Hi everyone, and Happy New Year!

I’m looking for some advice regarding my Skoda Scala 1.0 DSG. This is my sixth VAG car and my third DSG-equipped vehicle since 2008, so I’m quite familiar with the platform. However, this car has been surprisingly unreliable.

The History

I’ve owned the car for 1.5 years. I bought it at 53,000 km, and it currently has 70,000 km. In that short time, I have already replaced:

• Water pump.

• All three engine mounts: Interestingly, the lower mount has been replaced three times. (A Chinese part lasted two days; a Lemförder lasted five months; I eventually installed the third Lemförder myself).

• Full clutch set.

• Steering component: Replaced under warranty due to noise.

Current Concerns

I am facing a few issues that make me nervous about the car's future:

1. Dashboard Noise: I hear a vacuum-like "leaking valve" noise from behind the dash at idle or when braking to a stop. It’s more noticeable when it’s cold (under 15°C). My mechanic hasn’t been able to pinpoint the source.

2. Transmission Whistle: There is a faint whistle in 4th and 6th gears. My mechanic claims this is a common sound in all dsg cars, which most people don't notice and isn't a cause for concern.

3. Clutch Data: After the clutch replacement, my scanner shows Clutch 1 friction correction at 99.15% and Clutch 2 at -24% (I don't know what it showed before). My mechanic says this generation of DSG doesn't have the sensors to read this data accurately, and if it were really the case, I would have a light on my dash, which I don't, and the gearbox feels very good.

The Dilemma

The car is turning 5 years old soon, which means an expensive timing belt service is due.

Why I want to keep it: I love the design, the "Simply Clever" space, the fuel economy, and the low insurance costs. Compared to other Skoda Scalas on the market where I live, mine has very low mileage (70k km vs. the typical 200k km).

Why I want to sell: I’ve lost confidence in the reliability and have already spent a lot of money on repairs.

What do you think? Are these noises and sensor readings normal for the Scala, or does this sound like "lemon car" that I should sell before the timing belt service?

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Edited 6 January6 Jan by eyalasd

1 hour ago, eyalasd said:

I hear a vacuum-like "leaking valve" noise from behind the dash at idle or when braking to a stop.

Could that be the brake servo.

1 hour ago, eyalasd said:

My mechanic claims this is a common sound in all dsg cars, which most people don't notice and isn't a cause for concern.

Have a look on this site at what other model owners report that have the same DSG.

1 hour ago, eyalasd said:

my scanner shows

What is your scanner, are the programs for it up to date and relate to your exact car.

Edited 7 January7 Jan by nta16
removed cambelt info as it applies to Europe not Israel

Thank you nta16,
My scan tool is car scaner using an BT OBD connected to my phone.
I think, the timing belt intervals you atthaced are not for warm countries?

"Have a look on this site at what other model owners report that have the same DSG."
What do you mean, which site? Briskoda?

The Cam Belt recommendations on replacement are on Dust Rich or Not Dust Rich regions, not actually on climate / temperature, but then Dust Rich is more likely where it is hotter climates. PS. Something was not right in the first place that Replacement Clutch Packs were required. I think the Tech is at it as far as a common noise, if that is what they are saying.

Edited 7 January7 Jan by Evolution13

Check you phone scan tool program is fully up to date for the car you have and consider car and scan tool programs can have errors and omissions, so mistakes, always double-check and cross-reference all sources of information, from computers (programs), car and scan tool manufacturers, data bases and blokes on the internet.

Sorry, good point about the timing belt interval, it may be different in your country for the sand and heat, the - Evolution13 has beat me to it, I'm a very slow one-finger typist.

11 minutes ago, eyalasd said:

What do you mean, which site? Briskoda?

Look at the very top left corner of the page.

Edited 7 January7 Jan by nta16

I have removed cambelt info as it applies to Europe not Israel.  Apologies to eyalasd.  I assume other servicing (and maintenance) intervals are also different for what used to be termed "severe(?) driving conditions"(?) which would include Dust Rich.

@eyalasd it was totally my mistake as I could see from your 'Author's stats' that you are in Israel and should have picked up on your comment about where you live (but I forgot both) but as this is a UK based site, up to you if you want to, it might be best to put you are in Israel as not everyone will look at your (I often do but forgot this time) and I don't know if the 'Author's stats' show on all devices (I use a PC not phone, tablet). Just a suggestion. Good luck.

On 07/01/2026 at 15:19, Evolution13 said:

The Cam Belt recommendations on replacement are on Dust Rich or Not Dust Rich regions, not actually on climate / temperature, but then Dust Rich is more likely where it is hotter climates. PS. Something was not right in the first place that Replacement Clutch Packs were required. I think the Tech is at it as far as a common noise, if that is what they are saying.

