2008 Volkswagen R 32 Special Edition

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  MY BRAND NEW R32 HAS BEEN STALLING/HICCUPING SINCE 3100 MILES. IT HAS A LOSE OF POWER UNDER ACCELERATION, THEN IDLES ROUGH AND SOMETIMES DIES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE GAS CAP LIGHT COMES ON BUT AS SOON AS YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT GOES AWAY. IT HAS DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND WOULDN'T START BACK, I'VE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED MY PURGE VALVE AND EVAP CANNISTER TWICE, IT RUNS FINE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS THEN STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 7550 MILES ON IT NOW AND IT'S BACK AT THE DEALER ONCE AGAIN. *TR

• 12/30/2009· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER 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 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

• 12/27/2012· 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... *TR

• 12/16/2010· POWER TRAIN

  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. *TR

• 12/14/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR 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 AROUND THE HEADLIGHT UNIT WILL BE LEAKING WATER SOON. *TR

• 11/29/2010· 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

• 11/23/2009· POWER TRAIN

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND THEN SHIFTS INTO GEAR. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO SHIFT FROM FIFTH TO SIXTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

• 11/21/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32 EXHIBITS INTERMITTENT FUEL DELIVERY ISSUES. AT TIMES, USUALLY FOLLOWING A REFUELING, THE CAR SEEMS TO "HICCUP" AND BRIEFLY LOSE POWER, AS IF THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS CUT OFF MOMENTARILY. THIS CAUSES A SEVERE JERKING IN THE CAR, AND CAN HAPPEN AT LOW SPEEDS AFTER ROUNDING A CORNER OR AT CONSTANT FREEWAY SPEEDS. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE STUMBLING AND STALLING WHILE AT IDLE IN TRAFFIC; WITH DIFFICULTY IN RESTARTING AS IF THE VEHICLE IS STARVED FOR FUEL. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO FAILED TO START UPON FIRST USE OF THE DAY, CRANKING OVER BUT NOT SEEMING TO RECEIVE FUEL, EVEN THOUGH THE TANK MAY BE FULL. OTHER ISSUES INCLUDE DIFFICULTY WITH REFUELING WHEN TANK IS NEAR EMPTY. OFTEN, THE GAS STATION FUEL DISPENSERS WILL SHUT OFF 10 OR MORE TIMES WHEN BEGINNING TO FILL UP THE TANK, AS IF AIR WERE BLOCKING THE FILLER NECK AND CAUSING THE AUTOMATIC PUMP SHUTOFF TO KICK IN. IT CAN TAKE MANY TRIES BEFORE ONE IS FINALLY ABLE TO COMPLETELY FUEL THE VEHICLE, WHICH ONLY HOLDS 14.5 GALLONS. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE AUTOMATIC FUEL CUTOFF IN THE GAS STATION DISPENSER DID NOT DETECT A FULL TANK AND THE FUEL ACTUALLY OVERFLOWED OUT OF FILLER NECK AND ONTO THE GROUND UNTIL I MANUALLY SHUT OF THE FUEL DISPENSERS. IT SEEMS THE EVAPORATIVE PURGE CANISTER OR LINES ARE EASILY BLOCKED IN THIS DESIGN, AND I QUESTION WHETHER THERE ARE OTHER VAPOR LOCK OR VACUUM ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM DESIGN THAT ARE INVOLVED. I AM TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON 11/26 FOR AN ATTEMPT AT DIAGNOSIS. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE IN THE ONLINE FORUM "VWVORTEX.COM" HAVE ALSO REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND ARE HAVING LITTLE SUCCESS IN REPAIR THROUGH VWOA. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

• 11/19/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING "HICCUPS" WHILE ACCELERATING AND WOULD EVENTUALLY SMELL AND SEE GAS ESCAPING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE. WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SHIP 3 TIMES BEFORE FOR THIS AND NOW I AM TOLD IT IS A FAULTY GAS TANK THAT WAS PRODUCED. I HAVE BEEN CURRENTLY WAITING ABOUT A MONTH TO HAVE THE TANK REPAIRED. ALL I HAVE BEEN TOLD ON THIS SUBJECT IS "WE WILL CONTACT YOU AT THE END OF THE BUSINESS DAY TOMORROW". ITS ALWAYS TOMORROW. THE DEALER HAS OFFERED ME A COUPLE OF THINGS TO KEEP MY MINE AS EASY WHILE I WAIT BUT I HONESTLY THINK THAT WAITING A MONTH FOR A BRAND NEW CAR TO GET FIXED IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

