2011 Volkswagen Golf Powertrain & Transmission Problems

WHILE IN MOTION AND UNDER POWER, CAR SUDDENLY LOSES DRIVE; ACTS AS IF SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. SOMETIMES A FLASHING WRENCH INDICATOR IS SEEN IN PLACE OF THE GEAR NUMBER IN THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY. THIS IS HAPPENING INCREASINGLY OFTEN. AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY.

WHILE EXITING THE OFF RAMP OF THE HIGHWAY AT 1100 AT NIGHT THE CAR DIED AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WAS LOCKING UP THEIR BRAKES AND SWERVING TO AVOID A COLLISION. AFTER AN EXPENSIVE TOW AND FINALLY GETTING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD EXPLODED IN THE TANK SENDING METAL INTO THE WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM. I AM TOLD THE REPAIR BILL WILL COST AROUND $6500 TO FIX. THIS CAR HAS 54000 MILES AND I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW STATING MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY A MONTH PRIOR HOWEVER VW WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THEY DID A FUEL SAMPLE TEST AND THE FUEL DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH LUBRICATION IN IT WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED VW HAS HAD MORE THAN 3500 REPORTED CASES OF THESE FUEL PUMP FAILURES AND REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THE BOSCH PRODUCTS THEY USE. I ALSO TALKED WITH THE SERVICE STATION WHERE I PURCHASED THE FUEL TO LET THEM KNOW THE PUMP FAILURE IS BEING BLAMED ON LACK OF LUBRICATION IN THEIR FUEL AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD ONE OTHER COMPLAINT OF FUEL ISSUES REPORTED. ON A SIDE NOT I FILLED MY DODGE DIESEL TRUCK WITH THE SAME PUMP AND FUEL AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. TO ME THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT VW IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND IF THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THESE FUEL PUMPS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE A KNOWN BAD PART THAT IS NOT GETTING REPLACED.

2011 VW GOLF TDI (DIESEL ENGINE). AFTER DRIVING FROM RAINY WEATHER INTO FREEZING AND SNOW CONDITIONS, THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS IN A 50 DEG. GARAGE. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEXT STARTED, IT WOULD STRUGGLE TO START AND STALL OUT. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TDI ENGINES AND KNOW ABOUT CONDENSATION IN THE INTERCOOLER FREEZING, THEN THAWING, CAUSING WATER TO BUILD UP IN THE INTERCOOLER PIPING. I REMOVED THE INTERCOOLER TO ENGINE INTAKE PIPE AND DRAINED ABOUT A CUP OF WATER AND INTERCOOLER. IF THIS WATER WAS DRAWN INTO THE ENGINE, IT COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON SEVERAL VOLKSWAGEN FORUMS. MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY VOLKSWAGEN FACTORY UPDATES WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT COST TO ME. *TR

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 15 MPH AROUND A PARKING LOT AT A BODY SHOP. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS OR COMPUTER WARNING SYSTEM IDENTIFIED ANY PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY, TURNING OFF POWER STEERING, ABS BRAKES, SHIFTING TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, AND PREVENTING WINDOWS FROM OPENING. STRUGGLED TO BRING CAR TO A STOP WHILE TURNING. CAR ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING DURING THE ENTIRE EVENT. TURNED OFF IGNITION. RESTARTED CAR, NO PROBLEM INDICATORS OR WARNINGS SHOWN. CAR WAS DRIVEN TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. SECOND DEALER STATED ALTERNATOR PROBLEM, BUT CAR NEVER WARNED OF ANY ELECTRICAL OR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR AS FAILURE OF VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD LIKELY LEAD TO DEATH IF DRIVING ON FREEWAY. VW DEALERSHIPS WERE USELESS AND CONTRADICTORY AND VW OF AMERICA NOT HELPFUL IN EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM. CAR IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE TO OPERATE, THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM WILL NOT WARN OF DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING WHATSOEVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,500.

