NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
82 reportsClear category filter17,000 miles · Jul 28, 2009
Power Train
2 ISSUES WITH MY DSG TRANSMISSION FIRST; WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM SPEED THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SHIFTS VERY ROUGH FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST ESPECIALLY. IT IS VERY STRANGE FEELING AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS DUE TO ABRUPT SPEED CHANGES. SECOND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT UP AFTER ACCELERATING: WHEN YOU ACCELERATE TO SPEED AN…
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2 ISSUES WITH MY DSG TRANSMISSION FIRST; WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM SPEED THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SHIFTS VERY ROUGH FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST ESPECIALLY. IT IS VERY STRANGE FEELING AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS DUE TO ABRUPT SPEED CHANGES. SECOND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT UP AFTER ACCELERATING: WHEN YOU ACCELERATE TO SPEED AND LET OFF THE GAS TO MAINTAIN THE TARGET SPEED; THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO REV HIGHER FOR 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE PROPER GEAR. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES ALREADY AFTER ONLY 4 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR: 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278583
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2009
Power Train
DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE FROM STANDING START WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION HESITATING THEN GRABBING SUDDENLY WITH MECHANICAL SOUND. I CONSIDER THE HESITATION A SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE THE DELAYED ACCELERATION IS DIFFICULT TO ANTICIPATE. TURNING FROM A STOP HAS HESITATION AND THEN THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD SOMETIME CHANGING TO A LOWER GEA…
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DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE FROM STANDING START WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION HESITATING THEN GRABBING SUDDENLY WITH MECHANICAL SOUND. I CONSIDER THE HESITATION A SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE THE DELAYED ACCELERATION IS DIFFICULT TO ANTICIPATE. TURNING FROM A STOP HAS HESITATION AND THEN THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD SOMETIME CHANGING TO A LOWER GEAR. THIS OCCURS IN "D" AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL MODES. THIS IS RECURRING PROBLEM SINCE BEGAN LEASING THE R32 IN APRIL 2008.*TR
NHTSA ODI #10278305
11,000 miles · Jul 25, 2009
Power Train
TOOK OFF FROM A STOP PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND DSG TRANSMISSION IN 2008 VW R32, REVVED, WENT NOWHERE, THEN FINALLY SHIFTED INTO FIRST VERY ABRUPTLY, CAUSING LOUD BANG, THUD AND ALMOST CAUSING CRASH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278300
17,000 miles · Jul 25, 2009
Power Train
TYPE VEHICLE: VOLKSWAGEN/R32 2008 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE09035 CURRENT MILEAGE: 25,000. THE FAILURE: SEVERAL SYMPTOMS: 1) LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER: BASICALLY, AT TIMES, FROM A STOP, THE CAR JUST DOESN'T GO. THE ENGINE REVS, BUT THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS NORMAL FUNCTION RETURNS. 2) EXTREMELY …
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TYPE VEHICLE: VOLKSWAGEN/R32 2008 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE09035 CURRENT MILEAGE: 25,000. THE FAILURE: SEVERAL SYMPTOMS: 1) LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER: BASICALLY, AT TIMES, FROM A STOP, THE CAR JUST DOESN'T GO. THE ENGINE REVS, BUT THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS NORMAL FUNCTION RETURNS. 2) EXTREMELY HARSH SHIFTING WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW SPEEDS, USUALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. 3) AT TIMES, AT LOW SPEEDS, NOTICEABLY WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT WHEN I TRY TO SHIFT MANUALLY, USING THE CONTROLS. 4) WHEN BACKING ESPECIALLY, BUT ALSO WHEN MOVING VERY SLOWLY AS WHEN PARKING, THE CAR HAS BEGUN TO MOVE IN A VERY JERKY MANNER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN A BUSY GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. THE SYMPTOMS BEGAN AT ABOUT 17 OR 18000 MILES AND ARE GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278286
17,000 miles · Jul 25, 2009
Power Train
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS EITHER WHEN UP SHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING, THE DSG TRANSMISSION IN MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32 HAVE BEEN VERY JERKY, OR COME WITH A "CLUNKY" FEEL AND NOISE. ALSO HAVE TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 6TH GEAR, DOWN 2, AS VW RECOMMENDS WHEN PASSING ON A HIGHWAY, AND THE CAR WILL EITHER HESITATE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT F…
