Right on queue a week before our holiday to France the gearbox has now failed. I was waiting for it to happen going by all the reports herein. 73,000 miles and thats it.

A lurch and big warning "gearbox fault no reverse gear" and into limp mode. Pulled over and let it cool off. I had my VCDS in the car with a laptop (essential kit nowdays) and no codes showing. Started up but limited revs so left it a while and made desperate phone calls. Tried again and I had reverse gear so gently drove off and found I had all gears. I had 10 minutes to my destination so got there ok. Going back home it went again and was revving up in first then changing up to third etc. No way I was getting home. I stopped did another scan and got the code 10668. P1736 00. Skoda main dealer was not far away and weighing up the odds I realised my choices were limited as local repairers cannot code a new box. I called Skoda and they said can I drive it there and they would scan it. I did that and guess what they concluded it need a new mechatronics unit. No way they were going to mend it. I invisaged a bill of say €2000 and decided to swallow it as we needed the car next week. Estimate came in at €3300!!!

They also diagnosed my NOX sensor fault (see other posts) and could replace that for another 900.00. No parts on the shelf it was special order and they wanted €1500 up front to order the part from the UK. It may arrive Friday (today is Tuesday) or more likely Monday and I could get the car back Tuesday evening and we needed to pack up and leave Wednesday morning.

I left the car there and got picked up by a friend and had a stiff drink when I got home.

The kicker is the replacement unit will be the same as the old one and will fail in the future. The water pump which fails around 50,000 miles has been redesigned so an admission of faulty parts designed to fail but no redress for all the expense of replacing that.

At what point do you give up and sell the car. Anything you buy nowadays is going to cost you unless you are very lucky.

My only redress is that had I had the car serviced by the main dealer over the years that cost would have exceeded the new gearbox which still would have failed.....

Beware if you have a 2018 Superb.

Interestingly the main dealer had zero customers but lots of guys in white shirts and suit trousers with nothing to do so no wonder the costs are so high. A sign of economic doom and lack of interest in all the EV's in the showroom.

What a dreadful experience. Thank you for the detailed account and warning.

Which gearbox do you have?

5 hours ago, freddyuk said:

The kicker is the replacement unit will be the same as the old one and will fail in the future.

I thought the issue is with the clutch sensor and they were revised around 2021?

If so you should have the revised mechatronic

Hi mate, this is a common issue it seems and I was shocked just like you. Take a look at my posts on this subject and you could save some money.

15 hours ago, rgrigsby said:

Which gearbox do you have?

Be interested to know if it's the DQ250 or DQ381.

I have a 2023 ( forget which DQ no is for this)

2.0 diesel, did they revise these by 2023?

^^^

A 7 speed wet clutch DSG then, a DQ381 with VW Group / Skoda Recommendation, guidance, schedule or specification of Oil changes @ 80,000 miles and not even the filter changed til the 2nd Service.

Scary stuff. Be sure to have an Extended Warranty covering the DSG.

Already done the oil & filter at 40k

Due again at 80k

No way do I listen to VW/Skoda guidance for fluid chage schedules they simply cannot be trusted with this stuff imvho.

Here is the conclusion........you could not make it up!!

The new mechatronic unit was delivered to main dealer on Friday so the car was due to be fixed today - Monday. Had a call this morning asking if we could bring over the spare key as they could not code the gearbox due to some corruption of the coding system. They need both keys at the workshop. The only time someone has been into the hardcore coding was when the towbar was fitted and we lost the Lane Assist and Cruise control.

We are 1.5 hours away so made haste over to Cork.

The other problem is that the wifes key was dropped down the toilet (do not ask - I didn't) just the other day. I removed the battery, it was wet inside so left in the hotpress (airing cupboard) for 2 days. I assumed it was toast but we could not test it as we had no car.

We took the key up anyway and explained it may not work. Turns out my key which was in the car was corrupted and this was the reason they could not code the gearbox. This was handed back to us in an envelope and they insisted we did not put it anywhere near the car. The wife's drowned key was absolutely fine.

It was two hours waiting for them to code in the gearbox. They asked if I wanted the wipers replaced as these were worn but it would be FOC. Blimey! They also offerd a free wash but it was absolutely belting down so I politely refused the offer - just give me the car back.

I had asked for the trailer coding to be fixed but this was not done so still no Cruise control etc. Door locks still don't work.

I wonder what effect my key has had on the systems as all I have ever done is change the batteries. A new key / coded is €400..

So the car is back and seems to work. We have a 2 year warranty on the gearbox. Also the NOX sensor was replaced.

Total bill €3,800.

France here we come.

Good luck !

16 hours ago, freddyuk said:

Here is the conclusion........you could not make it up!!

A new key / coded is €400..

So the car is back and seems to work. We have a 2 year warranty on the gearbox. Also the NOX sensor was replaced.

Total bill €3,800.

France here we come.

Beat of luck with the trip, where did you pay €400 for the key and does your car have KESSY?

been quoted €550 and €535 in two different dealers

Evening all , The Skoda dealer who supplied my Superb refused to change the gearbox oil.

The same story by a specialist garage in Gloucestershire !

It's the dry clutch gearbox

16 minutes ago, super717 said:

Evening all , The Skoda dealer who supplied my Superb refused to change the gearbox oil.

The same story by a specialist garage in Gloucestershire !

It's the dry clutch gearbox

@Ootohere

Still has the box and MCU oil to change.

@super717

Good call on the main dealer not wanting involved. They do not want your money, and why should they.

Have an Automatic Gearbox Specialist change the oils if you really really want.

Your choice to have it serviced even though no servicing schedule.

Edited 5 August, 20255 Aug by Ootohere

Generally depends on the use/mileage. If the car gets to 100k (or 80k in heavy traffic) it's probably worth thinking about doing it.