NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
82 reportsClear category filter13,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Power Train
MY 2008 VW R32 HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. IT LURCHES WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING, MAKES HARD SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 1ST. ON OCCASION IT HAS SELECTED NEUTRAL RATHER THAN THE NEXT GEAR, CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND MAKE DRIVERS BEHIND HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID HITTING ME. WHEN THIS HAPPE…
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MY 2008 VW R32 HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. IT LURCHES WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING, MAKES HARD SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 1ST. ON OCCASION IT HAS SELECTED NEUTRAL RATHER THAN THE NEXT GEAR, CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND MAKE DRIVERS BEHIND HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID HITTING ME. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE ONLY WAY TO FORCE THE TRANSMISSION TO SELECT A GEAR IS TO MOVE THE SELECTOR LEVER INTO S OR N THEN BACK INTO D. I TRIED GETTING THE ISSUE LOOKED AT AND FIXED BY VW BUT THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I FEAR THAT EVENTUALLY I'M GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278007
13,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Power Train
JERKING AND LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. SEEMS RANDOM, BUT NOT EASILY REPEATABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278000
1,500 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Power Train
BOUGHT MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32 ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION EVER SINCE NEW. MANY TIMES WHEN 1. THE MOMENT BEFORE I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, OR 2. TAKE OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR, 3. SWITCHED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD JERK/BUCK WITH A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH T…
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BOUGHT MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32 ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION EVER SINCE NEW. MANY TIMES WHEN 1. THE MOMENT BEFORE I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, OR 2. TAKE OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR, 3. SWITCHED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD JERK/BUCK WITH A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE RPM WOULD ALSO SPIKE UP W/O THE CAR MOVING AND THEN COME BACK DOWN BEFORE THE CAR WILL START MOVING. TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A BASIC DSG SETTING RE-SET, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. MANY OTHER VW OWNERS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM IN MANY ONLINE FORUMS IF YOU DO A SEARCH ONLINE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277997
10,454 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Power Train
2008 VOLKSWAGEN DSG TRANSMISSION ISSUES: HARSH SHIFTING IN LOW SPEED MANEUVERS, ROUGH SHIFTING SOMETIMES, SLOW ENGAGEMENT TO REVERSE, SLOW SHIFTING WHEN COMING TO A STOP CAUSING "LURCHING". *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277992
15,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Power Train
MY 2008 VW R32 WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION SURGES FORWARD AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES IN TRAFFIC OR STOP LIGHTS. IT WILL SURGE FORWARD AND THEN ROCK LIKE SOMEONE DUMPED THE CLUTCH EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO MANUAL CLUTCH. THE CAR ALSO IS VERY CLUNKY IN REVERSE, AND ROCKS ALOT. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY. …
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MY 2008 VW R32 WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION SURGES FORWARD AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES IN TRAFFIC OR STOP LIGHTS. IT WILL SURGE FORWARD AND THEN ROCK LIKE SOMEONE DUMPED THE CLUTCH EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO MANUAL CLUTCH. THE CAR ALSO IS VERY CLUNKY IN REVERSE, AND ROCKS ALOT. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND ALL THEY DO IS SAY THAT THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THEY "RESET" THE DSG SETTINGS. THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A DAY BEFORE IT STARTS AGAIN. I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT I THINK IT IS THE MECHATRONICS UNIT AND THEY JUST SAY THAT THEY DON'T THINK IT IS AND NEVER REALLY EXPLORE THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277991
20,000 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Power Train
PURCHASED A 2008 VW R32 IN OCTOBER OF 08 EQUIPPED WITH THE 6 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION. I WAS SATISFIED WITH THE CAR AS A WHOLE HOWEVER RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME FAIRLY SCARY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I RELATE TO THE TRANSMISSION. OFTEN TIMES, WHEN MANUALLY DOWNSHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 1ST WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE ENG…