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ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS EITHER WHEN UP SHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING, THE DSG TRANSMISSION IN MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32 HAVE BEEN VERY JERKY, OR COME WITH A "CLUNKY" FEEL AND NOISE. ALSO HAVE TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 6TH GEAR, DOWN 2, AS VW RECOMMENDS WHEN PASSING ON A HIGHWAY, AND THE CAR WILL EITHER HESITATE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT FINALLY DECIDES TO SHIFT, AND THEN I STILL HAVE NO POWER FOR A FEW MORE SECONDS UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION DECIDES IT WANTS TO SEND POWER TO THE WHEELS AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR THE PROBLEMS, AND ALL THE DEALER SAYS, IS EITHER THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE EFFECTS, OR THE CAR HAS NO FAULT CODES, SO THEREFORE IT MUST JUST BE ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278282
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2009
Power Train
ONCE THE TRANSMISSION IS WARM IT WILL LITERALLY SLAM INTO FIRST OR REVERSE AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER IS REPLACING THE MECHATRONICS UNIT THAT FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION BUT IS ON A 8-10 WEEK BACK ORDER, THE DEALER HAS BEEN GREAT BUT THE CAR IS AWFUL WHEN STARTING OUT OR BACKING UP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278212
4,300 miles · Jul 24, 2009
Power Train
DURING NEAR FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION, CAR EXPERIENCES NO INCREASED SPEED. CAR WILL INCREASE RPMS, BUT SEEMS LIKE IT IS SEARCHING FOR A GEAR. IT IS MOST SCARY IF YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE IN ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE, AND THE CAR DOESN'T GO. VERY CHOPPY STARTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, FEEL LIKE SOMEONE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO SHIFT A MANUA…
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DURING NEAR FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION, CAR EXPERIENCES NO INCREASED SPEED. CAR WILL INCREASE RPMS, BUT SEEMS LIKE IT IS SEARCHING FOR A GEAR. IT IS MOST SCARY IF YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE IN ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE, AND THE CAR DOESN'T GO. VERY CHOPPY STARTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, FEEL LIKE SOMEONE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO SHIFT A MANUAL GEARBOX, YET THIS IS A DSG GEARBOX. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278207
27,800 miles · Jul 23, 2009
Power Train
ONGOING / RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE DSG AND SLOPPY GEAR CHANGES, INABILITY FOR THE CAR TO FIND THE RIGHT GEAR (SLOW TO CHANGE GEARS), AND NOTICEABLE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE. ON OCCASION WHEN MOVING AWAY FROM A STANDSTILL AT A LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION WILL DIS-ENGAGE AND RE-ENGAGE QUICKLY ACCOMPANIED WITH A…
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ONGOING / RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE DSG AND SLOPPY GEAR CHANGES, INABILITY FOR THE CAR TO FIND THE RIGHT GEAR (SLOW TO CHANGE GEARS), AND NOTICEABLE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE. ON OCCASION WHEN MOVING AWAY FROM A STANDSTILL AT A LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION WILL DIS-ENGAGE AND RE-ENGAGE QUICKLY ACCOMPANIED WITH A NOTICEABLE CLUNKING NOISE, THEN LURCH FORWARD BRIEFLY. MOST RECENT DATE THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WAS ENTERED FOR THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278114
9,000 miles · Jul 23, 2009
Power Train
DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX IS VERY CHOPPY. DSG IS ESPECIALLY CHOPPY AT LOW SPEEDS AND IN REVERSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TECH SAID IT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE SO ROUGH. NO PARTS WERE REPLACED OR ORDERED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278106
12,000 miles · Jul 23, 2009
Power Train
DSG MALFUNCTION DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON VW R32 2008: MY AUTOMOBILE HAS ERRATIC MOVEMENT FROM A STANDING STOP AND AT LOW REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE (LESS THAN 1500 / MINUTE) AT LOW SPEEDS. THE MOTION IS A JERKING ACTION. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITS LOSS OF POWER WHEN GEARS ARE LOWERED AND FOLLOWED BY A THROTTLE INPUT. THIS IS SEE…
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DSG MALFUNCTION DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON VW R32 2008: MY AUTOMOBILE HAS ERRATIC MOVEMENT FROM A STANDING STOP AND AT LOW REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE (LESS THAN 1500 / MINUTE) AT LOW SPEEDS. THE MOTION IS A JERKING ACTION. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITS LOSS OF POWER WHEN GEARS ARE LOWERED AND FOLLOWED BY A THROTTLE INPUT. THIS IS SEEN FOR EXAMPLE WHEN DRIVING IN 6TH GEAR AT 55 MPH, SHIFTING INTO 5TH AND THEN ACCELERATING TO PASS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE AT THAT TIME DOES NOT RESPOND WITH POWER AND THE CAR SPENDS MAYBE 1 OR 2 SECONDS SORTING OUT HOW TO APPLY THE POWER. THE DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE THEN NORMAL AND OPERATION CONTINUES WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE GENERAL SHIFTING OF THE CAR IS NOT SMOOTH UNDER OTHER OPERATIONS ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT STALL OR LOSE POWER. YET THE SHIFTING FEELS UNNATURAL AND DETERIORATED FROM HOW IT WAS WHEN THE AUTO WAS NEW. THE VEHICLE HAS NOW 22000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278079
