I wonder if someone with more knowledge of DSG can tell me if this is Normal or a potential problem?

My car is a 2016 190tdi dsg with a questionable dsg service history (just one oil and filter change at 110,000 miles when flywheel was changed) and now at 130,000 miles.

It only ever happens on my drive (flat and level) when starting from cold and only now and again.

• Start engine

• Shift to R

• Touch accelerator to release autohold

• Light touch on brake to slow speed a little as it takes off a bit lively

• A little jerk of movement and Stall

It’s as if reverse is a little highly geared and tick over isn’t enough revs to drive against the brake slightly to control the speed.

I’ve not owned a dsg before so may well be something I’m doing wrong.

I’ve tried letting it idle a little longer so it warms up a bit more and I think it improves things but it’s not consistent enough to know for certain.

One solution is to reverse park on my drive so I’m starting off forwards but that puts my drivers door against the wall of the house so it’s a bit awkward.

No fault codes on tcu.

Any tips gratefully received!

Edited 13 April13 Apr by Binx1310

I’ve had that a few times but stopped when rear discs and pads changed, but I think I saw one of your posts and you’ve had them changed, or was that just the front?

If not there is a setting you can change for the EPB to release “early” instead of “normal” that might help

Yes just changed rear discs and pads. But it’s done it since then. Although they aren’t bedded in yet.

It’s already set to early. I wonder if accelerator set to linear might have some effect too.

Clutch pack and oil…but no idea how they interact.

What oil was used when you had it changed? Maybe slightly thicker and needs to warm up before it lubes properly?

2 minutes ago, travs said:

Clutch pack and oil…but no idea how they interact.

What oil was used when you had it changed? Maybe slightly thicker and needs to warm up before it lubes properly?

It was changed in Moldova by previous owner at ravenol service centre using ravenol brand.

Edit: just looked at invoice. It was this one. Which appears to be right for dq250 https://www.ravenol-direct.uk/ravenol-dct-hv-transmission-fluid.html

It’s going to VAG specialist next month for a full day service so I know it’s done with the right stuff to the right standard.

Edited 13 April13 Apr by Binx1310

Definitely not normal behavior for the DSG-6 DQ250.

Have u tried doing the same but with Autohold turned off beforehand?

5 hours ago, JR RS said:

Definitely not normal behavior for the DSG-6 DQ250.

Have u tried doing the same but with Autohold turned off beforehand?

No will give it a try.

I think it’s probably done it 5 times in the last 4 months so definitely not frequently. Normally when I’m in a rush so I wonder if I put it into R too quickly after starting?!

Mine (2017 2.0 Tdi 150hp with DQ250, 84k miles) has done this in first and reverse from new.

Normal servicing, DSG oil changes and brake maintenance don't make any difference and it hasn't got any worse over time.

Longer warm up before moving off helps.

I'll try switching the Autohold off too.

12 minutes ago, D402 said:

Mine (2017 2.0 Tdi 150hp with DQ250, 84k miles) has done this in first and reverse from new.

Normal servicing, DSG oil changes and brake maintenance don't make any difference and it hasn't got any worse over time.

Longer warm up before moving off helps.

I'll try switching the Autohold off too.

Thanks. That’s reassuring that it’s unlikely related to poor servicing!

Another thing to try if you’ve not already is enable Audi mode for the throttle response.

If I recall when mine use to do it was pulling away slowly but kind of lurched a little as if it had 1000hp so I lifterd off throttle then stall, sound about right?

13 minutes ago, Danoid said:

Another thing to try if you’ve not already is enable Audi mode for the throttle response.

If I recall when mine use to do it was pulling away slowly but kind of lurched a little as if it had 1000hp so I lifterd off throttle then stall, sound about right?

Yes that’s exactly it.

It’s on “early” on autohold and direct throttle response (Audi mode) already.

I think it’s that it’s on autohold that it needs a little throttle to release and then as it moves off a bit quick I’m off the throttle and the race drop at the same time as then getting on the brake I think it’s stalling it as the revs are at the bottom of the “bounce” before it stabilises.

Sounds like it’s relatively normal and not a gearbox issue as a there’s more than one of you describing the same thing.

I’ll try disabling auto hold for a bit and see if it does it over the next few days. And hopefully I don’t forget autohold is off!

1 hour ago, Danoid said:

If I recall when mine use to do it was pulling away slowly but kind of lurched a little as if it had 1000hp so I lifterd off throttle then stall, sound about right?

That's it, it's usually fine if I can pull away and continue to accelerate but if I have to back off at the critical moment with a cold engine it will stall occasionally.

I tend to release the park brake manually to move off as slowly as possible because visibility from my driveway is poor in one direction, the stalling still occurs then so I don't think it's related to the brakes.

I long ago enabled Audi mode too, no change to the stalling.

Edited 14 April14 Apr by D402

Common issue with some 1.6TDI and a DQ200 DSG, not so much with 2.0 TDI or TSI and DQ250,s. Wet Clutch DSG,s.

Just done a scan and got a code related to tcu

P173400 - starter release from the selector lever sensor system

From a google (but now can’t find the source) it said something. About shifting out of P too quickly before the starter had finished its full sequence. It cleared fine and has stayed gone.

Why don't you try DSG adaptation? Indies and dealers usually skip this step, as it's not mandatory unless there is an issue or mechatronic is replaced, but many report good results after it's done(including me on my ex-Octy):

Edited 15 April15 Apr by fr1nklyn

14 minutes ago, fr1nklyn said:

Why don't you try DSG adaptation? Indies and dealers usually skip this step, as it's not mandatory unless there is an issue or mechatronic is replaced, but many report good results after it's done(including me on my ex-Octy):

I did wonder about this. Any risk in doing it? It drives fine otherwise and got a few airport runs to do in the next couple of weeks so need the car.

I use carscanner rather than vcds but assume it’s the car doing the adjustments you just initiate it with the tool.

It’s in for dsg service next month anyway.

On 15/04/2026 at 12:14, Binx1310 said:

I did wonder about this. Any risk in doing it? It drives fine otherwise and got a few airport runs to do in the next couple of weeks so need the car.

I use carscanner rather than vcds but assume it’s the car doing the adjustments you just initiate it with the tool.

It’s in for dsg service next month anyway.

It shouldn't cause any harm, but if it's about to be serviced next month, don't bother yourself - ask them to do it while servicing.

Yes thats what i was thinking. I know they ahve ODIS and VCDS so they will definitely be able to do it.

Ive had my 2017 l&k 150bhp 2L diesel almost from new and this happens very occasionally.

I put it down to a couple of things

1. Impatience on my behalf, I get in start the car and go. Instead I should wait for the glow plug light to extinguish, and let car warm up a bit

2. Low battery, issue almost completely stopped shortly after getting a new battery

40 minutes ago, Arseneknows said:

Ive had my 2017 l&k 150bhp 2L diesel almost from new and this happens very occasionally.

I put it down to a couple of things

1. Impatience on my behalf, I get in start the car and go. Instead I should wait for the glow plug light to extinguish, and let car warm up a bit

2. Low battery, issue almost completely stopped shortly after getting a new battery

Yes I’m almost certain it’s number 1 for me!

Could well be number two too. I haven’t had the car long and have no idea if it’s had a new battery. Will have a look and see if it’s got a date on it. Or if the date is in the coding somewhere. It is sometimes a bit sluggish to start in the cold so I suspected battery may be needing changing sometime soon.