2008 Volkswagen R32 Powertrain (other) Problems

ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS OCCURRED ON BOTH HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS, BOTH WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE BRAKING (DOWNSHIFTING). THE LEVER SELECTOR POSITION FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE "DEPRESS BRAKE" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE REQUIRED SHIFTING TO PARK AND TURNING ENGINE ON/OFF (SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES) BEFORE BECOMING DRIVE-ABLE AGAIN. REPAIR FACILITY REPORTS TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE FAULT, AS DESCRIBED IN THE FOLLOWING RECALL FOR OTHER VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI VEHICLES WITH THE SAME DSG TRANSMISSION: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 09V333000 VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. IN ADDITION, THE "DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL" INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES. REPAIR FACILITY RECOMMENDS REMEDY OF REPLACING TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. SAFETY RISK CAUSED BY INABILITY TO ACCELERATE WHEN CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL AND DRIVER IS UNABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO SHOULDER/SAFE AREA AND/OR AVOID OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

11172854

Incident

Jan 28, 2019

Mileage

134,650 mi

VEHICLE FALSE NUETRALED ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A 18-WHEELER SOLENOID FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION. NO POWER ON VEHICLE UNTIL FIX. THIS COULD CAUSE AND PROBABLY HAS CAUSED DEATH OR INJURY

NHTSA ID

11021239

Incident

Aug 31, 2017

Mileage

43,000 mi

I AM EXPERIENCING THE WELL KNOWN SYMPTOMS OF A FAILING MECHATRONIC UNIT IN THE VOLKSWAGEN DSG GEARBOX. THERE WAS A RECALL FROM PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. SYMPTOMS ARE LURCHING/HARSH ENGAGEMENT WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. JERKY/ ALMOST BOUNCY REVERSING. HARSH/CLUNKY SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS. LOSS OF DRIVE OPERATION AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IN MANY SITUATIONS. MY RECALL WAS COMPLETED THROUGH VOLKSWAGEN AT ROUGHLY 55,000 MILES. I STARTED TO NOTICE THE SYMPTOMS ARISE AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 103,000 MILES. THIS IS LITERALLY JUST AFTER THE VW "EXTENDED" WARRANTY ON THE DSG GEARBOX AND REPLACED MECHATRONICS UNIT EXPIRED. (10 YEAR/100,000 MILES) I FIND IT VERY ODD THAT THE FIRST MECHATRONICS UNIT LASTED JUST 50,000 MILES AND IT SEEMS AS IF THE 2ND HAS FAILED IN NEARLY THE EXACT SAME TIME FRAME. I HAVE CONTACTED VWOA AND THEY REFUSED ANY KIND OF GOODWILL OR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10855267

Incident

Mar 15, 2016

Mileage

103,000 mi

DSG TRANSMISSION FAILED @ 57,000 MILES

NHTSA ID

10839056

Incident

Feb 26, 2016

Mileage

57,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10732950

Incident

Jul 9, 2014

DSG TRANSMISSION LAGS IN APPLYING THE CLUTCH AND WILL SOMETIMES APPLY THE CLUTCH EXTREMELY HARSH AFTER A SECOND OF LAGGING. IF THE CAR IS ON A HILL IT WILL FALL BACK A FEW FEET BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES IN AN EXTREMELY HARSH MANNER. IF I'M AT A STOP AND ACCELERATE IS WILL NOT DO SO FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND AND THEN JERK FORWARD ABRUPTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536667

Incident

Aug 22, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

SHIFTS VERY HARD AT SLOW SPEEDS. GOING INTO REVERSE SOMETIMES HESTATES FOR A COUPLE SECONDS. SARTING FROM A STOP WILL NOT GO FOR A SECOND OR 2. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532022

Incident

Mar 8, 2013

Mileage

44,521 mi

EXTREME HARSH SHIFTING UP FROM FIRST TO SECOND DURING ACCELERATION. ALSO EXPERIENCE HARSH SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST AND THEN INTO REVERSE. MOST COMMON OCCURRENCE IS DURING SLOW SPEEDS IN PARKING LOTS AND COMING TO AND FROM COMPLETE STOPS. THE ISSUES FEELS TO BE COMING DIRECTLY FROM SHIFTING AND CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509546

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

54,000 mi

2008 VOLKSWAGEN R 32 IS HAVING ISSUES WITH DSG TRANSMISSION OPERATION VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY ROUGH SHIFTING INTO FIRST FROM NEUTRAL AND ENGAGING INTO REVERSE FROM A STOP. VEHICLE ALSO SHIFT EXTREMELY ROUGH IN SPORT MODE. THE CAR JERKS INTO AND OUT OF EACH GEAR AT ANY SPEED. BEEN TO VW 3 TIMES AND COMPLAINED! THEY SAID THAT'S NORMAL. I LOOK IT UP AND WENT BACK AND TOLD THE SERVICE REP. WHY DIDN'T HE KNOW OUR TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL. HE SAID THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW! HE HAS BEEN A SERVICE REP FOR OVER 10 YEARS?? FINALLY THE SAID THAT THE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM! NOT A NEW TRANSMISSION. BUT ITS RECOMMENDED... *TR