• 11/18/2008· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  WHILE DRIVING CROSS COUNTRY, AT APPROX 75 MPH CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER, HESITATE FELT LIKE SOMEONE TURNED THE THING OFF, BRIEFLY LOST POWER, CAR REGAINED POWER, EVENT OCCURRED THREE OR FOUR MORE TIMES DURING MY TRIP. DURING ONE OF THESE SPUTTERING SEQUENCES, I ATTEMPTED TO FILL UP, THINKING I MAY HAVE PICKED UP SOME BAD GASOLINE, CAR WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY FUEL, EVEN THOUGH GAUGE READ JUST UNDER 3/4 OF A TANK. CONTINUED DRIVING UNTIL VEH WAS UNDER 1/4 TANK, PULLED OFF, AND FILLED UP WITH NO PROBLEMS FUELING. *TR

• 11/13/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL LEAK CAUSES THE CAR TO LOSE FUEL. THE FUEL LEAKS OUT EXTERNALLY. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES JERK AND STALL OR LOSE POWER. *TR

• 11/11/2009· POWER TRAIN

  DSG TRANSMISSION DROPS INTO THEN OUT OF THEN BACK INTO 1ST GEAR. ALSO ENGINE REVS AND THE CAR JERKS IN REVERSE. *TR

• 11/05/2009· POWER TRAIN

  WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW IT WAS SMOOTH AND RIDE WAS GREAT SHIFTING WAS PERFECT, AS TIME AND MILES PASS THE CAR GOT REALLY JERKY WITH THE TRANSMISSION, CAR NOW RIDES SMOOTH BUT THE SIFTING IS TERRIBLE, AND TRANNY IS MAKING ALOT OF NOISES WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL I ALWAYS HEAR A CLUNK, LOUD AND YOU CAN FEEL IT, EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO MY DEALER IT MAGICALLY GOES AWAY FOR A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS OR SO THEN ITS BACK ITS REALLY FRUSTRATING THAT NO ONE AT THE DEALER SHIP REALLY CARES THEY MAKE IT SEEM LIKE I'M DOING SOMETHING WRONG PLEASE HELP!! *TR

• 10/31/2009· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING UP A STEEP HILL (ABOUT 30MPH) AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME MADE A LAST MINUTE DECISION TO BRAKE HARD AND MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN WITHOUT SIGNALING. I SLOWED TO A STOP BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHILE THEY TURNED. ONCE THE VEHICLE COMPLETED IT'S TURN, I PROCEEDED TO PASS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I MASHED THE THROTTLE (THE LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED YELLOW) TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. FINALLY, AFTER ABOUT 2 SECONDS, THE DSG WENT INTO GEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE THE DSG BEGAN TO WORK. ADDITIONALLY, THE DSG IN THE VEHICLE ROUTINELY TAKES A MOMENT TO ENGAGE. THE ABOVE INCIDENT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE DSG'S FAILURE TO WORK LEFT ME VULNERABLE. *TR

• 10/30/2008· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT OF MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN R32 HAS A CONDENSATION BUILDUP. BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE LIGHT IS CONSTRUCTED INTO THE BODY OF THE CAR, OTHER'S HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A MAJOR JOB TO FIX (INCLUDING HOURS OF LABOR AND EXTENSIVE BODY WORK). I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS ALSO IN VIOLATION OF REGULATION FMVSS 108, AND THUS SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. THE DEALER THAT I TOOK IT TO SAID THIS WAS A "NORMAL" CONDITION AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO (WHICH CONFLICTS WHAT OTHER'S HAVE SAID). *TR

