Component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
What Happened
Your vehicle's automatic transmission wiring harness may have a faulty temperature sensor connector that could cause the transmission to shift to neutral unexpectedly.
Risk if Unfixed
This could lead to a crash without warning if you're driving and the transmission suddenly shifts to neutral, and you're not able to slow down or stop in time.
Free Fix
Volkswagen will fix the issue for free by reprogramming the transmission control module with updated software at no cost to you, and they'll contact you when it's time to schedule the repair.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Original — Remedy
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.
View full recall details →
Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →