What are the problems with the VW T-Cross? VW T-Cross (C11_) (12.2018 - ...)

@martin 🦾 Had the same DSG hesitation in my ‘21 T-Cross, especially in city traffic. The dealership did a software update, which mostly fixed the lag when pulling away from a stop. The stop-start system still makes it a bit jerky though, I often turn it off. For the infotainment, a soft reset (holding the power button for about 10 seconds) usually clears up any glitches for me. Annoying, but it works.

@eric_cooooole a software update sounds promising. was it a specific campaign for the dsg? my dealer always says "no faults found" 🙄 the hesitation is making me crazy in stop-and-go traffic. it feels like the car can't decide which gear it wants.

@martin 🦾 I haven't had DSG issues with my 2021, but the infotainment is another story. It randomly disconnects from Android Auto and sometimes the screen just goes black. Had it at the shop twice. First they did a reset, then they updated the software. It’s been better for a few months now, but not perfect. They mentioned that if it happens again, they might need to replace the main unit, apparently it's a known issue with the MIB3 systems.

@LukeOnTesla I think you're right about the MIB3. A friend with a Golf 8 has the exact same infotainment problems. It seems to be a hardware issue that a simple software update can't always fix. He's been waiting for a new control unit for weeks. As for the DSG, mine is mostly fine but I do notice a slight judder when it's cold. Using good quality fuel and keeping up with the service schedule seems to help. I stick to Shell V-Power.

@martin 🦾 My 2021 T-Cross is at 45,000 km and the DSG has been a nightmare from the start. It's not just hesitation, sometimes it feels like it's going to stall when I pull away from a junction. I've had it back to the dealer four times. They've done two software updates and even replaced the mechatronics unit, which was a huge job. It's better, but still not what you'd expect from a modern automatic.
The infotainment is buggy too. The screen freezes at least once a week, and sometimes the audio just cuts out completely. I've found that holding the power button down for a soft reset is the only temporary fix. The dealer updated the software from version 0836 to 0883 on the last visit, which they said was supposed to improve stability. It helped with the frequency of crashes, but the system still feels slow and unresponsive at times. A mechanic I trust mentioned that these issues are often related to the MOST bus communication in the car's electronics, basically the data highway between components gets overloaded or has a faulty controller. He's seen similar problems on Audis and other VWs. He even suggested that a failing battery could cause some of these electronic gremlins, so I had my Varta battery checked, but it was fine.
It's frustrating because the car is great otherwise, but these persistent issues really spoil the ownership experience. My next step is to push for a full replacement of the infotainment control unit, as just updating the software feels like a temporary patch on a bigger problem. I'm also considering getting a second opinion from an independent DSG specialist.

@samuel_king That sounds awful. Four times is not acceptable. Have you tried contacting VW customer service directly? Sometimes the dealer is the problem, not the car. A friend of mine had a similar issue with his Tiguan and going directly to corporate seemed to get things moving.

@martin 🦾 i have the 1.0 tsi with the dsg and yep, the hesitation is real. it's especially bad when the engine is cold. feels like it takes a full second to engage a gear. the infotainment is okay for me, just a bit slow to boot up sometimes. i haven't had any major crashes. running the latest software update the dealer installed during my last service.

@D. J. I agree, the cold start hesitation is the worst part. I’ve learned to let the car warm up for a minute before driving off, which seems to help a bit. Also, I avoid using the auto-hold function at busy junctions because the delay can be dangerous when trying to pull into traffic quickly.

@martin 🦾 no dsg problems on mine but the infotainment screen went completely blank last winter. dealer had to replace it. they said it was a known hardware fault in some batches. luckily it was all covered under warranty.

@samuel_king Wow, replacing the mechatronics is a big deal. Did they say what the underlying problem was? I'm worried my car is heading in the same direction. The hesitation is getting worse. I've been thinking of changing the DSG oil, even though VW says it's "filled for life". Maybe some fresh fluid from a good brand like Castrol would help.

@William8 I wouldn't mess with the DSG fluid yourself unless you know what you're doing. It's a complex procedure. But asking a specialist to do it is a good idea. I had my DSG serviced at an independent shop and they did a full flush and adaptation, made a noticeable difference to the smoothness.

@martin 🦾 The infotainment glitching is super common. Mine used to reboot itself randomly while driving. The latest software update (the dealer called it campaign 91GJ) seems to have fixed it for now. The DSG can be a bit jerky in sport mode, but in normal drive it's been okay for me.

@martin 🦾 I have a 2021 T-Cross 1.5 TSI with DSG and around 60,000km. The hesitation when pulling away was driving me mad. It felt dangerous at times, especially when joining a busy roundabout. After complaining multiple times to the dealer, they finally performed a DSG clutch adaptation. This wasn't just a software update, but a full recalibration of the clutch engagement points.
The process took them a full day. They have to hook it up to their system and the car basically re-learns how to use the clutch smoothly. The difference was night and day. The hesitation is 95% gone. It's much smoother in traffic and the jerky stop-start behavior is much improved. It wasn’t a cheap procedure out of warranty, but it was worth it for the peace of mind.
Regarding the infotainment, I also had random crashes and Apple CarPlay would constantly disconnect. After the usual software updates didn't provide a permanent fix, I read on a German forum that disconnecting the battery for 30 minutes can perform a "hard reset" of all modules. I gave it a try, disconnecting my Bosch battery, and it actually worked. The system has been stable for over six months now. It's a bit of a drastic measure, but it seemed to clear out whatever was causing the software conflicts. Might be worth a try before you go for expensive hardware replacements. 👍

@T-Jackson That's a great tip about the DSG adaptation. I'll ask my mechanic about that. And the battery disconnect for the infotainment is interesting, it makes sense that it would force a full system reboot. Cheaper than a new unit for sure