Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
820–25K
1325–50K
750–75K
275–100K
5100–150K
0150K+
109 reports with mileage · 6 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Power Train. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
115 reports
8,000 miles · Aug 31, 2009
Power Train
LURCHING MOTION OF CAR AS TRANSMISSION ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP. LOSS OF POWER/FORWARD MOMENTUM. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING MANUALLY AND PRESSING GAS TO GAIN SPEED QUICKLY TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC (HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE TRAFFIC). THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN ALLOWING THE DSG …
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LURCHING MOTION OF CAR AS TRANSMISSION ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP. LOSS OF POWER/FORWARD MOMENTUM. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING MANUALLY AND PRESSING GAS TO GAIN SPEED QUICKLY TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC (HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE TRAFFIC). THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN ALLOWING THE DSG TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT AUTOMATICALLY WHEN PRESSING THE GAS (HARDER THAT NORMAL ACCELERATION TO MERGE WITH HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE TRAFFIC). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10282352
26,000 miles · Aug 26, 2009
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOLLOWED BY NO POWER RESPONSE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV EXCESSIVELY HIGH. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOLLOWED BY NO POWER RESPONSE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV EXCESSIVELY HIGH. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A HARD SHIFTING FROM "REVERSE" TO "DRIVE" AND "PARK" TO "REVERSE" POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FLY WHEEL. THE FAILURES CONTINUED AND THERE WAS NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. BL
NHTSA ODI #10281867
5,000 miles · Aug 26, 2009
Power Train
MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32 HAS CONSTANT TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHERE THE CAR BUCKS AT LOW SPEEDS AND HAS A VERY CHOPPY REVERSE. I'VE TAKEN IT FOR ITS ALLEGED RECALL AND THE CAR STILL ACTS THE SAME WITH BUCKING AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10281799
19,500 miles · Aug 25, 2009
Power Train
HAVE A 2008 VW GOLF R32 DSG. SHIFTING IS EXTREMELY ROUGH AND APPEARS TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN. IN FACT SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT RESPOND TO MY SHIFTS AND ALL AND "COASTS" UNTIL ENGAGING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED BY REPLACING THE MECHATRONIC UNIT, BUT VW DENIES THE ISSUE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE SEARCHED ISSUES…
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HAVE A 2008 VW GOLF R32 DSG. SHIFTING IS EXTREMELY ROUGH AND APPEARS TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN. IN FACT SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT RESPOND TO MY SHIFTS AND ALL AND "COASTS" UNTIL ENGAGING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED BY REPLACING THE MECHATRONIC UNIT, BUT VW DENIES THE ISSUE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE SEARCHED ISSUES WITH IT ON THE INTERNET FORUMS AND I AM FOR SURE NOT ALONE. I THINK THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR BOTH SAFETY AND RELIABILITY REASONS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10281724
28,990 miles · Aug 25, 2009
Power Train
2008 R32 ON OCCASION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY WHEN IN D MODE. IN ADDITION, WHEN STARTING FROM A STANDSTILL IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE CAR TO JERK WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10281635
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2009
Power Train
MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R32 HAS DSG ISSUES. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SMOOTH WHEN GOING FROM A STOP (BRAKE APPLIED) TO GO (GAS PEDAL). SOMETIMES THE DSG GEARBOX GOES INTO NEUTRAL AS WELL WHILE HAVING THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED AND IN MOTION. I KNOW THERE IS A CURRENT VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR SOME MKV VW VEHICLES, BUT R32 GOLF'S SHOULD BE L…
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MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R32 HAS DSG ISSUES. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SMOOTH WHEN GOING FROM A STOP (BRAKE APPLIED) TO GO (GAS PEDAL). SOMETIMES THE DSG GEARBOX GOES INTO NEUTRAL AS WELL WHILE HAVING THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED AND IN MOTION. I KNOW THERE IS A CURRENT VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR SOME MKV VW VEHICLES, BUT R32 GOLF'S SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS WELL. PLEASE HELP! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10281561
6,500 miles · Aug 24, 2009
Power Train
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 ...…
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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 ODI #10281536
11,650 miles · Aug 23, 2009
Power Train
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO EXECUTE A LANE CHANGE, THE CAR BECAME NON- RESPONSIVE BY HESITATING (APX 2 SEC) AFTER SHIFTING FROM "D" TO "S" (SPORT MODE). ALSO, THE CAR HESITATES AND "JERKS" OFTEN WHEN SHIFTING FROM P TO R OR N TO D. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10281484
200 miles · Aug 23, 2009
Power Train
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 F…
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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 ODI #10281470
29,000 miles · Aug 22, 2009
Power Train
INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH A VW R32 DSG TRANSMISSION. MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS A CASE WHERE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD VERY HARD AS THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AT ~3000 RPM. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID COLLIDI…
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INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH A VW R32 DSG TRANSMISSION. MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS A CASE WHERE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD VERY HARD AS THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AT ~3000 RPM. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE SLOWER-MOVING TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME. MY INITIAL REACTION WAS THAT I HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION DUE TO THE MAGNITUDE OF THE IMPACT. HOWEVER, IT WAS JUST THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING SPONTANEOUSLY. *TR
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.
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
1
PE09035 · 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
2008 Volkswagen R32 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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