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We bought a 2010 VW golf from a dealer in October 2015. The car was a Japanese import. There was no problem with the car and it worked fine until April 2019 when the gearbox stopped working completely. The engine ran fine but the car would not move in forward or reverse gears.

I called the AA breakdown assistance and they couldn’t repair it and recommended we had it owed to a garage for repair to the transmission. We took it to a local transmissions company who told us that the Mechatronic unit had failed and this is the computer bit that controls the gearbox and that we would need a new one. We need the car so agreed to have this part replaced. The bill came to $4000 which we paid.

In October 2019 we received a notification from VW New Zealand announcing that they had a recall on our model of Golf to replace the faulty part which was the mechatronic unit on the gearboxes. I contacted them and explained that we had just a few months earlier had to replace that very part and would we be able to get any refund towards that cost. They have replied no. This doesn’t seem right to me.

I provided the information on service history as they required and put them in touch with the transmissions company to discuss the issue. They have responded that they wont refund and we should go to the dealer to try and require the "grey-market importer" to provide redress. Is it right that they have recognised a fault in our vehicle and are prepared to replace it at VW’s expense however as our part broke prior to them recalling the part we are not entitled to claim any costs?

Hi there,
As unfortunate as the circumstances are, it would be at the manufacturers discretion of they would assist in paying for repairs, and they might consider if it was a VW agent who carried out the repairs. But with any vehicle purchased from a dealer, the CGA apples and you must contact them first and give them first right to remedy if you believe they are responsible for repair. https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/help-product-service/cars/solving-issues-car-dealer/

Hi Sherbertfizz - just wondering if you had any luck with this as we are in the same boat. We paid over $3,000 to replace our mechatronic unit. We did it ourselves (my partner used to be a mechanic). When we got the recall notice I emailed VW and they refused to even consider that it was the known fault that caused our issue, even though we had taken photos of the damage to the box. Unfortunately we didn't have the 'fault codes' from the car computer to prove to them what caused the break. without those codes we are helpless. I think it's incredibly unfair when it is a known issue with the car. Anyway, hoping you managed to get further?

Hi. Sadly not, because the garage we used couldn’t provide whatever diagnostic information VW were after they wouldn’t help. We went back and forth and they just came back with more reasons why it wasn’t their responsibility. I’m sure
If we had taken it to a VW garage Initially they would have viewed it differently! Very frustrating

Thanks so much for the update- so unfair isn’t it! We have photos of the broken unit so they can clearly see what the problem was, but sadly without the codes it appears a hopeless case.

Thanks so much for the update- so unfair isn’t it! We have photos of the broken unit so they can clearly see what the problem was, but sadly without the codes it appears a hopeless case.

Hi, I have VW golf TSI 2009. I got the same issue. Received a quote to fix the problem for $1750. Before proceeding further, I tried to have the 2nd thought on the issue from Kepa transmissions, they quoted a higher price but also gave me a suggestion to check with the VW dealership first as there is a recall for the mechatronics issue. Thanks for the honest suggestion and it worked for me, The VW dealership replaced the mechatronics unit under recall warranty.