7-Speed DSG Clutch Replacement Cost, Symptoms, and Longevity

If you plan to purchase a car with the 7-speed DSG transmission you probably want to learn more about the possible bad clutch symptoms and longevity of this transmission. If that is the case, you are in the right place because, in this article, there will be a lot to cover on this transmission made by Volkswagen and tell you all of the secrets that it hides.

7-speed DSG transmissions highlights

• Average lifespan:110,000-130,000 miles
• Reliability Score:Low
• Prone to minor issues:Yes
• Price for repair after failure:$1,500-$3,000
• Price for replacement:$5,000-$6,000
• Availability of parts:Good
• Common problems:clutch kit failure, control module problems, mechatronic issues.

What Is A DSG Transmission?

Before we dive into the symptoms of a bad DSG clutch, let's first familiarize ourselves with the topic and learn more about the core concepts of the DSG transmission.

The DSG abbreviation stands for a direct-shift gearbox. So, what does this mean? Well, this means that this is a dual-clutch automatic transmission.

In simple words, the DSG is automating two manual transmissions and clutches that are contained in a single housing to work together as one unit.

The transmission was invented and designed by BorgWarner and this transmission design was licensed by Volkswagen AG.

What makes the dual-clutch transmission or DSG very good is that it is able to deliver extremely snappy shifts. This is mainly due to the fact that this transmission is using two clutches.

In addition to this, this type of transmission does not have a torque converter like the one found in classic automatic transmissions.

The DSG was extremely popular when it first came onto the market. But soon after major improvements in transmission design followed. 

In 2023, the classic torque converter automatic has a pretty similar performance to the DSG in terms of speed. But still, Volkswagen still uses the DSG in many of its models because it is cheaper to make compared to the torque converter transmission and is also quite reliable.

What Are The Symptoms Of Bad DSG Clutch?

Now let's move on and elaborate more on the symptoms of a bad DSG clutch and learn what can you expect if the clutch pack on the DSG transmission has failed and needs to be replaced.

Knowing the symptoms is really important for you since you will be able to tell if the transmission needs a new clutch pack or not. So, follow us carefully while we cover these symptoms.

1) Transmission Shudder

The first symptom that you will probably notice when the transmission clutch is starting to fail is transmission shudder. So, what is transmission shudder?

A transmission shudder is a situation when you notice vibrations coming from the transmission. If the transmission is working as it should, there should be zero vibrations.

If the transmission starts to feel unease and you notice some strange tiny vibrations when the transmission shifts, it means that there is something wrong.

This is a telltale sign that you have a problem and this problem has to be sorted out. But since this is only the first symptom, you shouldn't rush and you can drive for a little bit longer as is.

If you are not annoyed by the symptom, you shouldn't rush too much with the decision of replacing the clutch since there is still some life left in it.

2) Juddering When Accelerating In First Gear

The second situation is when you have a transmission judder. Judder is somewhat worse than transmission shudder and this is the sign that you were waiting for. This is the sign that will tell you that you need to service the transmission and replace the clutch.

Juddering is similar to shuddering but this time it is more violent, as we would say. When transmission starts to judder, you know that you have a problem.

And this often happens whenever you accelerate from a standstill. Usually, in first to second gear the symptoms of judder are probably the worst. Since this is probably the most difficult point when the car gets up to speed.

So, when you notice this symptom, it is important that you react quickly and make sure that you check the clutch and replace it if the clutch is the one to blame.

3) Slipping Gears

The situation when the car starts to slip gears is also very common when it comes to clutch failures. So, why is this the case, why does the car slip gears?

Well, in this case, the clutches are worn, there is little or no friction material left on them. And this is why there is a big chance for them to slip and not bite the material.

Whenever this happens, you might fall from third to second gear or from second to first. In this case, you can get an over-revving effect.

This effect will be caused because the car is up to high speed and suddenly the transmission drops a gear. Whenever the transmission drops a gear, the RPM will jump high. In some cases, they can even jump to the rev limiter.

A situation that can be detrimental even for the engine. So, if you notice something like this, it is important that you react quickly because you can damage the engine as well.

4) Heavy Banging From The Transmission

Heavy banging noises can also occur whenever you have a worn clutch. These cases are probably the most severe and occur only whenever there is zero clutch material left on the clutch itself.

It is recommended that you don't ignore this symptom because whenever it occurs, it can result in damage to the dual-mass flywheel.

And this is a very expensive piece that will cost you a lot of money to get it replaced. This is why we recommend that you follow the symptoms and the worse they will get, the more risk will be for the transmission to get permanent damage.

In this case, the transmission will not be rebuildable and you will have to buy a used one or you will need to get a new DSG transmission.

5) Fault Code

And the last symptom on our list is the case whenever you get a fault code. The transmission is very smart and knows whenever the clutch is worn.

So, when this happens, there will be the check engine light and you will have a fault code. And if you get the warning, you shouldn't ignore the matter.

You need to get yourself an OBD2 scanner and let the tool scan the car for codes. If you get any codes concerning the DSG and the clutch, it is important to react quickly and take your transmission to a shop to get the clutch replaced.

If you don't have an OBD2 device, you can take your car to the dealership and let them diagnose the matter for you.

Average Longevity Of A DSG Transmission Clutch

A lot of people are asking themselves, what is the longevity of this DSG clutch? How many miles can you get from this clutch before it requires replacement?

According to some official information, the DSG clutch should last for at least 150,000 miles. But considering that this is a DSG and we know how sensitive these transmissions are, the real mileage is somewhere between 100,000 and 120,000 miles.

This is why it is important that you follow the symptoms that we previously covered and only by recognizing the symptoms, you can make sure that you get the problem sorted out on time before there is any damage done to the transmission itself.

Replacing A DSG Clutch

Replacing a DSG clutch is not something easy that can be done by a beginner mechanic. This is a tedious process that requires the removal of the transmission and inspecting the transmission clutch for damage.

Then a well-trained technician needs to implement the replacement procedures in order to get the bad clutch out and install the new one in the transmission.

The replacement process lasts for a few hours. It is labor intensive and also very expensive and can cost you a good penny.

7-Speed DSG Clutch Replacement Cost

Replacing the clutch pack is not cheap, only for the parts, you can expect a quote of $1,500. The labor is also expensive and will cost you anywhere between $1,000 and $1,500.

So, in the best-case scenario, you will pay $2,500 for this job, while in the worst-case, you can expect to pay up to $3,000.

It really depends on the shop itself and the rates that they have. If you look around for shops, you can get better deals. This is why we advise that you don't rush things out when it comes to doing this service. Look for different options and get the best quote for this job.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the 7-speed DSG transmission has a very sensitive clutch that can fail at 100,000 miles and you will only have one option. And that is to replace it with a new unit.

The price for this job can cost up to $3,000. It is not cheap, we must admit. But that is your only way around the problem.

You need to make sure that you follow the symptoms and if one of them overlaps with the symptoms that we listed above, you know that you definitely need a new clutch for your Volkswagen or Audi. Don't delay the repairs because things can get worse and you can end up damaging the dual-mass flywheel.