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: the federal safety agency 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.
2008 Volkswagen R32 transmission problems
82 complaints (71% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 15,000.
- owner complaints
- 82
- of this car's complaints
- 71%
- typical mileage
- 15,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Automatic transmission60
- Manual transmission6
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Volkswagen R32 transmission problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Volkswagen R32 transmission
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Vehicle stall/loss motive power
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 the federal safety agency 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 (the federal safety agency 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
PE09035
What 2008 Volkswagen R32 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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
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.
Dsg transmission failed @ 57,000 miles
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
Questions about the 2008 Volkswagen R32 transmission
Does the 2008 Volkswagen R32 have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 82 complaints about the transmission of the 2008 Volkswagen R32, 71% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2008 Volkswagen R32 transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 15,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Volkswagen R32 transmission?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
Other 2008 Volkswagen R32 problems
Fuel system 25Electrical 6Lights 6Engine 4Acceleration 1Airbags 1Tires 1
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2008 Volkswagen R32?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history