Sorry, I could not understand what you meant on your PS comment. The clutch pack was worn it was slipping on every gear - vibration on engaging.
You meant that the most common failure is the mechtornic unit? Here in Israel the most common is clutch failures, mech are failing above 100km

Hi there

I am curious what were the symptoms to lead to replacement of engine mounts?

I have 1.0 gasoline and sometimes at idle revs, I feel like an uneven vibration. It doesn't disappear when the engine is warmed up or if the AC is off or on

Vibrations in the cabinet also knock on putting to r.

My recommendation to you if you want to replace those put only the original ones.

I have 1.0 gasoline and sometimes at idle revs, I feel like an uneven vibration.

On 21/01/2026 at 12:40, asterixmic said:

Hi there

I am curious what were the symptoms to lead to replacement of engine mounts?

I have 1.0 gasoline and sometimes at idle revs, I feel like an uneven vibration. It doesn't disappear when the engine is warmed up or if the AC is off or on

Be assured, vibration at idle for this 1.0 is completely normal, every car is the same

Just an update control arm abushings and right and left enigne mounts got replaced to non Chinese brand and the car feels like new...

Chineseium, hummm, I try to avoid buying that sort of thing as far as car parts are concerned - certainly important ones anyway, but sometimes even when buying trusted brands, you can end up with something made in China - probably I'm being "brand snobbish" especially now that UK and to a lesser extent Europe, don't seem to actually manufacture much!

Thanks for reporting back. a lesson learnt there about parts quality - however VW parts quality can also be is poor (which I can confirm on suspension parts) if you have already had to replace suspension parts on a 2021 car - unless you are abusing and/or off-roading the car. I know cars with factory fitted suspension parts that are many years old, and coming up to three decades used on the third-world potholed roads we have but of course these are not VW AG cars. Even cheap Vauxhalls can get into their second decades on (most of) their factory suspension parts.

Surely you can get other than German brands in Israel to compare 5 year old cars against, 50,000 miles is a bit soon to have so much falling apart on a car even if it is so modern. In the UK some car manufacturers give v5 and 7 years warranties (not VW as far as I know) but if I understand correctly in Australia VWŠkoda get 7(?) year warranties (sound too good to be true and too expensive for VW).

Edited 7 March7 Mar by nta16

We have rough roads with potholes and similar issues, but I am a careful driver. I have driven cars up to 300,000 km and 150,000 km without replacing bushings in other (older) Škoda cars.

Yes, VW quality is going down year by year, so this will definitely be my last VAG car.

I’m looking at Renault as a replacement. Prior to the Scala, I had a 2017 Mégane dCi. I drove it from around 70,000 km to 140,000 km, and apart from the A/C evaporator, A/C compressor, and fuel filter housing, I had no issues at all. I sold it because the insurance costs jumped by 100%.

You actually put some miles on your dCi so didn't have the lots of short journeys DPF issues some owners get over here, but a 2017 Renault or VW brand car will possibly be better overall than the same model Renault VW brand model built in 2021.

At your rate of changing cars and mileage you might be better looking at cars built before 2020 or save even more time, hassle and money and buy even older, 2011, 2005, or further back. Or IIRC Dacia (Renault engines?) built in Romania, Sandero is least expensive car in Europe but also the most reliable, shows how the likes of VW are just taking the p1ss.

Renault, VW brands are European, don't you have Japanese and Korean brands - not Nissan because of Renault bit, Nissan Cashcow (Qashqai) very big seller over here but not that reliable.

Good luck.

The quality of all cars goes down year on year. Look carefully before buying a Renault, some are still Ok and some are rubbish.

@Aldfort which are the rubbish ones on sale new now would be good to know, is it Mild Hybrids, ICE or BEV,s or just any models with any drive train?

@Evolution13 I tend to watch a channel on the internet called The Car Edition. It's useful as it's run by mechanics and gives a perspective on which cars don't breakdown very much and which do. Also on things like which cars are easy to service and which are not. (hard to service leads to a tendency to skip stuff.)

It's also worth looking into what's actually under the hood. So many powertrains are now shared between manufacturers that a Renault (insert brand of choice) may not be a Renault at all under the surface. A clear example that comes easily to my mind is the VW Amarok, it's basically a Ford Ranger under the skin.

Maybe you think that the quality of cars just gets better and better? Thinking back to Audi's I owned years back they were undoubtedly better built than todays offerings IMHO.