Official recalls
2Mar 20, 2009
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MY 2008 R32 (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES. WHEN CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE MAY NOT REMAIN FULLY CLOSED. IF THIS HAPPENS, LIQUID FUEL MAY ENTER THE FUEL TANK VENTING SYSTEM AND MIGRATE INTO THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM, SATURATING THE CARBON CANISTER. SHOULD THIS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCE ISSUES (I.E., VEHICLE JERKING) AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COULD ILLUMINATE. FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEAK DETECTION PUMP FILTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE WITH AN IMPROVED VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Sep 24, 2007
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE09035 · Vehicle Stall/loss Motive Power
Opened Jul 17, 2009 · Closed Nov 19, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:manual Transmission
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) TRANSMISSIONS, WHICH FEATURE A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX WITH TWO WET RUNNING CLUTCHES (DUAL CLUTCH) IN WHICH THE CLUTCH MECHANISM AND GEAR CHANGES ARE ELECTROHYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BY A MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT.THE DSG MECHATRONIC CONTROLLER INCLUDES EXTENSIVE SELF DIAGNOSTIC FUNCTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION AND PREVENT SYSTEM/COMPONENT DAMAGE IN THE EVENT OF COMPONENT FAILURES OR HARSH OPERATING CONDITIONS.THE BASIC HIERARCHY OF FAULT MODES INCLUDES SOME THAT ONLY RESULT IN THE STORAGE OF A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) AND CAUSE NO LOSS OF FUNCTION, SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND REDUCE VEHICLE OPERATION TO A LIMP HOME MODE, AND SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER (I.E., OPEN CLUTCH).THE DRIVER IS ALERTED TO THE LATTER TWO MODES BY THE DASH GEAR POSITION INDICATOR (PRNDS) FLASHING. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT RESULTS IN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER IS EXCESS GEARBOX TEMPERATURE.THE SYSTEM INITIALLY RESPONDS TO INCREASED GEARBOX TEMPERATURE BY RAMPING DOWN ENGINE TORQUE.IF THE TEMPERATURE KEEPS RISING THE MECHATRONIC UNIT RESPONDS BY OPENING THE CLUTCH.IN A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT SUBMITTED TO NHTSA ON AUGUST 20, 2009, VOLKSWAGEN DESCRIBED A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESSES OF THE DSG GEARBOX TEMPERATURE SENSORS USED IN APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2009 AND 2010 VOLKSWAGEN (EOS, JETTA AND GTI) AND AUDI (A3 AND TT/TT ROADSTER) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DSG TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 2008 THROUGH AUGUST 2009 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 09V-333, VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. 37E3/S7 AND AUDI RECALL NO 37E4/J7). VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT, THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DSG MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED BY THE CONNECTOR SUPPLIER DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD.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.IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.VOLKSWAGEN ESTIMATED THAT LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN THE DEFECT CONDITION. ODI IDENTIFIED 40 COMPLAINTS THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR DEFECT CONDITION DESCRIBED BY VOLKSWAGEN.VOLKSWAGEN RECEIVED 139 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE CONDITION, WITH 7 INVOLVING VEHICLES REPORTED TO ODI, RESULTING A 172 TOTAL COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLKSWAGEN.ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS INVOLVE THE MY 2009 AN 2010 VEHICLES SUBJECT TO RECALL 09V-333. ODI ALSO IDENTIFIED COMPLAINTS OF HARSH/JERKY SHIFTING IN SOME VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES WITH DSG.VOLKSWAGEN ATTRIBUTED THIS CONDITION, WHICH TYPICALLY OCCURS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, TO EXCESSIVE WEAR IN THE BUSHINGS OF THE TWO SOLENOID VALVES IN THE MECHATRONIC UNIT THAT CONTROL CLUTCH OPERATION.VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE THIS CONDITION IS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE THE CHANGES IN SHIFT QUALITY DEVELOP GRADUALLY OVER TIME, DO NOT CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND HAVE NOT RESULTED IN ANY FATALITIES, INJURIES OR SERIOUS CRASHES (THERE WERE THREE REPORTED PROPERTY DAMAGE INCIDENTS RESULTING IN MINOR BODY DAMAGE IN VERY LOW SPEED, PARKING MANEUVERS).VOLKSWAGEN ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIELD WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES THE REPLACEMENT OF POTENTIALLY AFFECTED MECHATRONIC UNITS AS WELL
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