Volkswagen R32 Complaints

129 consumer complaints on file.

#11580862April 3, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My vehicle started to develop a crank no start and intermittent stumble when idling at a light shortly after starting. I chalked it up to a possible fueling issue since I had lean codes. I replaced the fuel pump and filter with OE supplier parts. Within two months the crank no start situation returned. I began to research the concern and buried in a forum someone mentioned checking fuse 43 in the underhood fuse box. I went out to my car, removed the fuse and found that there was arcing on one of the legs and extending upwards into the fuse itself. I researched what the fuse is for on the VW service information page and it supplies power to the ignition coils. When I got home I removed the fuse box, opened it and found that the terminals for that fuse were slightly opened when compared to the rest of the box. I have not taken my car to any shop since as I was a certified VW tech and have the appropriate tools, education and training to work on my car. I have attached pictures of the fuse and the interior of the fusebox that shows the slight spread on the terminals. This thread covers what was happening to my car almost exactly, post 27 is where I learned about that fuse.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11340239July 19, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I EXITED FROM A DRIVEWAY AT A RITEAID TO GET TO THE LIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, I HAVE ABOUT 3/4 TANK OF GAS AND THE ODOMETER READS 175 MILES, WHEN I GET TO THE MY NEXT DESTINATION, A DRIVE THRU, THE FUEL MARKER STARTS DROPPING FAST AND SO DOES MY ODOMETER, IT GOES DOWN TO ABOVE 1/4 OF A TANK AND MY MILES READ 110 LEFT, IN A SPAN OF ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVE THRU EXCEPT WHEN MOVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11331195June 27, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221713June 21, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
RAW FUEL SPEWING FROM LEAK DETECTION PUMP (LDP) FILTER LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SIDE FENDER WELL. CHARCOAL CANISTER, LDP, EVAP LINES, & N80 VALVE ALL CONTAMINATED BY RAW FUEL. FUEL ENTERING EVAP SYSTEM WHEN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPS ARE PRESENT. P026 RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED (IN 2012) BUT ISSUE HAS COME BACK. CONTACTED VWOA THEY SAID IT'S BEYOND THE RECALL'S 1 YEAR 12,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH. BECAUSE VW KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING IN NORMAL CITY TRAFFIC WHEN I SMELLED RAW FUEL. PULLED OVER TO SEE FUEL SPILLING OUT OF REAR PASSENGER FENDER WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11186590March 13, 2019
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUSPECT CLOCK SPRING FAILED. AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. LOST ALL FUNCTIONS TO STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS. VW WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172854January 29, 2019
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11090519April 27, 2018
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE OUTER SEAT BOLSTER SEAM OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHICH RETAINS THE SIDE AIR BAG HAS SPLIT ALONG A LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE SIDE AIR BAG SHOULD IT DISCHARGE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A NOT UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS CAR AND MODEL AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS. THE STRENGTH OF THE THREAD MUST BE SUCH THAT IT WILL PART WHEN REQUIRED TO ALLOW THE SIDE AIR BAG TO PROVIDE PROTECTION BUT NOT BE SO FRAIL THAT IT WILL SPLIT IN NORMAL USE INVOLVING ENTERING AND LEAVING THE SEAT OF THE CAR. EXPERT AUTO UPHOLSTERY TECHNICIANS ARE RELUCTANT TO REPAIR THE SEAT AS THE PROPER THREAD AND STITCH REQUIRED IS NOT CLEAR AND THEY FEAR LIABILITY SHOULD THE SIDE AIR BAG NOT DISCHARGE AS DESIGNED. REPLACING THE SEAT UPHOLSTERY IS PROHIBITIVELY COSTLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11021239September 3, 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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10855267April 13, 2016
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839056February 29, 2016
POWER TRAIN
DSG TRANSMISSION FAILED @ 57,000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10732950July 9, 2015
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618307August 2, 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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564602February 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. HEADLIGHT WIRING IS DETERIORATED. WIRE INSULATION IS BRITTLE, CRACKED AND SEPARATED, LEAVING THE WIRING EXPOSED CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES, BULB AND BALLAST FAILURE. LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSES DURING THE 60000 MILE MAINTENANCE UPON MY REQUEST. "FOUND INTERNAL HEADLIGHT WIRE HARNESSES IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS COMING APART (DETERIORATED), ESTIMATE TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS ASSEMBLIES AND REPROGRAM LIGHTING SYSTEM $1,517.00. MAY ALSO NEED BULBS ($168.00 EACH PLUS TAX) AND ALSO MAY NEED IGNITERS ($272.08 EACH PLUS TAX) TECH CAN NOT MAKE THE DETERMINATION UNTIL HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536667August 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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532022July 26, 2013
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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509546April 25, 2013
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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502670March 13, 2013
SEAT BELTS
VW WONT REPLACE A BROKEN SEAT BELT. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY BY FIDELITY AND THEY WONT FIX IT EITHER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND UNACCEPTABLE. THE PASSENGER REAR SEATBELT IS STUCK IN THE EXTENDED POSITION. VW QUOTED $500 TO FIX.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496650February 6, 2013
ENGINE
SUDDENLY STARTED HEARING LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE THEN IT STOPPED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD SHATTERED. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THE TENSIONER BEARING FAILED AND THAT CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO FAIL. THEY ARE QUOTING $760 TO REPAIR (PARTS AND LABOR). 1000 MILES PRIOR I DID THE 40K SERVICE WHICH INCLUDED TENSIONER AND BELT ADJUSTMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490249December 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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487168December 3, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR JUST SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. CHECKED ALL SENSORS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. AND NO CAR WONT START. ECU FAULTY, REPROGRAM OR REPLACEMENT NEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen R32