• 10/22/2008· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOPLIGHT (3RD BRAKE LIGHT) HAS CONDENSATION AND AT TIMES APPEARS TO FLICKER. THE FACTORY RESOLUTION IS TO SEND THE CAR TO A BODY SHOP TO REMOVE THE FACTORY SPOILER AND REPLACE THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE FACTORY MANUAL WARNS THAT THIS IS A MULTI-DAY JOB AND MAY RESULT IN A BROKEN SPOILER AND POSSIBLE BODY DAMAGE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CLEAR VIOLATION OF FMVSS 108 WHICH REQUIRES THAT REPLACING THE BULBS BE SIMPLE AND REQUIRE ONLY COMMON TOOLS. THIS IS ON A 2008 VW R32, BUT THE ISSUE IS ON ALL 2006 - 2009 VW GTI AND R32 CARS. THE RABBIT HAS A DIFFERENT SPOILER DESIGN AND IS NOT AS SEVERELY AFFECTED - ALTHOUGH AN UNCOMMON TOOL IS STILL REQUIRED FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR

• 10/09/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CAR STARTED TO BOG-OUT OF POWER ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 7TH IN THE AFTERNOON. FUEL STARTED TO LEAK FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8TH IN THE AFTERNOON. THIS HAPPENS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/TRIM OF THE PRODCUCT LINE. A PROMINENT AUTOMOBILE FORUM WEBSITE (VWVORTEX.COM) HAS ALLOCATED A ROOM FOR THIS SPECIFIC MODEL/TRIM. THE FOLLOWING IS A LINK TO THE TOPIC DEDICATED TO THIS COMMON ISSUE: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3759501&PAGE=15 I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. *TR

• 09/25/2009· POWER TRAIN

  DSG TRANSMISSION SLAMS WHEN PLACED INTO "D" OR "S" MODE EVEN THOUGHT BRAKE IS PUSHED. *TR

• 09/19/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL SYSTEM ON CAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING 75MPH ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND DROP IN SPEED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. FUEL SMELL OUT OF A/C VENTS. VW HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND HAS SAID THEY'VE HAD THIS ON MANY CARS OF THE SAME MODEL. VW IS REPLACING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM RESULTING THE CAR TO BE IN THE SERVICE SHOP FOR 30 PLUS DAYS. *TR

• 09/18/2010· 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

• 09/17/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE CAR HICCUPPED AND BEGAN TO RUN VERY RUFF NO POWER AND I WAS ON FREEWAY IN THE VALLEY AREA (HOT OVER 100 F) CAR SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF AFTER REACHING COOLER AREA. VISITED THE DEALER THEY FOUND NO FAULTS WITH CAR. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO NUMEROUS 2008 VW R32 CARS. *TR

• 09/17/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I AM BRINGING THIS TO THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE DIES AND CANT START IT AGAIN. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALER IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. DEALER ASKED WHAT WAS WRONG I SAID IT FELT AS IF THE BATTERY DIED AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED. THEY TRIED FIXING IT AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME HOWEVER I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER BEFORE IT DIED AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER HAS IT AND HAD IT OVER A WEEK. MY SERVICE ADVISOR DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND CANT PROMISE ME A DATE WHEN THEY WILL HAVE IT READY. I FEEL UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THE CAR JUST DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *TR

• 09/15/2009· POWER TRAIN

  MY 2008 GOLF R32 EQUIPPED WITH A DSG TRANSMISSION IS HAVING ROUGH SHIFTING, ROUGH CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT, CHOPPY REVERSE AND POWER LOSS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. PLEASE PUSH VW OF AMERICA TO HAVE A RECALL CAMPAIGN DONE. HOW LONG DO OWNERS HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS? I GUESS VW AND NHTSA WANT SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN. THANK YOU. *TR

