NHTSA Complaint #10565207 — 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI

CAR STARTED TO EXHIBIT INTERMITTENT ABS FAULTS WHICH WAS INDICATED BY DASH MIL AND THE FOLLOWING FAULT CODES: TRANSMISSION MODULE 18255 - PLEASE CHECK DTC MEMORY OF ABS CONTROLLER ABS BRAKES 00290 - ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR; REAR LEFT (G46) 012 - ELECTRICAL FAULT IN CIRCUIT - INTERMITTENT 00290 - ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR; REAR LEFT (G46) 008 - IMPLAUSIBLE SIGNAL - INTERMITTENT WITH THE CODES PRESENT BOTH ABS AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ARE DISABLED. THE SAFETY COMPLAINT HOWEVER IS THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL IS PERIODICALLY LOCKED OUT. WHEN AT SPEED (60+ MPH) THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. MANUAL GEAR SELECT WILL NOT PUT THE CAR BACK INTO A DRIVE GEAR. DASH GEAR INDICATOR WILL INDICATE 6TH GEAR. AT LOWER SPEEDS (~25 MPH) THE TRANSMISSION WILL PERIODICALLY LOCK IN SECOND GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT TO A HIGHER GEAR. MANUAL GEAR SELECTION ALSO FAILS. PROBLEM SOMETIMES WILL NOT CLEAR DESPITE RESTARTING THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES. THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF AN ACTUAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CAUSE SEEMS TO BE SOFTWARE OVERRIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO INCORRECT ABS MODULE DATA. (TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE SEEMS TO THINK THE CAR IS IN A SKID AND IS HOLDING GEAR). SO FAR THE ABS MODULE,WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND TONE RING HAVE BEEN REPLACED. CONDITION IS STILL PRESENT. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS PRESENT SHIFT LOCK ALSO DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESSES. *TR