Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | ||||||||||||||||
| 09V333000 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | from 09/01/2008 to 08/19/2009 | V (Vehicle) | 16000 | 10/20/2009 | ODI | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | 08/20/2009 | 08/20/2009 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | The abrupt shift to neutral could lead to a crash without warning. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Volkswagen will reprogram the transmission control module with updated software free of charge. the recall began on october 20, 2009. owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Vw recall no.37e3/s7 & audi recall no. 37e5/j7.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov . | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||||
| SA-19H1-10 | 06/01/2011 | 10038588 | Audi service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. apology letter about the water pump campaign and warranty information. *rm | 06/22/2011 | |
| SA-48326 | 06/01/2011 | 10038586 | Audi service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. apology letter about the water pump campaign and warranty information. *rm | 06/22/2011 | |
| SA-19H1-08 | 06/01/2011 | 10038587 | Audi service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. apology letter about the water pump campaign and warranty information. *rm | 06/22/2011 | |
| SA-19H1-F1 | 06/01/2011 | 10038584 | Audi service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. under certain conditions the coolant pump may leak. *rm | 06/22/2011 | |
| SA-US-06 | 06/01/2011 | 10038585 | Audi service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. apology letter about the water pump campaign. *rm | 06/22/2011 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||||
| SC-35B-1 REV | 08/01/2010 | 10036487 | Audi: see document search button for owner letter. vehicles equipped with direct shift gearbox (dsg) service mechatronic unit. it is possible that a bushing inside the mechatronic unit has the potential to wear out prematurely, causing | 03/21/2011 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||||
| SB-35B1 | 11/08/2010 | 10037348 | Audi: the clutches could operate less smoothly than before due to a bushing wearing out prematurely. the transmission may jerk as it shifts. *rm | 05/20/2011 | |
| SB-35B1 | 11/08/2010 | 10037348 | Ready | 05/20/2011 | |
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||||
| TSB-30-11-10 | 12/02/2011 | 10043275 | Audi: certain model year vehicles may experience a condition with the clutch malfunctioning, burnt smell or not returning to original position. *pe | 03/08/2012 | |
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY - BELL HOUSING | |||||
| TSB-30-11-10 | 12/02/2011 | 10043275 | Audi: certain model year vehicles may experience a condition with the clutch malfunctioning, burnt smell or not returning to original position. *pe | 03/08/2012 | |
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY - PEDAL/LINKAGE | |||||
| TSB-30-11-10 | 12/02/2011 | 10043275 | Audi: certain model year vehicles may experience a condition with the clutch malfunctioning, burnt smell or not returning to original position. *pe | 03/08/2012 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | ||||||
| PE09035 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | 07/17/2009 | 11/19/2009 | VEHICLE STALL/LOSS MOTIVE POWER | 09V333000 | |
| 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 nhtsa 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 (nhtsa 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 as a 10 year/100,000 mile extended warranty.this investigation is closed with volkswagen's recall of the defect condition that may result in a loss of motive power while driving. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 11/13/2009 | 2000 | 1 | |
| I have an 2009 audi a3 2.0t with an automatic transmission. after about 20-30 minutes of driving the care the transmission starts exhibiting strange behavior. after coming to a full stop the car lurches forward after letting the foot off the brake. it makes a clunking sound and the gear indicator goes from the gear number displan to p-r-n-d indicator and then back to the gear number display. if you leave your foot off the brake, the car will repeatedly jerk forward. if you slowly accelerate the car is extremely jerky and not smooth like it should be. this makes for dangerous parking in a garage or where there are obstacles in the area. i am afraid to park it. the problem occurs everytime i drive the care for 20-30 minutes. *tr | |||
| 08/21/2009 | 295 | 1 | |
| Brand new 2009 audi a3 with 200 miles completely failed in the highway in las vegas, nv. i purchased the vehicle brand new approximately one week prior to this incident. i am traveling on the highway in the middle lane at around 60/65 mph, the transmission (dsg) started making chunk noises and the car started to jerk, then the engine completely shut down in the middle of the highway!! not to mention my youngest sister (10 years old) was with me. i couldn't restart the engine and i couldn't steer and/or shift without pressing on the break. i ended up in a complete stop in the middle of the highway hoped no one would hit me and thank god it didn't. i then quickly shift the gear back to p and fortunately the engine started again so i could get out of this hell zone. this is truly unbelievable for a new vehicle with 200 miles. if this does not put my and my love ones in dangerous, i am in serious concern of the manufacturers most basis human intentions. *tr | |||