• 09/06/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FIRST MINOR INCIDENTS: MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT HICCUPS IN POWER FOR A FEW WEEKS. NO CELS OR INDICATION OF ANYTHING WRONG OTHERWISE. FIRST SERIOUS INCIDENT: AT HIGHWAY SPEED (70MPH) 30 MINUTES INTO A COMMUTE, THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THROWS THE DRIVER FORWARD IN THE SEAT. WAS ABLE TO FINISH THE REMAINDER OF COMMUTE BARELY LIMPING ALONG WITH ERRATIC THROTTLE RESPONSE, STALLING, AND STUTTERING. UPON ARRIVAL, NOTICE SMELL OF FUEL AND SEE FUEL PUDDLE BEHIND RIGHT REAR WHEEL. VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WOULD NOT RESPOND DUE TO REPORT OF FUEL LEAK. TOLD TO CALL FIRE DEPT -- FIRE DEPT RESPONDED. AAA TOWED TO DEALER. AFTER 19 DAYS AT THE DEALER, THE CAR'S ENTIRE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. A DEFECT IN THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEM WAS REPORTED AS THE CAUSE. WE WERE ASSURED THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE AND THE NEW SYSTEM WAS REDESIGNED. SECOND MAJOR INCIDENT: REPEAT OF FIRST MAJOR INCIDENT ABOVE ONLY DAYS LATER. CAR CURRENTLY IN SHOP. EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD ISSUE BEING DISCUSSED AT VWVORTEX.COM AMONG NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SAME ISSUE BUT NO RESOLUTION OR OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS ISSUE FROM VWOFA AS OF YET. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION FOR A CAR THAT IS BRAND NEW. *TR

• 09/03/2017· 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

• 09/03/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH SOME CORRECTED BUT THE HESITATION OF POWER AND SHIFTING ISSUES WITH DSG CONTINUE TO PERSIST. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY, THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS ALSO SOME JERKING IN THE CAR AS IT TRIES TO GO THROUGH GEARS. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GETS GOING. FINALLY, THE CAR HAS RUMBLE FEEL THROUGH THE PEDAL AND FEELS LIKE IT IS FIGHTING ITSELF AND WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT STARTS AN ON AND OFF RUMBLE. OTHER PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED WERE A LOUD KNOCKING WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY FIXED BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THEY FIRST REPLACED THE FLYWHEEL THINKING THAT WAS THE ISSUE. *TR

• 09/02/2009· POWER TRAIN

  AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND LETTING OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHILE THE CAR IS STILL IN DRIVE, IT WILL LURCH OR JUMP FORWARD - ALMOST AS THOUGH I'VE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS SEEMS TO GET WORSE AS THE OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPS INCREASE. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE CAR IS A NIGHTMARE TO DRIVE, AS IT WILL LURCH AND JERK HEAVILY. I'VE ACTUALLY HAD MY STARBUCKS COFFEE SHOOT OUT OF THE CUP AND SPILL ON ME BECAUSE OF THIS - YES, IT LURCHES THAT MUCH. I'VE ALMOST REAR-ENDED A FEW CARS AND HIT MY GARAGE WALL. ALL OF THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR SECOND GO AROUND AS WE'VE HAD THE MECHATRONICS UNIT REPLACED BY VW WITH 17646 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CAR NOW HAS 21500 MILES ON IT AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE BACK AGAIN. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO? THE FIRST TIME OUR VW DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A MONTH TO GET IT FIXED BUT THEIR FIX ONLY SEEMED TO WORK FOR A SHORT TIME AS WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE CAR IS JERKY AND CLUNKY WHEN SHIFTING AT LOW SPEED DRIVING. I'VE HAD THE DEALER TELL ME THIS IS NORMAL DSG BEHAVIOR BUT WE OWN (2) 2008 VW R32 - MY WIFE AND I EACH HAVE OUR OWN. THE OTHER CAR DRIVES MUCH SMOOTHER AND DOES NOT EXHIBIT THE BEHAVIOR THAT THESE CAR DOES; HOWEVER, I'M NERVOUS THAT OUR OTHER TOO WILL SOON START HAVING PROBLEMS. I'M HOLDING OFF BRINGING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER UNTIL THEY COME UP WITH A PROPER FIX. VW PLEASE REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN A LOYAL VW/AUDI CUSTOMER OUR ENTIRE LIVES. *TR

• 09/01/2009· POWER TRAIN

  1. UPON DECELERATION AT ANY SPEED 2. JERKY, HARSH, JARRING DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR WHETHER IN DSG MANUAL OR DSG AUTO MODE. IT OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. 3. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. I WAS TOLD THAT IS THE NORMAL DSG BEHAVIOR. *TR

