW link and submit your request:

http://web.vw.com/templates/Service?...e=customercare

For what is worth, I just completed a complaint about the 2012 Tiguan automatic transmission using the above link. I suggest that everybody who is experiencing this problem to do the same. The more complaints, the more likely it is that VW hopefully releases an ECU update.

[reneestan]

Please keep searching.

I just posted a similar thread except mine does it at 28-30 mph and tries to stay in 5th on flat ground. So I get the hum and lag
Dealer said might work itself out and to bring back when I'm over 600+ miles if problem still there.
I am stunned VW found this acceptable to market, I'm just hoping there will be a recall to address this problem as who cares about a couple mpg's when your disgusted about the transmission.

Everything else about the car is lovable and enjoyable to drive but WTF on that hum & lag.

Also, I put it in cruise control at 28 mph on flat ground and it stays in 4th like its supposed to.
When I turn off the cruise control at that speed......it shifts up into 5th and lags..Maybe cruise control is same as Sport?

Is your Tiguan a FWD or 4 Motion? Seems to be happening more with the FWD transmission lugging and short=shifting??

[bmod14]

For what is worth, I just completed a complaint about the 2012 Tiguan automatic transmission using the above link. I suggest that everybody who is experiencing this problem to do the same. The more complaints, the more likely it is that VW hopefully releases an ECU update.

I emailed a complaint to the link and also wrote a letter to VW of America at 3800 Hamlin Road in Auburn Hills Michigan, 48326 Attn: Customer Care Group, with copies to my dealer's sales manager and service manager. Don't know how much good it will do, but can't hurt.

Also, after reading many articles and reviews that praise the 2012 Tiguan, I finally found one that mentions the transmission problem. Link to it below -

http://tinyurl.com/7tpsqm3

[bmod14]

Here is another article that talks about the Tiguan transmission problems. Maybe if enough of these are written, VW will do something!


http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...IEWS/120209912

[mhackett]

Yes, some good comments there by a couple of the writers. Though I wish they'd allowed that most people wouldn't consider the Sport mode to be a very good solution to this, most of the time. It can be pretty harsh and unpleasant and really impacts the mpg significantly.

Sport mode might be ok if it could be changed to not be quite so sporty, say with 2500 instead of 3000 rpm upshift points, and correspondingly lower downshift points. That's the most obvious fix for this to me, and VW might go for it since it would allow them to preserve their current mpg claims in regular Drive mode.

[vw_nc_dude]

Here is another article that talks about the Tiguan transmission problems. Maybe if enough of these are written, VW will do something!


http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...IEWS/120209912

Great! The word is getting out!

[mhackett]

Anyway, as I said before, Tiptronic is my solution to all of this. I don't expect one from VW.

As it turned out, VW did have a solution to this...in the form of a 2012 GTI 6M. Life is too short, etc., etc.

[vw_nc_dude]

As it turned out, VW did have a solution to this...in the form of a 2012 GTI 6M. Life is too short, etc., etc.

DSG is also working great. But that's not the point. We want the current automatic transmission to drive better. Whether this is achieved by updating the D mode, or (more likely) by updating the S mode, does not matter as long as VW offers some solution.

[reneestan]

I too traded in my 2010 vw tiguan 4 motion Wolfsburg for the new 2012 vw tiguan fwd SE. I have to agree with all the posts about the transmission. I test drove and thought it was a little louder than the 2010 but since it was a fwd I assummed it was different because it was just a fwd compared to 4 motion? I did tried to post about putting in key turning to start without turning it on and holding the gas pedal down to the floor for 5 seconds and then turning the car off for reboot. This did not help at all? I am hoping they do a reflash fix for this problem because the gears are trying to shift way too soon which makes a loud bass type sound and lags???? I am hating this?

At 2800 miles now, and after trying the reset of throttle as suggested in other forums, and driving on long trips (over 250 miles) it is still doing the short-shifting & when coasting or slowing down to 35 mph it stays in 6th gear.... It might adapt very little, but with adding the 2nd overdrive gear etc. and revisions to this transmission in 2012 I don't think it will ever adapt to a smooth shifting vehicle?.... My 2010 Tiguan's transmission was nothing like this. Not trying to prove anybody wrong or misrepresent any information, this is just what I am experiencing with my Tiguan. Hopefully VW can do something with this issue.

[vw_nc_dude]

At 2800 miles now, and after trying the reset of throttle as suggested in other forums, and driving on long trips (over 250 miles) it is still doing the short-shifting & when coasting or slowing down to 35 mph it stays in 6th gear.... It might adapt very little, but with adding the 2nd overdrive gear etc. and revisions to this transmission in 2012 I don't think it will ever adapt to a smooth shifting vehicle?.... My 2010 Tiguan's transmission was nothing like this. Not trying to prove anybody wrong or misrepresent any information, this is just what I am experiencing with my Tiguan. Hopefully VW can do something with this issue.