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR (GOLF TDI) EQUIPPED WITH DSG TRANSMISSION IN MANUAL MODE IN 4TH GEAR AT ABOUT 35MPH AND I HAD TO SLOW DOWN FOR A CAR TO TURN RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER THE CAR TURNED RIGHT I CHANGED THE GEARBOX IN 2RD GEAR AND PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE (MOVE), ONLY THE ENGINE REVVED AT ABOUT 3500-4000 RPM (LIKE BEING IN NEUTRAL MODE, BASICALLY THE TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING THE ENGINE). I HAD TO MOVE THE GEARSHIFT SELECTOR IN DRIVE MODE (AUTOMATIC) AND THE CAR AFTER A FEW SECONDS BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF HAPPENS CROSSING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR

SUBSEQUENT TO SLOWING DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC, VEHICLE'S DSG TRANSMISSION AFFECTED AN UNPLANNED SHIFT TO THE NEUTRAL GEAR, NOTICED WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE SPEED. TRANSMISSION WAS IN "MANUAL/TIPTRONIC" MODE. UPON NOTICING TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL, DRIVER SHIFTED GEAR LEVER INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO "D" MODE (NOT "MANUAL/TIPTRONIC" MODE). DRIVER REMAINED IN THE "D" MODE FOR THE REST OF THE 1.5 HOUR DRIVE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WHERE THE VEHICLE'S DSG TRANSMISSION WENT INTO AN UNPLANNED SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE THE SAME AS THE FIRST TIME; THE FIRST TIME OCCURRING, THURSDAY 10/13/2011, DRIVER WAS IN "MANUAL/TIPTRONIC" MODE, WITH VEHICLE BEING SLOWED TO UNDER 10 MPH, WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE SPEED, AFTER MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE DSG TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL. RPMS RIVED UP 3,000RPM, WHICH ALERTED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT IN GEAR. IN BOTH CASES, DRIVER HAD TO TURN ON FLASHERS TO INSURE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CRASH FROM THE REAR, DUE TO VEHICLE HAVING NO FORWARD POWER. IN BOTH CASES, DRIVER SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFTING LEVER INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN INTO "D" (DRIVE) MODE. DRIVER DID NOT RETURN TO THE "MANUAL/TIPTRONIC" MODE FOR THE REST OF THE 1.5 HOUR DRIVE. NOTE: FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON 10/13/2011 ODI # 10432753. *TR

EXPERIENCING A FALSE NEUTRAL ON DSG EQUIPPED VOLKSWAGEN TDI. FIRST OCCURRED AROUND 6800 MILES, SECOND OCCURRENCE (DURING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC) AT 7171 MILES AND LASTLY AT 7503 MILES. ENGINE FREE REVS AS CAR COASTS AND HAS TO BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL THEN BACK INTO DRIVE FOR CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. HAPPENS AROUND 30 MPH WHILE SLOWING THEN GETTING BACK ONTO ACCELERATOR. *TR

SUBSEQUENT TO STOPPING, WHILE TURNING RIGHT, VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO AN UNPLANNED SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. ENGINE REVVED TO 3,000 RPMS ALERTING DRIVER TO THE DISENGAGED. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, SHIFTED GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN INTO DRIVE MODE. VEHICLE REMAINED IN DRIVE MODE THROUGH OUT THE REST OF THE DRIVE. *TT

I OWN A 2011 VW GTI 2-DOOR DSG. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A "FALSE NEUTRAL" ABOUT 7 TIMES IN THE 5+ WEEKS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. SPECIFICALLY, IT HAPPENED TWICE ON 08/27/2011. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN IN MANUAL MODE...IT OCCURS WHEN I AM COASTING TO EITHER SLOW DOWN OR STOP...THEN ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE...THOUGH THE CAR MFD TELLS ME IT IS IN GEAR (I.E. 3), THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL...THE ACCELERATOR DOES NOTHING BUT REV THE ENGINE...THE CAR REMAINS COASTING. I HAVE TO TAKE THE SHIFTER OUT OF MANUAL MODE, AND PLACE IT INTO D...AND WAIT ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR IN ORDER FOR A CLUTCH TO ENGAGE A GEAR AND ALLOW ME TO MOVE. ON 8/27, BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED WHEN TRYING TO COMPLETE A LEFT HAND TURN ON A GREEN...A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO FIND YOUR CAR BEING IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE ON AN APPROXIMATE 5 MILE TEST DRIVE. I TALKED TO VW OF AMERICA, AND THEY WON'T HELP UNLESS A DEALER CAN REPLICATE IT...THEY SAID IT COSTS TOO MUCH MONEY. THIS IS A TERRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE...AND THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE MONEY. I OFFERED TO SHOW THEM A VIDEO OF IT HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE...IT IS POSTED ON YOUTUBE...AND THEY FLAT OUT REFUSED. THEY SAID IT WOULDN'T HELP IN MY CASE...AND THAT IT WOULD PROVE NOTHING. HERE IS A LINK TO THE YOUTUBE VIDEO: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=8TQODOILKYK - EVEN IF I COULD TAKE A VIDEO OF IT HAPPENING TO ME IN MY CAR, THEY SAID THAT WOULDN'T HELP...AS IT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN IN FRONT OF A VW TECH FOR IT TO BE DIAGNOSED. I HAVE A SECOND APPOINTMENT WITH A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP NEXT WEEK, THEY WILL KEEP MY CAR FOR A FEW DAYS AND TRY TO REPLICATE IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BEGAN TO WOBBLE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO DECELERATE DESPITE THE CONTACT APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC WHICH ADVISED OF A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,080.