• 08/31/2009· 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 TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT AUTOMATICALLY WHEN PRESSING THE GAS (HARDER THAT NORMAL ACCELERATION TO MERGE WITH HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE TRAFFIC). *TR

• 08/31/2009· POWER TRAIN

  AFTER PURCHASING MY 2008 VW R32 IT WAS A VERY SMOOTH VEHICLE. THE DSG TRANSMISSION WAS ADVERTISED AS DRIVING EXACTLY LIKE A CONVENTIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION-EQUIPPED VEHICLE. AFTER A YEAR AND 12,000 MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT DISENGAGES. THE ENGINE REVS UP, BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO MOTIVE POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH ON THE EXPRESSWAY AS WELL AS ON THE STREET. IN ALL OCCURRENCES THE VEHICLE REGAINS MOTIVE POWER WITHIN 5-10 SECONDS. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS, LOSING MOTIVE POWER IN A VEHICLE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, AND HAS PUT MY LIFE AT RISK WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS ISSUE IS INVESTIGATED, AS I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER 2008 VW R32 OWNERS THAT THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AS WELL. *TR

• 08/26/2009· 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. 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

• 08/26/2009· 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

• 08/25/2009· 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 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

• 08/25/2009· 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

• 08/24/2009· 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 ...? *TR

• 08/24/2009· 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 LOOKED AT AS WELL. PLEASE HELP! *TR

• 08/23/2009· 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

• 08/23/2009· 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 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

• 08/22/2013· 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. *TR

• 08/22/2009· 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 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

• 08/22/2009· POWER TRAIN

  YESTERDAY I CHANGED LANES IN ORDER TO PASS. I STOMPED IT, AND ALTHOUGH THE RPMS SHOT UP, NOTHING HAPPENED -- NO POWER. I THOUGHT I HAD SOMEHOW BUMPED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. IT WAS NOT IN NEUTRAL, IT WAS IN "S". I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, SHIFTED TO "D", AND THEN REAPPLIED THE ACCELERATOR. ALL WAS BACK TO NORMAL. BECAUSE ALL OF THIS HAPPENED SO QUICKLY, AND BECAUSE I MAY BE CONFUSED, I'M GIVING THE TRANSMISSION THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT -- BUT I'M PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION NOW. IT'S NO FUN TO NEED POWER, EXPECT TO GET IT, AND INSTEAD JUST GET NOISE FROM REVVED RPMS. *TR

• 08/19/2009· POWER TRAIN

  WHEN I PURCHASED MY 2008 VW R32 IT DROVE AND SHIFTED SMOOTHLY AND WITHOUT ISSUE. AFTER WE PUT ABOUT 1500 MILES ON THE CAR IT STARTED JERKING FORWARD ROUGHLY AS IF THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THIS BEHAVIOR IS INTERMITTENT AND SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE RELATIVE AMOUNT OF TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN, THE LONGER IT'S BEEN THE MORE LIKELY IT IS TO DO IT. I'VE HAD CASES WHERE THE DSG WOULD ALSO SIMPLY JERK FORWARD AND BACK VERY HARSHLY DURING A QUICK STOP/START THAT DIDN'T INVOLVE WOT ACCELERATION. I'VE TAKEN THIS CAR INTO VW SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DEFAULT BEHAVIOR OF THE DSG AND REQUIRED SOME FINESSE TO AVOID THESE ISSUES, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE AND THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS WITHOUT SOMEONE DYING BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT TO HANDLE OR MECHANICALLY UNRELIABLE. *TR