We are at about 2300 miles now and also do not see any adaptation of the transmission. Really looking forward that VW does something about this.

[mhackett]

While this has been described as a short-shifting issue in this thread, I don't think that's really the case. This transmission in Drive mode shifts quite normally I thought, under acceleration it gave the engine plenty of revs before upshifting, and adjusted its shifting behavior to how far down you were pressing your right foot quite well.

The problem, simply, is the tall top gear. If it stopped at 5th I doubt anyone would be complaining.

This problem is unlikely to go away, since tall gearing is a proven mpg enhancer, and the manufacturers are under pressure to improve mpg. It's likely to get worse, actually, as 7 and 8 speeds are pushed into more cars. And they've got a pretty captive customer base, in the US anyway, as the vast majority are not interested in alternatives like manuals or even tiptronic-like automatics.

[vw_nc_dude]

...This transmission in Drive mode shifts quite normally...

Well, I think you are in the happy minority then and I see you currently do not own a 2012 Tiguan. On the other hand, many owners of the 2012 Tiguan are pretty unhappy about how the current transmission shifts.

[reneestan]

While this has been described as a short-shifting issue in this thread, I don't think that's really the case. This transmission in Drive mode shifts quite normally I thought, under acceleration it gave the engine plenty of revs before upshifting, and adjusted its shifting behavior to how far down you were pressing your right foot quite well.

The problem, simply, is the tall top gear. If it stopped at 5th I doubt anyone would be complaining.

This problem is unlikely to go away, since tall gearing is a proven mpg enhancer, and the manufacturers are under pressure to improve mpg. It's likely to get worse, actually, as 7 and 8 speeds are pushed into more cars. And they've got a pretty captive customer base, in the US anyway, as the vast majority are not interested in alternatives like manuals or even tiptronic-like automatics.

In city driving at 30-35 mph in D (Drive) with traffic lights, stops signs (stop N go) traffic my Tiguan is shifting into 5-6 th gear at 30-35-40 mph. I would never shift into 5th or 6th gear at 30-35 or 40 mph in a manual (that is what I am calling short-shifting?) At 2800 miles now and did the throttle reset (as posted on youtube and in other forums) this did nothing. Drove 300 mile trip after the reset (did not improve). Not sure it will ever adapt to correct shift patterns?

[mhackett]

I would define short-shifting as, under acceleration, having the transmission upshift so quickly that the engine is not allowed to ever get into its powerband, thus hurting acceleration. My Golf 2.5 automatic did not do this and I don't believe anyone above has complained about this either. Given the huge powerband of the 2.0TSI which I also now have (yay) I don't think this is the issue.

The issue is, once you've reached the speed you want to be at and are no longer accelerating, the transmission will have put you in top gear and the rpms can be quite low if you are going 30-35 mph. You are getting good mpg, as intended, however, you will also get annoying lugging with any gentle attempts to speed up or climbing a gentle upgrade if they aren't significant enough to force a downshift.

If what you would like VW to do is, in regular Drive mode, delay the shift into top gear until, say, the rpms won't be below 1500rpm after it's there, and immediately force a downshift whenever they drop back below 1500, you aren't going to get what you want. That would cause a 5-10% mpg hit in city driving, easily.

As to not driving a manual this way...that's absolutely correct, you wouldn't. And you may have noticed that automatics (even slushbox types) are getting better EPA City mpg than manuals lately. Exploiting a tall top gear as often as possible is why this is. Makes one wonder for how much longer manuals will even be offered.

[vw_nc_dude]

One customer got an encouraging reply from VW that a program update is coming. Finger crossed. See thread below:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...n+transmission

[vw_nc_dude]

Here is a video from consumer reports. They do not mention transmission explicitly, but somewhere around 45sec they say "the engine groans and moans" which exactly is what we are experiencing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDWptp6aObE

[Banshee365]

So am I correct that the '12 Tiguan uses an 09G? If that's the case then no thanks for the Tiguan for me for now. We have an 09G in our NBC and it's a friggen nightmare...

[vw_nc_dude]

So am I correct that the '12 Tiguan uses an 09G? If that's the case then no thanks for the Tiguan for me for now. We have an 09G in our NBC and it's a friggen nightmare...

It's a 09G automatic transmission but there is hope that VW comes up with a software update for the 2012 Tiguan. I have a 2008 Passat with 09G and it shifts great. So it is really a matter of programming.