2011 GOLF TDI 4-DOOR WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. UNEXPECTEDLY THE DSG TRANSMISSION WILL GOT TO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WILL BE GIN TO SLOW. NO AMOUNT OF FIDDLING WITH THE SHIFTER WILL GET IT BACK INTO GEAR. IT EVENTUALLY GOES BACK INTO GEAR. CAR NOW HAS 2500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND IT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM ALMOST SINCE DAY ONE. FAULT HAS OCCURRED OVER 10 TIMES AND IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND FOR LONGER DURATIONS. *TR

CAR REVS AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE, PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AND BACK IN DRIVE CAN DRIVE CAR AGAIN. *TR

2011 VW GTI W/ DSG TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS 12K MILES AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF MECHATRONICS UNIT. ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP WITH TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. ENGINE REVVED IN AS IF IN NEUTRAL. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WITH THROTTLE INPUT, THE TRANSMISSION SLAMMED INTO GEAR. ON ANOTHER OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 65MPH WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE REVVED IN NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS LASTED FOR A DURATION OF AT LEAST 5 SECONDS AND CAUSED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. CARS WERE FLYING BY ON BOTH SIDES AND IT NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. FINALLY TODAY, WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT ENTERING INTO A ROADWAY, THE VEHICLE AGAIN REVVED IN NEUTRAL AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. A COLLISION WAS AGAIN NARROWLY AVOIDED. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND ADVISED THEM THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. PER THE DEALER THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTRY. *TR

CARS TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE IN DRIVE, WILL REV AND NOT MOVE. WAS AT A GAS STATION AND WAS GOING TO LEAVE PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND IT JUST REVVED, PUT CAR BACK IN PARK AND IN DRIVE AGAIN WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. *TR

WHEN DRIVING IN MANUAL MODE, THE CAR DROPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND DOES NOT RE-ENGAGE. THE DASH SHOWS THAT THE CAR IS IN 3RD, 4TH, OR 5TH GEAR, BUT WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS, IT JUST REVS UP THE ENGINE AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT BYERS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO TODAY AFTER SHOWING THE PROBLEM TO THE SHOP MANAGER. *TR

TWICE THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TO ENGAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR WAS SLOWED WITHOUT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE ENGINE REVS FREELY AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. IN BOTH CASES THE TRANSMISSION EVENTUALLY RE-ENGAGED ON ITS OWN. *TR

2011 GOLF TDI (DIESEL) WHEN DOWN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, THE CAR OFTEN STALLS. IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN WE SLOW DOWN TO MAKE ALEFT TURN, AND THE CAR STALLS IN FRON OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT HAS CREATED A NUMBER A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 GTI DSG IN TIPTRONIC MODE...AND IT WAS IN 4TH GEAR ACCORDING TO THE DASHBOARD READING...I WAS COASTING IN 4TH AS A SEMI WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING...AFTER HE WAS CLEAR, I WENT TO ACCELERATE, AND EXPERIENCED A "FALSE NEUTRAL"...THE DSG SAID I WAS IN 4TH GEAR...BUT IT WAS REVVING AS IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO SHIFT OUT OF TIPTRONIC AND THEN DOWNSHIFTED TO 3RD BEFORE IT WOULD CATCH AND PUT ME BACK IN GEAR. *TR