• 08/14/2009· POWER TRAIN

  THE DSG TRANSMISSION IN MY 2008 VW R32 HAS BEEN JERKY ITS WHOLE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT BUT IT SEEMS TO BE PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP TO GET UP TO DRIVING SPEEDS THE DSG WILL REACT EXTREMELY JERKY AND HESITATE FROM TIME TO TIME, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV SUPER HIGH, THEN IT WILL KICK IN TO GEAR CAUSING ME AND MY PASSENGERS TO GO THROUGH A WHIPLASH TYPE STATE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE CYCLES STARTS OVER AGAIN WHEN GOING INTO THE NEXT GEAR. ALSO WHEN AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS WHEN I TRY TO OCCASIONALLY PASS ANOTHER CAR AND DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE WILL JUST REV REALLY HIGH FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATING. DURING ALL OF THESE INSTANCES THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO AVOID ALL OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME AND NOT GET INTO ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. IF THIS CONTINUES IN THE FUTURE I AM UNSURE IF I WILL BE SO LUCKY AND I AM CAUTIOUSLY AWAITING THE TIME WHEN MY TRANSMISSION GOES OUT COMPLETELY AND I AM IN A SERIOUS WRECK. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE CONDUCTED IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RASH OF FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNITS AND DSG'S THROUGHOUT THE VW PRODUCT LINE. THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD WITH OTHER VW OWNERS ALWAYS LEADS TO THE SAME CONCLUSION THAT EITHER REPLACING THE MECHATRONICS UNIT, SOMETIMES REPEATEDLY, OR AN ENTIRE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS THE ONLY CURE. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIX PERMANANTLY BY VW BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS AND SOMEONE WINDS UP EITHER IN THE HOSPITAL OR DEAD. *TR

• 08/13/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  USUALLY DURING HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FAILURE IS PRESENT. THE FAILURE - CAR HESITATES UNDER ACCELERATION ALMOST AS IF THE FUEL IS BEING CUTOFF. OTHER TIMES IT STALLS DURING IDLE AT STOP LIGHT. OTHER TIMES THE CAR WILL TAKE TWO OR THREE TRIES TO RESTART. WHEN PARKED AFTER A DRIVE THE VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. OCCURS RANDOMLY AND THE DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. PARTS REPLACED - PURGE VALVE TO FIX THE FUEL LEAK AND HESITATION. THE CAR DOES NOT LEAK FUEL ANYMORE, HOWEVER THE HESITATION ISSUE IS STILL PRESENT. *TR

• 08/10/2010· 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

• 08/10/2010· 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

• 08/10/2010· 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 NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35000.

• 08/10/2009· POWER TRAIN

  MY VEHICLE IS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN MODEL R32. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ISSUES HAPPENS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN "D" (DRIVE) POSITION. AT LOW SPEEDS (BELOW 40 MPH) THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO GO IN AND OUT AND UP AND DOWN THE GEARS RESULTING IN A "CLUNKY" AND UN-SMOOTH MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO THIS IS OFTEN EVIDENT DURING SLOW GENTLE ACCELERATION AND SLOWING DOWN FROM LOW SPEED (APPROX 40 MPH OR LESS). ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO A GENTLE ACCELERATION, THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ITSELF. SIMILAR FOR SLOWING DOWN, THE ENGINE REMAINS AT HIGH RPM AND SUDDENLY SLOWS, BUT NOT CONSISTENTLY I DID NOTICE THAT ALL OF THIS HAPPENS MORE WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP, RARELY WHILE THE ENGINE IS COLD.. AT HIGH SPEED THE CAR ACTS NORMALLY INCLUDING DURING QUICK ACCELERATION. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT, THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS IN MY OPINION. CAR DEALER SAYS ONLY THAT ALL THE DSG-TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED CARS DO THIS AND I SHOULD GET USED TO IT. EVIDENTLY THERE IS NO OFFICIAL FIX; *TR

• 08/05/2009· POWER TRAIN

  ON MY 2008 VW R32 WITH DSG TRANSMISSION, IT CREATES CLUNK NOISE EVERYTIME SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND. *TR

• 08/02/2014· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  VW R32 HID HEADLIGHT SYSTEM BURNS OUT BULBS AND SMELLS LIKE BURNT WIRES. THE BULB IGNITER WIRES INSIDE THE LIGHT HOUSING HAVE THE INSULATION FALLING OFF LEAVING THE WIRES EXPOSED AND TOUCHING EACH OTHER. I ATTEMPTED TO INSULATE BARE WIRES, BUT THEY STILL KEEP DETERIORATING FARTHER DOWN THE WIRE. THERE ARE 3 WIRES THAT RUN TO THE BULB IGNITER SOCKET THAT CONNECTS TO THE BULB. I FEEL THIS INSULATION HAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. OTHER ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE HOUSING ARE STILL FINE. *TR