[Banshee365]

The programming wasn't an issue with out 09G Beetle. At around 50k it started slamming into gears between shifts and also downshifting super hard to where stuff was flying out of the seat. It ended up being the valve body, very common for this transmission on the Beetle's.

[vw_nc_dude]

The programming wasn't an issue with out 09G Beetle. At around 50k it started slamming into gears between shifts and also downshifting super hard to where stuff was flying out of the seat. It ended up being the valve body, very common for this transmission on the Beetle's.

An extended warranty was issued by VW for that problem. Did you have it repaired at your VW service?

[mhackett]

I have a 2008 Passat with 09G and it shifts great. So it is really a matter of programming.

What are the rpms in top gear at 30mph with your Passat?

[vw_nc_dude]

What are the rpms in top gear at 30mph with your Passat?

I can't push it to the 6th gear in tiptronic mode at 30mph.

In D mode, the typical RPMs are around 2000 and it is a smooth ride. No low-RPM / high gear issue as experienced with the 09G in the 2012 Tiguan.

[mhackett]

Interesting. Assuming the specs I found are correct the overall 6th gear ratio is quite similar between these two vehicles, 2.38 for the Tig and 2.345 for your Passat. The Tig has larger-diameter tires though so overall it would be turning a few % less rpm at the same speed. Still in the ballpark.

So when coasting to a stop in D does the Passat force downshifts such that the engine is pushed above idle speed after each downshift (kind of like Sport mode but not so much)?

During the time I had my Golf auto I spent a lot of time thinking about how I really wished it worked, that's why I'm curious about this.

[vw_nc_dude]

Interesting. Assuming the specs I found are correct the overall 6th gear ratio is quite similar between these two vehicles, 2.38 for the Tig and 2.345 for your Passat. The Tig has larger-diameter tires though so overall it would be turning a few % less rpm at the same speed. Still in the ballpark.

So when coasting to a stop in D does the Passat force downshifts such that the engine is pushed above idle speed after each downshift (kind of like Sport mode but not so much)?

During the time I had my Golf auto I spent a lot of time thinking about how I really wished it worked, that's why I'm curious about this.

It behaves exactly as you describe: Shifting down like the Sport mode but not so much.

[mhackett]

Ok, thanks. Any other automatics I've driven behaved like the one in my 2011 Golf, upshifting as soon as possible and with coasting downshifts barely pushing the rpms above idle speed. It works ok if you have a lot of cylinders and/or a not-very-tall top gear.

Obviously VW understood at one time that a small engine with tall gearing required a different approach than this for good driveability. Their priorities have changed recently, of course.

[vw_nc_dude]

Ok, thanks. Any other automatics I've driven behaved like the one in my 2011 Golf, upshifting as soon as possible and with coasting downshifts barely pushing the rpms above idle speed. It works ok if you have a lot of cylinders and/or a not-very-tall top gear.

Obviously VW understood at one time that a small engine with tall gearing required a different approach than this for good driveability. Their priorities have changed recently, of course.

Yep, it's a pity that they butchered the well-shifting automatic to increase MPG. Though it looks like with the 2012 Tiguan they made the programming so horrible that it needs reprogramming.

[vw_nc_dude]

OK guys, here is the latest from VW. This is the message I received today:

Dear Mr. T:

Thank you for your e-mail inquiring about updates for the transmission for the 2012 Tiguan.

At this time we are aware that Volkswagen recognized the dissatisfaction some of our customers have with the performance of the transmission for the 2012 Tiguan. And we are working on an adjustment that addresses this concern and allows the Tiguan to still comply with Federal emission standards.

[Charlie_M]

Hmm ... emission standards? Sounds like corporate-double-speak for epa mileage, so they can keep their CAFE (corp average fuel economy) numbers up.

Makes me wonder what shift patterns they use for manual transmissions in the mileage and emissions cycles?

[vw_nc_dude]

Hmm ... emission standards? Sounds like corporate-double-speak for epa mileage, so they can keep their CAFE (corp average fuel economy) numbers up.

Makes me wonder what shift patterns they use for manual transmissions in the mileage and emissions cycles?

Good point! I do not think that they manually shift to 6th gear at 35MPH and that's most likely contributing to a lower MPG with manual. OK, I like the idea of higher MPG, but that cannot be justified by shifting to a high gear too soon.

[hhbah]

I have had enough of VW's inaction on this issue. I am starting a lemon law case. I want a full refund on my 2012 Tiguan. The dealer misrepresented the problem when they told me that the poor shifting would go away once the transmission and turbo "adapt" to my driving style.