2014 Touareg TDI service question

[JulieChicago]

I took my car in for service at the end of February -- it hasn't been in my driveway since. It's been "in service" for the last three months, and now they tell me it needs a new transmission and parts are no longer available. I'm at a loss as to what to do -- none of this sounds normal to me. Here's the generic nutshell:

12 January 2022: 2014 VW Touareg TDI Executive with 99,115 miles purchased for $23,792+dealer costs. Flawless transaction at Emich VW in Denver; car drives like a dream all the way back to Chicago with no issues until...

14 December 2023: ~114K miles. Car burning through coolant. Local Service says they need to replace oil cooler and seals. They bill for 10 hours, warranty only covers 5.1 hours.

15 October 2024: At oil change, service told me bearing should be replaced but not urgent; warranty will cover. They ordered parts.

25 February 2025: ~130K miles. Car is burning through coolant, ready for oil change, and bearing replacement.

26 February 2025: Service reported oil change and bearing replacement completed. Complicated issue with coolant leak; Warranty company requires inspection then approves procedure.

4 April 2025: Service reported work complete, picked up car, turned out of driveway and car behaves as though stuck in neutral, makes grinding noise when I try other gear settings. Coasted to stoplight, technicians pushed car into parking lot and called tow truck after various attempts to shift car into gear.

8 April 2025: Service reported a suggested part replacement was not made during original service; ordering new part.

23 May 2025: Service reports car needs new transmission, parts not available, warranty won't cover. Estimate is $4200 using used parts.

I would appreciate any thoughts you might have on the matter; I LOVE this car and haven't questioned them along the way because she was in a million pieces in their garage, totally at their mercy. To ME, it seems like they did not put the car back together again properly, so something broke or came loose, and messed up the transmission (and God knows what else).

 

[TurboABA]

So.... you took your car in for service with a good transmission, but now it needs a transmission without you ever driving it?
Sounds like it's the dealer's problem. Just like you said here;

To ME, it seems like they did not put the car back together again properly, so something broke or came loose, and messed up the transmission (and God knows what else).

I also don't know what "bearing" you're talking about, so I'm going to guess that it was the driveshaft hanger bearing, which means they had the driveshaft out, which also means they didn't clip it back into the transfer case and\or diff properly, and it popped out during the initial post-fix drive. This shouldn't be had to diagnose by anyone with a mechanical bone in their body, but it sure sounds like they just like bending you over.

Post a copy of the work order or whatever was done to the vehicle for clarity, instead of the story\summary above. There should be mentions of what was removed\reinstalled\replaced, etc.

 

[pro51492]

I don’t see how you can possibly be on the hook for a transmission when it was a running driving vehicle when you brought it to them for service. Also the 8 speed in the Touareg is a very reliable transmission and with the miles reported above it’s hard to believe that it failed.

Is this an independent shop or VW dealer doing these repairs?

 

[JulieChicago]

Dealer -- VW of Orland Park, Illinois. "F" rating from BBB, I've discovered.

 

[JulieChicago]

So.... you took your car in for service with a good transmission, but now it needs a transmission without you ever driving it?
Sounds like it's the dealer's problem. Just like you said here;


I also don't know what "bearing" you're talking about, so I'm going to guess that it was the driveshaft hanger bearing, which means they had the driveshaft out, which also means they didn't clip it back into the transfer case and\or diff properly, and it popped out during the initial post-fix drive. This shouldn't be had to diagnose by anyone with a mechanical bone in their body, but it sure sounds like they just like bending you over.

Post a copy of the work order or whatever was done to the vehicle for clarity, instead of the story\summary above. There should be mentions of what was removed\reinstalled\replaced, etc.

I think it was a wheel bearing. I don't have anything in terms of work order from February -- last thing I have is from December 2023.

 

[pro51492]

You may want to check your mileage in vs mileage out or current mileage something is fishy here I don’t understand how it went in for an oil cooler and wheel bearing and came out with a supposed bad transmission.

 

[JulieChicago]

Thank you, I feel the same and I absolutely will be doing that if I ever get it back!

 

[TurboABA]

if I ever get it back

Meaning what? Someone is paying to fix the issues it didn't have when you took it in?

 

[jjblbi]

Sorry for your troubles. While there are many good and honest mechanics, there are some shoddy hacks too. I feel fortunate to be mechanically inclined and enjoy servicing the family vehicles.

" 8 April 2025: Service reported a suggested part replacement was not made during original service; ordering new part. "

That statement seems very telling and I would request the service manager provide a full explanation in writing along with "the root cause" of the trans failure. Remain calm and polite yet insistent.

Knowledge is power. Are there any trusted TDI mechanics (check the list) in your area? It might be worth paying for an hour or two of their knowledge to sort through this, especially if you have to go legal on the dealer.

Good luck and please report back, John

 

[JulieChicago]

Are there any trusted TDI mechanics (check the list) in your area?

I checked that list a while ago but now I can find it. I live in Chicago so surely there must be a TDI mechanic in the area and I will definitely avail myself of their services moving forward. Dealer still has my car -- have not heard from them since pushing back on their request that I pay for the new transmission. I'm not sure how to proceed; the car is not driveable.

 

[TurboABA]

You're way calmer than I would be in that fiasco.....
Have you contacted VWoA or anything?

 

[JulieChicago]

If my transmission had silent but deadly issues going in, would it have shown up on the initial diagnostics?

 

[TurboABA]

had silent but deadly issues

No such thing

 

[jjblbi]

I checked that list a while ago but now I can find it.

If you mean you can't find the trusted mechanic list, it in the TDI 101 forum as the first sticky. 3 listings for IL, one in west Chicago.