Volkswagen R32 transmission problems
64 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
129 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
13,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 120 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
64 of 129 complaints match this topic (49.6%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10254800 · 2009-01-12 (January 12, 2009)
1. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE TILL ABOUT LITTLE LESS THAN A MONTH. ON 10/13/08 PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND CAR WAS EXPERIENCING RAPID FLUCTUATIONS IN RPMS AND ENGINE WOULD DIE WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE. HAD DIFFICULTY IN RE-STARTING CAR. PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND FELT JERKY NON-RESPONSIVE ACCELERATION WITH TRANSMISSION BANGING AND ENGINE DIED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. 2. CAR DIED 4 TIMES ENGINE WOULD STOP WHILE DRIVING TOTALLY LOSS OF POWER. CONSEQUENCES ARE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS CAN OCCUR FROM THIS MALFUNCTION 3. BROUGHT INTO DEALER, THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 877 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276801 · 2009-07-14 (July 14, 2009)
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 INSTRUCTI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10276801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277632 · 2009-07-21 (July 21, 2009)
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 SHOUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277982 · 2009-07-22 (July 22, 2009)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277990 · 2009-07-22 (July 22, 2009)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277990 at NHTSA ↗