FaultScore

Volkswagen R32 transmission problems

87 of the 152 complaints filed about the Volkswagen R32 are about the transmission — 57% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2008.

87

Complaints

57%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

2004 R32 3 3.4%

Median failure at 45,500 miles

2007 R32 1 1.1%

Median failure at 6,000 miles

2008 R32 83 95.4%

Median failure at 15,000 miles

What owners said

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 134,650 miles SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN

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 complaint #11172854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 43,000 miles Forest, VA

POWER TRAIN

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 complaint #11021239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 103,000 miles Meridan, ID

POWER TRAIN

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 complaint #10855267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 57,000 miles Stanley, NC

POWER TRAIN

DSG TRANSMISSION FAILED @ 57,000 MILES

NHTSA complaint #10839056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 SAN Francisco, CA

POWER TRAIN

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 complaint #10732950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 80,000 miles Grapevine, TX

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10536667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 44,521 miles Greenwood, IN

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10532022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 54,000 miles Buckley, WA

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10509546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 60,129 miles Flemin Island, FL

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. 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...

NHTSA complaint #10490249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 32,000 miles Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10453788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 29 miles USA, MO

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HESITATING AND JERKING FROM TRANSMISSION WHEN IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP.

NHTSA complaint #10381061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 63,000 miles Wesley Chapel, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY CAR BEGIN MAKING A LOW WHISTLE NOISE A WEEK AGO WHENEVER I ACCELERATED FROM STAND STILL AND A WEEK LATER IT BEGIN SKIPPING GEARS AND THEN THE CAR BECAME INOPERABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10370945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 17,556 miles Portland, OR

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10368233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 65,000 miles Cerritos, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10356274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 17,700 miles Wescosville, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10348469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 39,000 miles Lewisville, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10348502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 25,000 miles Pittsburgh, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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 complaint #10348560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 22,000 miles Huntingdon Valley, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10340431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 200 miles Irving, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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 complaint #10315652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Volkswagen R32 at 24,500 miles Pittsburgh, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10298594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Volkswagen R32 problems