2011 Jetta TDI hesitation

[kassel]

Anyone experiencing a bad hesitation in their new 11 jetta TDI? From a stop there is a good second or two and then the car takes off hard. Makes no difference if I am in drive or sport mode, hot or cold, AC on or off. If it were a regular transmission I would almost say the transmission was slipping but with the DSG..........Car has less than 3500 miles on it and has been doing this for about 1500 miles. Thoughts?

 

[Savageman69]

Its a common dsg issue

 

[seven-up]

Mine does this as well. However, it is not as noticeable in sport mode. I usually take off from a stop in sport and then move to drive. That is until a coon jumps in front of my car... but that is another story...

 

[DC-IT]

If you drive it like you stole it the hesitation is gone!

 

[jettahighline]

Ooo you have the Grand Edition ML, I have the Designo Edition ML350 =) looks like ML AMG hehe

 

[Cogen Man]

My 2011 Golf with the DSG does this also. As others have said with this tranny it is normal. And I agree, the drive it like ya stole it works.

 

[Red Sox Nation]

I've noticed this on my wife's CC. It feels like the transmission has a creeper gear or something, and then shifts into first. Kind of strange to get used to, but so is the exclusion of a clutch ;-)

 

[DC-IT]

Ooo you have the Grand Edition ML, I have the Designo Edition ML350 =) looks like ML AMG hehe

Way to go.
I got my ML from M-B in Mississauga!

 

[xtu1963]

I too experience this lag. I read on another post that the way to "fix" this is to take your foot off the break about a second before you press the accelerator. I tried this and it works. Just takes a little getting used to versus an automatic transmission.

 

[deucelee]

i test drove a DSG and noticed that too.

 

[DJ KJ]

Ooo you have the Grand Edition ML, I have the Designo Edition ML350 =) looks like ML AMG hehe

Coincidentally, you guys are both from the GTA. Another coincidence is that my Fiancee (wife by next Saturday) who I helped buy the TDI for, her parents have the ML350, and we are also in the GTA.

What's with the Jetta TDI and the ML350 coming in pairs!?!? =)

- KJ

 

[spiydr]

Its seems many owners on this forum find this to be normal acceptable behavior. I for one agree with the OP and find it to be annoying.

I think some of us are experiencing an exagerated version of the issue. Probably would be a good idea to bring your car to the dealer and have it checked out.

 

[DC-IT]

Coincidentally, you guys are both from the GTA. Another coincidence is that my Fiancee (wife by next Saturday) who I helped buy the TDI for, her parents have the ML350, and we are also in the GTA.

What's with the Jetta TDI and the ML350 coming in pairs!?!? =)

- KJ

Congrats DJ KJ. May your worries be lots of little ones from here on!
And welcome to the married club! AND always remember to say "YES Honey" and you'll be OK.

Its seems many owners on this forum find this to be normal acceptable behavior. I for one agree with the OP and find it to be annoying.

I think some of us are experiencing an exagerated version of the issue. Probably would be a good idea to bring your car to the dealer and have it checked out.

I've learned to apply the right pressure to the diesel paddle to eliminate this lag/hesitation. Setting the tranny to Sports mode also helps but I've stopped doing that since driving like I stole it works fine for me and I still get 39~40 US MPG.

My ML350BT and even my BMW 335d also has this hesitation but again once I've learnt the proper pressure to apply to the diesel paddle and I don't drive them like a Grandma the hesitation is gone.

In the case of the M-B + BMW I suspect the hesitation is likely caused by the slight turbo lag.

 

[torrimac]

Mine has done this since day one. I suspect is the hesitation as the transmission computer goes from open clutch to closed clutch. It cant just dump it because that would be hard on the components so it has to slip it some. Ive found that if you know your going to need instant acceleration you can use 2 feet and while holding the break for that last split second give it some gas. This starts the clutch engage and you take off pretty briskly when you release the brake. The down fall is that If you hold it too long the computer realizes the car is not moving and cuts the gas and you have to totally release the gas before it will go again. Guessing a safety to prevent burning up the clutches.

Yea its hard to get use to but it is still fun to drive!!!

 

[DrftrTDI]

My girlfriend bought the DSG, and I have to say - Im not a fan either...especially since mine is MT. I still haven't quite figured out why anyone would really like this feature...if you want an auto..then buy an auto. If you want a manual...then buy a manual. The "Sport" shifting, comparative to a real manual...isn't all that sport-y.

Buuuuut...that's just my opinion

 

[Roshermoore]

Its a common dsg issue

I wouldn't call it an issue. It is just how the new DSG works and you easily learn to adjust to how it operates. At least I have. Not a problem to me!!

 

[bonktz71]

I think it's just the turbo spooling up. I noticed it the first time i test drove it.

