NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
115 reports63,000 miles · Dec 14, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
FRONT RIGHT LIGHT BULB WENT OUT, WENT TO DEALER, THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, REPLACED BULB $256.00. 1 WEEK LATER THE BULB GOES OUT AGAIN AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE CONTROL UNIT AND THAT THE UNIT COSTING $600.00 HAS TO BE REPLACED OTHERWISE THE LIGHT WILL KEEP GOING OUT. THEY ALSO TELL ME THAT THE SEAL A…
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FRONT RIGHT LIGHT BULB WENT OUT, WENT TO DEALER, THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, REPLACED BULB $256.00. 1 WEEK LATER THE BULB GOES OUT AGAIN AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE CONTROL UNIT AND THAT THE UNIT COSTING $600.00 HAS TO BE REPLACED OTHERWISE THE LIGHT WILL KEEP GOING OUT. THEY ALSO TELL ME THAT THE SEAL AROUND THE HEADLIGHT UNIT WILL BE LEAKING WATER SOON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10370635
17,556 miles · Nov 29, 2010
Power Train
LOSS OF POWER WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN A FEW TIMES. FORTUNATELY, IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN A SITUATION WHERE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. MY VW SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME A RECALL FOR THE DSG TRANSMISSION IS IMMINENT. THAT WAS IN AUGUST. SO FAR, I'VE HEARD NOTHING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10368233
65,000 miles · Sep 18, 2010
Power Train
WHEN MY VW 2008 R32 IS IN 2ND GEAR IN THE PARKING LOT IT IS NOT SMOOTH. IT JERKS AND LURCHES LIKE I'M PUMPING THE GAS. ALSO DURING VARYING TIMES, MY CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE SMOOTHY. IT LAGS AND FEELS LIKE ITS SLIPPING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10356274
25,000 miles · Aug 10, 2010
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE METHAPROMIC UNIT WAS REPLACED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THERE WERE N…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE METHAPROMIC UNIT WAS REPLACED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35000.
NHTSA ODI #10348560
39,000 miles · Aug 10, 2010
Power Train
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. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10348502
17,700 miles · Aug 10, 2010
Power Train
DSG TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO GEAR VERY HARD. GOING FROM R TO D SEEMS TRANSMISSION SLIPS GOING INTO GEAR. IN DRIVE, ACCELERATION IS DELAYED. WHEN ACCELERATING, CAR JERKS 3 TIMES AND THEN BACK TO NORMAL. THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10348469
22,000 miles · Jun 28, 2010
Power Train
MY 2008 VW R32 IS STARTING TO HAVE DSG TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT 22,000 MILES. IT CLUNKS WHEN GOING IN AND OUT OF REVERSE AND DRIVE; IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL NOT DISENGAGE THE FORWARD GEAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THEN SUDDENLY DISENGAGES, JOLTING THE WHOLE CAR. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED …
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MY 2008 VW R32 IS STARTING TO HAVE DSG TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT 22,000 MILES. IT CLUNKS WHEN GOING IN AND OUT OF REVERSE AND DRIVE; IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL NOT DISENGAGE THE FORWARD GEAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THEN SUDDENLY DISENGAGES, JOLTING THE WHOLE CAR. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY WILL GET A PART TO TRY TO SOLVE IT, BUT NOT UNTIL SEPTEMBER (AND IT IS JUNE NOW). THEY SAID TO KEEP DRIVING IT THIS WAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10340431
200 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HIS TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT IF HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO INCREASE HIS SPEED, THE VEHICLE S…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HIS TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT IF HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO INCREASE HIS SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST HIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
NHTSA ODI #10315652
24,500 miles · Jan 7, 2010
Power Train
AFTER THE CAR GETS TO IT'S WARM TEMPS (ROUGHLY 30 MINS OF DRIVING), IT STARTS TO JERK THROUGH LOW GEARS, HARSH DOWNSHIFTING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE FROM A STOP THE CAR WILL LURCH/SPUTTER FORWARD RATHER THAN SLOWLY ROLL FORWARD, AT TIMES (VERY INCONSISTENT, ROUGHLY 2-3 IN AN HOURS DRIVE) THE CAR WI…
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AFTER THE CAR GETS TO IT'S WARM TEMPS (ROUGHLY 30 MINS OF DRIVING), IT STARTS TO JERK THROUGH LOW GEARS, HARSH DOWNSHIFTING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE FROM A STOP THE CAR WILL LURCH/SPUTTER FORWARD RATHER THAN SLOWLY ROLL FORWARD, AT TIMES (VERY INCONSISTENT, ROUGHLY 2-3 IN AN HOURS DRIVE) THE CAR WILL SURGE THEN SLAM INTO GEAR BEFORE I'M ABLE TO PRESS ON THE GAS TO DRIVE, IT FEELS ALMOST AS THOUGH IT'S ABOUT TO STALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10298594
22,000 miles · Dec 30, 2009
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train
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…
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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 ODI #10297576
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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