NHTSA ID

10490249

Incident

Dec 21, 2012

Mileage

60,129 mi

THE CAR HAS VERY ROUGH SLOW SPEED LURCHING AND JERKING WHEN MOVING IN REVERSE AND ALSO IN SLOW FORWARD. ITS WORSE ON COLD START MOVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453788

Incident

Mar 20, 2012

Mileage

32,000 mi

1) PURCHASED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE JUMPS TWICE ON MY WAY HOME. IT HAS SINCE CONTINUED TO BE AN ISSUE FOR THE WHOLE TWO WEEKS OF MY OWNERSHIP. 2) ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP THE CAR HESITATES, HANGS, AND THEN JUMPS FORWARD AFTER A MOMENT. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT HALF THE TIME. I NOTICE WHEN I ROLL SLOWLY ~5 MPH IT DOES NOT HANG OR JUMP NEARLY AS MUCH OR AS OFTEN. 3) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AS OF YET. I PLAN TO TAKE MY 2008 VW R32 TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT MAY BE THE CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297576

Incident

Dec 21, 2009

Mileage

22,000 mi

1. UPON DECELERATION AT ANY SPEED 2. JERKY, HARSH, JARRING DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR WHETHER IN DSG MANUAL OR DSG AUTO MODE. IT OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. 3. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. I WAS TOLD THAT IS THE NORMAL DSG BEHAVIOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282564

Incident

Jun 20, 2008

Mileage

1,000 mi

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND MOBILITY FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STAND STILL .... THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES A WEEK IN THE MONTH I'VE HAD THE CAR . IT SEEMS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ON COMING TRAFFIC ..!! ALSO WHEN BACKING/REVERSE SLOWLY INTO MY GARAGE , THE CAR IS VERY JERKY ...? *TR

NHTSA ID

10281536

Incident

Aug 12, 2009

Mileage

6,500 mi

RANDOM LOSS OF POWER/TORQUE COMING OUT OF DSG TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING INTO CERTAIN GEARS, JERKY REVERSE, HESITATION STARTING FROM STOP, JERKY DOWNSHIFT TO FIRST GEAR. HESITATION HAS RANDOMLY OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES INCLUDING AT AN INTERSECTION. JERKING (OR PULSATING POWER DELIVERY) DURING REVERSE AND WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO FIRST IS ALWAYS THERE. HESITATION WHEN STARTING FROM STOP IS ALSO ALWAYS PRESENT. I BELIEVE THIS PROBABLY AS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MECHATRONICS UNIT OF THE DSG. I AM WORRIED ABOUT SAFTEY DUE TO THE ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR OF THIS TRANSMISSION. LOSSING POWER AT AN INTERSECTION OR OTHER CRITICAL LOCATIONS CAN EASILY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. ALSO I AM AFRAID THAT THIS ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR IS GOING TO LEAD TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ABNORMAL CLUTCH PACK WEAR WHICH MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED LATER DOWN THE LINE AFTER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY IS UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281470

Incident

Oct 1, 2008

Mileage

200 mi

THE DSG TRANSMISSION IN MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32 SEEMS TO SLIP OR NOT ENGAGE CORRECTLY COMING FOR A STOP OR SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. IT OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. *TR NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MY CARS TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

10278756

Incident

Dec 11, 2008

Mileage

100 mi

IT IS A COMMON DRIVING ISSUE WITH MY MY2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32 EQUIPPED WITH A DSG TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEEDS THE CAR WILL LURCH AND THEN IT APPEARS THE DSG DISENGAGES AND THE CAR COASTS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND THIS IS IN EITHER D OR S MODE. ALSO WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEED, OCCASIONALLY WHEN I GO TO ACCELERATE WHEN CHANGING LANES TO PASS A SLOW INDIVIDUAL, THE DSG APPEARS TO DISENGAGE WHILE THE THROTTLE IS DEPRESSED AND THEN COAST MOMENTARILY LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL IN D, S, OR M MODE AND THEN FINALLY IT WILL REENGAGE. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR INCLUDING TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278043

Incident

Jul 23, 2009

Mileage

21,000 mi

THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH ~2000 MILES ON IT. WHEN COMING TO A NEAR STOP, AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE HARD AROUND A CORNER, ON 4 OCCASIONS THERE WAS A LOUD BACKFIRE, AND THE CAR WOULD STALL COMPLETELY. THE CAR HAD TO BE STOPPED AND RESTARTED EACH TIME. AT ~25000 MILES, A VW TECHNICIAN AND FRIEND PERFORMED A "BASIC SETTINGS" ON MY DSG TRANSMISSION. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD NO FURTHER ISSUES, OTHER THAN A SLIGHT CLUNK WHEN APPLYING THROTTLE BEFORE COMING TO A FULL STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278041

Incident

Oct 10, 2008

Mileage

15,000 mi