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PURCHASED A 2008 VW R32 IN OCTOBER OF 08 EQUIPPED WITH THE 6 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION. I WAS SATISFIED WITH THE CAR AS A WHOLE HOWEVER RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME FAIRLY SCARY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I RELATE TO THE TRANSMISSION. OFTEN TIMES, WHEN MANUALLY DOWNSHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 1ST WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY LOSE POWER AND THERE IS A APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECOND DELAY FROM HITTING THE GAS TO ANY TYPE OF FORWARD MOTION. THIS ALSO OCCURS FROM 5TH TO 3RD OR 4TH TO SECOND. IT IS QUITE ALARMING WHEN YOU DOWNSHIFT TO SCOOT INTO TRAFFIC OR OFF AN ON RAMP AND THE CAR RESPONDS WITH NO POWER. MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I HAVE NEARLY BEEN REAR ENDED AS THE CAR SIMPLY BEGAN TO COAST DURING A LANE CHANGE INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION FROM VW AND AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AND NOT BEING ABLE TO REPLICATE IT, WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A "QUIRK" OF THE TRANSMISSION. I FEEL THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM AND AS MY CAR IS LEASED, I HAVE NO RECOURSE IN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS I WILL ACCRUE EARLY TERMINATION FEES AND SUCH. I FEEL SOMETHING SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO ON THIS TRANSMISSION SO THAT NOBODY IS HURT DRIVING A DSG EQUIPPED VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277990
8,900 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Power Train
THE DSG TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND HAS A JERKY FEELING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. JERKS WHILE PULLING AWAY. SOMETIMES SLAMS IN REVERSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277982
21,000 miles · Jul 21, 2009
Power Train
RPM PULSES OR SURGES AT LOW RPM, WHEN CREEPING ALONG IN D AS IN A PARKING LOT OR IN TRAFFIC. JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE OPERATING SAFELY AT NEAR STOP, THE CAR SURGES AHEAD PULSING THE RPM BY ABOUT 100 RPM. THE SYMPTOM HAS BEEN VERY REPEATABLE THROUGH OUT THE 21K+ MILES I HAVE ON THE CAR. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT TWICE AND SA…
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RPM PULSES OR SURGES AT LOW RPM, WHEN CREEPING ALONG IN D AS IN A PARKING LOT OR IN TRAFFIC. JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE OPERATING SAFELY AT NEAR STOP, THE CAR SURGES AHEAD PULSING THE RPM BY ABOUT 100 RPM. THE SYMPTOM HAS BEEN VERY REPEATABLE THROUGH OUT THE 21K+ MILES I HAVE ON THE CAR. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT TWICE AND SAYS THIS IS NORMAL DSG TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR. IF I PUT THE CAR IN S MODE, IT WILL NOT DO IT. THEY NEED TO REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE SO IT WILL NOT HAPPEN IN D. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY VW. I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TRANSMISSION/CAR AND THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277632
Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2009
Power Train
VW 2008 R32 WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. MANUAL DOWNSHIFTS FROM 5>4, 4>3, AND 3>2 CAUSE A DANGEROUS POWER OR THROTTLE LAG FROM THE MOTOR. SINCE DOWNSHIFTS ARE OFTEN DONE IN PREPARATION FOR A SAFETY MANEUVER WHILE DRIVING, THIS LAG CAUSES THE MANEUVER TO FAIL LEAVING THE CAR AND DRIVER VULNERABLE AND WITHOUT POWER WHILE MID-MANEUVER.…
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VW 2008 R32 WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. MANUAL DOWNSHIFTS FROM 5>4, 4>3, AND 3>2 CAUSE A DANGEROUS POWER OR THROTTLE LAG FROM THE MOTOR. SINCE DOWNSHIFTS ARE OFTEN DONE IN PREPARATION FOR A SAFETY MANEUVER WHILE DRIVING, THIS LAG CAUSES THE MANEUVER TO FAIL LEAVING THE CAR AND DRIVER VULNERABLE AND WITHOUT POWER WHILE MID-MANEUVER. I CAN REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. VW SERVICE CENTERS HAVE NOT SEEN TCU FAULT CODES, NOR HAVE THEY DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH I HAVE INSTRUCTED THEM HOW TO DO SO. APPARENTLY THEY ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE PROPER INSTRUCTIONS TO REPLICATE IT. NO SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ASIDE FROM RESETTING THE TCU WITH FACTORY SETTINGS A NUMBER OF TIMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10276801
1,000 miles · Jul 7, 2009
Power Train
WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY 2008 VW R32 IT WAS A DECENTLY SMOOTH RIDING CAR. AFTER A FEW MONTHS IT GOT REALLY ROUGH. WHEN I START MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR JERKS BACK AND FOURTH 1 OR 2 TIMES ROUGHLY. THIS HAPPENS 100% OF THE TIME. ALSO, THE CAR SLAMS INTO FIRST GEAR REALLY HARD WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP MAKING ALL PASSENG…
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WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY 2008 VW R32 IT WAS A DECENTLY SMOOTH RIDING CAR. AFTER A FEW MONTHS IT GOT REALLY ROUGH. WHEN I START MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR JERKS BACK AND FOURTH 1 OR 2 TIMES ROUGHLY. THIS HAPPENS 100% OF THE TIME. ALSO, THE CAR SLAMS INTO FIRST GEAR REALLY HARD WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP MAKING ALL PASSENGER'S BODIES SHIFT FORWARD FROM MOMENTUM. IT FEELS LIKE I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. ALSO SOMETIMES FROM A STOP WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS, THE CAR HESITATES BEFORE SLAMMING INTO GEAR AFTER 2 OR 3 SECONDS OF NOT RESPONDING TO MY THROTTLE INPUT. THIS HAS SCARED ME IN A COUPLE INSTANCES BECAUSE I ALMOST GOT INTO A REAR END COLLISION FROM SOMEONE BEHIND ME NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND ALMOST SLAMMING INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. LUCKILY I KNEW THAT MY CAR HAD THIS CHARACTERISTIC SO I REACTED QUICK ENOUGH TO ACCELERATE IN TIME TO GET OUT OF THEIR WAY. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MECHATRONICS UNIT. AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SUCCESS FIXING THE PROBLEM BY GETTING A REPLACEMENT MECHATRONICS UNIT INSTALLED. ALMOST EVERYONE I HAVE MET WITH THE SAME CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM I DO. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THIS OR PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL FOR WHIPLASH FROM REAR END COLLISIONS OR WORSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10275993
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