Purchased 2018 VW Tiguan in Sept. 2018. After driving it for about a week I noticed that a sound was coming from beneath the vehicle. I took it back to the dealer and had the service manager ride with me and listen to the noise. He agreed that it was quite loud. I left the vehicle with the dealer to be evaluated by VW technicians.
They gave me a 2017 VW Jetta as a loaner car and I had no noise problem with this vehicle. After 13 days i was told to come pick up my vehicle. The report I received said that after checking the vehicle they found no problems and that this was a "normal" sound. I asked to see the dealership owner and told him that this was unacceptable and I wanted it either repaired or I wanted my money back under the lemon law.
Again they asked me to leave the vehicle and they would have a VW engineer come in to look at it. After 5 days they again called me and told me that there was "no fix" for this problem and the noise was "normal" I told them if they considered that noise as "normal" Ferdinand Porsche would be turning over in his grave.I told them that "no German engineer would test drive this vehicle and call that noise normal." The dealer said it was up to VW USA to make the decision. I have had 2 other mechanics drive the vehicle and both said that there was definitely a problem. I started a Better Business Bureau complaint and I have had good cooperation from them to resolve my problem.
I have since learned that VW knows that there is a problem with their AWF8F35 8 speed transmission and a lawsuit is pending concerning the 2019 VW Jettas experiencing the same problem with the same transmission. All complainants were told the the grinding sound is "normal". Apparently the "normal" response was a talking point sent out to ALL VW dealers to avoid a recall of this faulty transmission.
After the TDI scandal which cost VW billions of dollars they cannot afford another worldwide recall of this transmission. The fact that no VW personnel ever mentioned the transmission, and they all said that this was "normal" noise leads me only to the conclusion that they know there is a problem and there is a cover up going on.I am restlessly pursuing this matter with the BBB, and will not back down until it is resolved to my satisfaction. That is repair to my satisfaction, or reimbursement.of my full purchase price.
I would recommend that anyone who is experiencing this same problem with their 2018 Tiguan or 2019 Jetta AWF8F35 transmission reply to this site and then complain to the Better Business Bureau Auto Line complaint section.
Update from Jun 24, 2019: 6/24/19 - Just picked up my Tiguan from the dealer that Volkswagen of America (VWA) sent me to. They had it for 2 days and told me to come pick it up. There was no repair made because they said the noise and whining coming from the transmission was "normal". This is the standard answer the technicians were told to reply when a complaint was received about the AWF8F35 transmission in the Tiguans and Jettas. There is actually a technical service bulletin they sent out telling their technicians to say that it is normal.
After the embarrassing and very costly TDI scandal VW does NOT want another costly recall and is doing all it can to avoid it by lying to the customers.
I am continuing my case with the BBB and since VWA claims there is no repair possible, I am asking for a full refund of my purchase price under the lemon law. I am also complaining to the National Highway Traffic safety Administration due to the unpredictable acceleration qualities when changing lanes or entering highways,
Update from Aug 10, 2019: Went to arbitration with BBB and Volkswagen of America. I gave a full report and presentation on my complaint. Arbitrator also went for a test drive and heard the loud noise. The VW representative was on the telephone speaker only, and I could only talk to the telephone. The VW rep's ONE and ONLY reply to all of my complaints was the
STANDARD reply they were all told to use........"this noise was normal".
The arbitrator has determined that, although my vehicle was in the shop 3 times for a total of almost 30 days, and NO repairs could be made to correct the problem, my vehicle was not eligible under the New York State Lemon Law. The reason given was that the manufacturer (VWA) said that the noise was normal for that vehicle.
What did the arbitrator expect them to say?
I am appealing the decision and pursuing legal alternatives.
Meanwhile, anyone who reads this and has the same problem, should call the BBB and the NHSA and complain about it. Maybe we can start a recall.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Purchased 2018 VW Tiguan in Sept. 2018. After driving it for about a week I noticed that a sound was coming from beneath the vehicle. I took it back to the dealer and had the service manager ride with me and listen to the noise. He agreed that it was quite loud. I left the vehicle with the dealer to be evaluated by VW technicians. They gave me a 2017 VW Jetta as a loaner car and I had no noise problem with this vehicle. After 13 days i was told to come pick up my vehicle. The report I received said that after checking the vehicle they found no problems and that this was a "normal" sound. I asked to see the dealership owner and told him that this was unacceptable and I wanted it either repaired or I wanted my money back under the lemon law. Again they asked me to leave the vehicle and they would have a VW engineer come in to look at it. After 5 days they again called me and told me that there was "no fix" for this problem and the noise was "normal" I told them if they considered that noise as "normal" Ferdinand Porsche would be turning over in his grave.I told them that "no German engineer would test drive this vehicle and call that noise normal." The dealer said it was up to VW USA to make the decision. I have had 2 other mechanics drive the vehicle and both said that there was definitely a problem. I started a Better Business Bureau complaint and I have had good cooperation from them to resolve my problem. I have since learned that VW knows that there is a problem with their AWF8F35 8 speed transmission and a lawsuit is pending concerning the 2019 VW Jettas experiencing the same problem with the same transmission. All complainants were told the the grinding sound is "normal". Apparently the "normal" response was a talking point sent out to ALL VW dealers to avoid a recall of this faulty transmission. After the TDI scandal which cost VW billions of dollars they cannot afford another worldwide recall of this transmission. The fact that no VW personnel ever mentioned the transmission, and they all said that this was "normal" noise leads me only to the conclusion that they know there is a problem and there is a cover up going on.I am restlessly pursuing this matter with the BBB, and will not back down until it is resolved to my satisfaction. That is repair to my satisfaction, or reimbursement.of my full purchase price. I would recommend that anyone who is experiencing this same problem with their 2018 Tiguan or 2019 Jetta AWF8F35 transmission reply to this site and then complain to the Better Business Bureau Auto Line complaint section.
Update from Jun 24, 2019: 6/24/19 - Just picked up my Tiguan from the dealer that Volkswagen of America (VWA) sent me to. They had it for 2 days and told me to come pick it up. There was no repair made because they said the noise and whining coming from the transmission was "normal". This is the standard answer the technicians were told to reply when a complaint was received about the AWF8F35 transmission in the Tiguans and Jettas. There is actually a technical service bulletin they sent out telling their technicians to say that it is normal. After the embarrassing and very costly TDI scandal VW does NOT want another costly recall and is doing all it can to avoid it by lying to the customers. I am continuing my case with the BBB and since VWA claims there is no repair possible, I am asking for a full refund of my purchase price under the lemon law. I am also complaining to the National Highway Traffic safety Administration due to the unpredictable acceleration qualities when changing lanes or entering highways,
Update from Aug 10, 2019: Went to arbitration with BBB and Volkswagen of America. I gave a full report and presentation on my complaint. Arbitrator also went for a test drive and heard the loud noise. The VW representative was on the telephone speaker only, and I could only talk to the telephone. The VW rep's ONE and ONLY reply to all of my complaints was the STANDARD reply they were all told to use........"this noise was normal". The arbitrator has determined that, although my vehicle was in the shop 3 times for a total of almost 30 days, and NO repairs could be made to correct the problem, my vehicle was not eligible under the New York State Lemon Law. The reason given was that the manufacturer (VWA) said that the noise was normal for that vehicle. What did the arbitrator expect them to say? I am appealing the decision and pursuing legal alternatives. Meanwhile, anyone who reads this and has the same problem, should call the BBB and the NHSA and complain about it. Maybe we can start a recall.
- Nicholas P., Amherst, US