RoadVitals

2002 Volkswagen Jetta Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
80
Latest Dec 30, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 702 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 80 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

The 25 most recent of 80, in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed Dec 30, 2011

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. THIS OCCURRENCE IS DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT AND TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. IF NOT PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF THIS MIGHT CAUSE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY A TRANSMISSION CRASH. THIS MEANS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THE COST CAN RANGE FROM 3000-7000 DOLLARS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY VW OWNERS. ESPECIALLY VOLKSWAGENS BETWEEN 2001-2003. *KB

NHTSA ID
10441753
Incident
Oct 20, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 21, 2011

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION-WHEN SHIFTED INTO D-LAGS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD-TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IN AN ODD MANNER-CAR ONLY HAS 43000 MILES ON IT-ORIGINAL MILES-. *TR

NHTSA ID
10436643
Incident
Sep 1, 2010
Mileage
41,500 mi
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Nov 3, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS DISCONTENT REGARDING REPAIRS AT LOCAL DEALER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THREE DAYS AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, FOR MAINTENANCE WORK, THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE ALTERNATOR. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT-AND RUN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE REAR END IMPACT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED 12/08/11

NHTSA ID
10434489
Incident
Oct 13, 2011
Fuel systemTransmission
Filed Apr 18, 2011

VEHICLE LOST POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED. FURTHER APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SECOND FROM FOURTH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE FROM 70 TO 40 MPH, AT WHICH POINT THE ENGINE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE SPAN OF AN HOUR, AND IS ENTIRELY INTERMITTENT. THREE VW DEALERS ARE AT A COMPLETE LOSS FOR AN EXPLANATION. THE ECU DOES NOT RETURN A FAULT CODE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS COMPLETELY AT RANDOM, REGARDLESS OF FUEL LEVEL, INCLINE, OR THROTTLE POSITION. THE ONLY CONSISTENCY IS THAT IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED AT A SPEED OVER 50 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10396605
Incident
Apr 17, 2011
Mileage
102,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 23, 2011

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, DOESN'T GRAB WHEN YOU FIRST PUT IT INTO DRIVE. SHIFTS HARD, BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. HAVE ALMOST BACKED INTO CARS WHEN IN DRIVE. THEN I HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS TO MOVE FORWARD AND ALMOST HIT CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME, WITH PARALLEL PARKING. ALSO JUMPS REALLY BAD WHEN I GIVE IT A LIL GAS SOMETIMES, LIKE AT STOP LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10384197
Incident
Dec 1, 2006
Mileage
70,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 5, 2011

FIRST ISSUE, THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL. I'VE NOTICED THAT MY CAR ENGINE STARTED BURNING OIL WHEN IT HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. IT TOOK ME ALMOST TWO YEARS TO PROVE TO THE VW DEALERSHIP MECHANICS THAT THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL. AT 73,000 MILES THE VW DEALERSHIP MECHANICS REBUILT THE ENGINE. MY OIL CONSUMPTION NORMALIZED. NOW, AT AROUND 115,000 MILES, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED BURNING OIL AGAIN. 1,800 MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, JIFFY LUBE MECHANIC HAD TO ADD 2.5QT OF OIL. SHOULDN'T THE ENGINE LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES AFTER REBUILD? IT SEEMS THAT THIS ENGINE ONLY LASTS 45,000 MILES. THIS FEELS LIKE A MAJOR DEFECT AND VW HAS TO RECALL THE ENGINE. SECOND ISSUE, MY CAR IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD BUT IT'S ON ITS THIRD TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT 32,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 73,000 MILES. I'M AT 115,000 AND I'M GETTING VERY WORRIED BECAUSE I'M STARTING TO FEEL LITTLE JERKS. THIS LOOKS TO BE A 40,000 MILES TRANSMISSION. HOW CAN VW DO THIS TO CONSUMERS? IT WOULD SEEM REASONABLE TO ME IF THIS TRANSMISSION GETS RECALLED. I'M NOT EVEN MENTIONING MANY OTHER MALFUNCTIONS. ONE OF WHICH INCLUDES GETTING FLOODED DURING RAINY SEASON. I CAN'T BELIEVE MY CAR, 2002 VW JETTA 2.0L GLS WAS ALLOWED TO BE ON THE MARKET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10374710
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Mileage
110,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 29, 2010

ACCORDING TO CARFAX REPORT, MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN REGULAR. I MAINTAINED CAR APPROPRIATELY. ALL OF SUDDEN MAJOR SPORADIC SHIFTING ISSUES BEGAN OCCURRING AROUND 140,000K WITH 3RD GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND LOSE POWER EACH TIME IT ATTEMPTS 3RD GEAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH ME AT NUMEROUS STOP LIGHTS IN CITY CAUSING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10373323
Incident
Dec 15, 2010
Mileage
140,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 13, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THEN HE NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTS WOULD CHANGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID VALVE WAS REPLACED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,722. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10370488
Incident
Nov 22, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 30, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD AS WELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 105,000. UPDATED 1/25/11 *CN UPDATED 02/07/11

