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2009 Audi A3 DSG Transmission Recall 09V333000

Volkswagen of America has issued a recall for certain 2009 Audi A3 and TT vehicles equipped with a Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). The recall, identified as NHTSA ID 09V333000, addresses a wiring harness issue that could cause the transmission to abruptly shift to neutral, increasing the risk of a…

ByAhmet Topcu — Founder & Editor-in-ChiefAutomated summary2009 Audi A3
2009 Audi A3 — 2009 Audi A3 recall
Editorial illustration generated for this article.
09V33300037E3/S737E5/J7Audi A3 DSG transmission recallAudi TT DSG transmission recallDSG temperature sensor wiring harnesstransmission abruptly shifts to neutralPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONselector lever position indicator within the instrument panel will flashDEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL indicator light
Audi TT
2009

Volkswagen of America, Inc. has issued a significant safety recall, NHTSA ID 09V333000, affecting certain 2009 Audi A3 and TT models. This 2009 Audi A3 recall addresses a critical issue within the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) system that could lead to a sudden loss of power.

Why This Matters: Safety Risk

The core of this recall is a defect that can cause the transmission to abruptly shift into neutral without warning. This unexpected change in drive mode significantly increases the risk of a crash, as drivers may lose motive power and control of the vehicle, especially in traffic or at higher speeds.

What's Being Recalled

The recall targets the wiring harness of a temperature sensor located in the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). Investigations revealed that the connector wires in this harness might have been insufficiently crimped during manufacturing. This manufacturing defect can lead to the temperature sensor falsely detecting a high gearbox oil temperature.

Symptoms You Might Notice

If your vehicle is affected by this issue, you may experience the transmission abruptly shifting into neutral while driving. When this occurs, the vehicle will provide specific warnings:

  • The "selector lever position indicator within the instrument panel will flash."
  • The "DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL" indicator light will be illuminated, prompting the driver to apply the brakes.

Manufacturer's Remedy

To address this safety concern, Volkswagen will reprogram the Transmission Control Module (TCM) with updated software. This software update is designed to correct the false temperature readings and prevent the transmission from unexpectedly shifting to neutral. This repair will be performed free of charge to vehicle owners.

The recall, identified by VW Recall No. 37E3/S7 and Audi Recall No. 37E5/J7, began on October 20, 2009. Owners are encouraged to have this critical update performed promptly.

How to Check if Your Vehicle is Affected

This 2009 Audi A3 recall specifically applies to certain 2009 Audi A3 and 2009 Audi TT passenger cars manufactured between September 2008 and August 2009. To determine if your specific vehicle is included in this recall, you can:

  • Contact Volkswagen directly at 1-800-822-8987.
  • Contact Audi directly using the provided recall number 37E5/J7.
  • Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) website at HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Source: NHTSA Recall ID: 09V333000

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary issue in the 2009 Audi A3 recall?
The primary issue is a faulty wiring harness for a temperature sensor in the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). This can cause the transmission to abruptly shift to neutral, leading to a loss of power and increasing the risk of a crash.
What are the warning signs if my Audi A3 is affected by this recall?
If your Audi A3 is affected, the transmission may shift to neutral unexpectedly. You will also see the 'selector lever position indicator within the instrument panel will flash' and the 'DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL' indicator light will be illuminated.
How will Volkswagen fix the DSG transmission issue?
Volkswagen will reprogram the Transmission Control Module (TCM) with updated software. This software update will prevent the false temperature readings that cause the transmission to shift into neutral. This repair is free of charge to owners.
Which Audi models are covered by the 09V333000 recall?
The recall 09V333000 covers certain 2009 Audi A3 and 2009 Audi TT models. Owners can confirm their vehicle's eligibility by contacting Volkswagen/Audi or checking the NHTSA website with their VIN.

What Audi A3 owners report

Counted from the records in our database across 22 model years.

905
Owner complaints
31
Recalls
2,982
Service bulletins
22
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
13
Injuries reported

The 2009 model year

48 complaints, the 7th most of 22 model years on file. Owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries for this year, which also has 5 recalls on file.

Power Train, the system this article covers, accounts for 137 of 905 complaints (15%), including 15 for 2009.

Complaints by model year

Model years with the most complaints for the Audi A3
2006123
200752
200948
201050
201143
201243
2015180
2016121
201771
201845

Most-reported systems

  1. Air Bags — 418
  2. Power Train — 137
  3. Electrical System — 105
  4. Fuel/Propulsion System — 92
  5. Engine — 79

Latest recalls for the 2009 model year

  • 18V082000 — Air Bags (Jan 2018)
  • 16V913000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic (Dec 2016)
  • 16V079000 — Air Bags (Feb 2016)
All 2009 recalls →

Recent owner reports about power train

vehicle switched into neutral and accelerated Unable to control or stop Crashed into bush 2014 AUDI checked said no issuue Vehicle switches gear unexpectedly on highway and slows and drags Audi checked Said normal 9/3 2022 foot on break to a full stop at a…

2009 Audi A3 owner, Sep 2022

DSG transmission will abruptly shift down to first gear and would not respond in any other gear. The shift indicator in the dashboard will light up and blink and the check engine light will come on.

2009 Audi A3 owner, Oct 2021
Read owner complaints →

Complaints are owner reports filed with NHTSA. They are unverified, and counts depend on how many vehicles were sold, so they are not a failure rate.

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