 

[Savageman69]

Its not the turbo because my 6spd car doesnt do it....If the standard cars dont do it..and ppl are complaining about it then id have to say its a dsg issue or would you rather call a joy of having a overly expensive tranny lol

 

[elconquistador]

 

[drvr2]

My 2011 Jetta TDI with DSG also has this problem. It only happens occasionally, but has almost caused me to get hit when pulling into traffic. When acceleration from a stop it acts like a Manual Transmission does when you try to take off without giving it enough fuel. I'm leaning toward an engine problem rather than the transmission. Has anyone had success with getting a Dealer to fix the problem?

 

[Savageman69]

if it were an engine problem im pretty sure some non dsg people would be complaining also...my car acts 100 percent as it should from a stop.

 

[TDI_Timmy]

My 2011 Jetta TDI with DSG also has this problem. It only happens occasionally, but has almost caused me to get hit when pulling into traffic. When acceleration from a stop it acts like a Manual Transmission does when you try to take off without giving it enough fuel. I'm leaning toward an engine problem rather than the transmission. Has anyone had success with getting a Dealer to fix the problem?

As with all things new there is a learning curve. The more you drive the more you learn how your vehicle behaves.

There is also an engine hesitation that can creep up when engine is cold, but usually you see that around 1800-1900 and is a slight jolt - I don't think OP was referring to that.

I can't speak for all of us MT drivers, but for me there was one learning curve of finding where that stall point is, can't save it once you are below that threshold, and engine stops dead. OT I know.

 

[irme77]

I am driving a 2011 Jetta 2.5 with the DSG (150 miles on it) and have the same behavior, so its not engine or turbo related. It is very weird, but am able to kinda move my foot with the acceleration to counteract the pull.
Luckily I will be getting my 02 Jetta TDI back tomorrow and am only a month from purging the Auto for a 6mt. (Car is in for Fender Cancer removal)
Its gonna be hard to give up the '11 even though its not a TDI

 

[TDI_Timmy]

I am driving a 2011 Jetta 2.5 with the DSG (150 miles on it) and have the same behavior, so its not engine or turbo related. It is very weird, but am able to kinda move my foot with the acceleration to counteract the pull.
Luckily I will be getting my 02 Jetta TDI back tomorrow and am only a month from purging the Auto for a 6mt. (Car is in for Fender Cancer removal)
Its gonna be hard to give up the '11 even though its not a TDI

I think that is just a 6 speed slushbox - not DSG - shift would say DSG.

Felt something similar in an Audi A4 auto - was not their S-tronic (DSG) trans - feels like torque converter is slipping.

On another note, glad you like the '11 Jetta! Maybe a TDI version is in your future.

 

[DrftrTDI]

...I can't speak for all of us MT drivers, but for me there was one learning curve of finding where that stall point is...

I agree there, and learning how close the gap between 1st and 3rd made me stall a few times (that being taking off from dead stop in what I thought to be 3rd).

 

[Sella Turcica]

Interesting that this is still a problem - and I agree it's a problem - ever try to turn left across a busy four-lane road with no traffic signal?

 

[Jamus]

Interesting that this is still a problem - and I agree it's a problem - ever try to turn left across a busy four-lane road with no traffic signal?

I don't believe it ever was a problem. I believe it's only a problem if you don't know how to handle it properly(reference to aforementioned learning curve). The same could be said for stalling on a MT.


Atleast, there is no problem with mytransmission or engine; and no need for a "fix".

 

[spiydr]

I am so sick of people saying its a learning problem. Its a very simple problem. If I am at a stop and press on the accelerator the damn car just sits there for a couple seconds before doing anything. This is a problem when crossing 4 lanes of traffic. And dont tell me to preemptively press on the accelerator.

 

[TDI_Timmy]

So I am going to post, but not trying to start a fight.

Is it really a couple (2) seconds? That's a really long time - what happens? The engine spool up like a clutch is spinning? If it was 2 seconds for me I would be pushing my foot to the floor. Is there absolutely no response from the engine? I would like someone to really count how long it takes and I am not saying say 1-2 as fast as you can but really one one thousand, etc. I am wondering if it the delay is more like .3-.6 seconds but when it is that time to go and nothing happens it might seem like a longer time than it is.

If my car was hesitating for 2 seconds I would have been at the dealer yesterday and called VWoA and the NHTSA.

 

[45jung]

When I first got my car, I had the same hesitation problem. Almost year past since I got the car, and I'm not getting the hesitation anymore. Maybe car has been broken in or I got use to it. I'm leaning towards latter because few days ago my girlfriend drove it and told me car is very slow. She drives camry.. anyways all cars are droven different ways and I have no complaint about this car. I just need to be more cautious when I drive.