NHTSA ID
10368409
Incident
Nov 28, 2010
Mileage
105,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 3, 2010

WE HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WITH THE 1.8T ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. AT TIMES IT HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN FIRST GEAR WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT ALSO SLIPS BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE ALL POWER. IN GENERAL, IT HAS BEEN A DANGER TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOU CANNOT GET OUT OF THE RIGHTHAND LANE BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO PULL QUICKLY TO THE SIDE IN CASE OF A RAPID DOWNSHIFT OR LOSS OF POWER WHILE IT CAN'T FIND THE GEAR. VW REPAIR SHOP SAYS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION (09A) AND THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS REFUSED TO DEAL WITH IT. THE REPAIR COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION IS $5K! *TR

NHTSA ID
10353639
Incident
Aug 27, 2010
Mileage
124,600 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 5, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS TDI. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND AS HE BEGAN TO PROCEED, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE REVERSE GEAR BARRING HAD FAILED. THERE WERE SHARDS OF METAL FROM THE BARRING FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION SCREEN, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID
10347459
Incident
Jul 16, 2009
Mileage
108,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 1, 2010

THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA FROZE IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION RENDERING THE CAR UNABLE TO START/SHIFT PROPERLY. THIS EVENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON SUBURBAN ROADS AND THANKFULLY ENDED WITHOUT INJURY. MYSELF AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE CAR ARE EXPERIENCED DRIVERS OF STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS AND EVEN AT 80000 MILES THE CLUTCH SHOULD STILL HAVE HAD MANY MORE MILES TO GO. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WILL BE BETWEEN 1500 AND 2000 DOLLARS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON 00-04 VW JETTA MODELS. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS AND COSTLY PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10346662
Incident
Jul 27, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jul 22, 2010

LOSS OF POWER ON FREEWAY, WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE LOST POWER, THEN, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTORE POWER BY 'PUMPING' THE ACCELERATOR, SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR, RESULTING IN A VERY RAPID DECELERATION FROM 70 MPH TO 45 MPH. THIS OCCURRED TWICE IN ONE HOUR, AT BOTH TIMES REQUIRING FOLLOWING MOTORISTS TO SWERVE SEVERELY TO AVOID. *TR

NHTSA ID
10344809
Incident
Jul 22, 2010
Mileage
95,600 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 20, 2010

AT 70000 MILES, JETTA GLS SEDAN WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STOPPED BEING ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND STARTED REVVING HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM, THOUGH THESE FORUMS ARE FULL OF REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. AFTER A SERIES OF EXPENSIVE TESTS (400$ TOTAL) DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDS A NEW TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF 5000$, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE CAR'S BLUE BOOK VALUE. DESPITE THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS VW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE OR COMPENSATE THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10344138
Incident
May 1, 2002
Transmission
Filed Apr 27, 2010

I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR MY CAR. THE OWNER MANUAL DOESN'T MENTION REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 69500 MILES. THREE DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING UPHILL I ACCELERATED BUT THE CAR DID NOT PICK UP SPEED WHILE THE RPM WENT CONSIDERABLY HIGHER (6000 RPM). I WENT TO SEE MY MECHANIC (A CERTIFIED VW MECHANIC) WHO SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND NOT DOWNGRADING AS IT SHOULD AND I SHOULD CONSIDER CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AS A POSSIBLE REMEDY. HE EXPLAINED THAT A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL COULD BE THE CAUSE. HE ALSO SAID THAT SINCE THE TRANSMISSION IS "SEALED" IT WAS ALL HE COULD DO TO TRY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. HOW CAN A "SEALED" TRANSMISSION THAT REQUIRES NO MAINTENANCE BE LOW IN FLUID ? HE DID CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND TOLD ME THAT THE FLUID WAS ALMOST AS DARK AS COFFEE, AN INDICATION THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER CHANGING THE FLUID THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY AND GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. THREE DAYS LATER MY TRANSMISSION IS EXTREMELY NOISY AND I CAN ONLY RUN THE CAR IN "MANUAL"MODE IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE GEARS. I CAN NO LONGER ACCELERATE IN 4TH OR 5TH GEAR AND JUST USE THEM WHILE CRUISING (AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 45 MPH. VW HAS A 60000 MILES WARRANTY ON THE POWER TRAIN BUT A QUICK SEARCH ON GOOGLE REVEALED THAT A LOT OF 2002 JETTA OWNERS HAD THEIR TRANSMISSION GO BAD AROUND 70000 TO 85000 MILES. VW USED TO HAVE 100000 MILES WARRANTY AND REDUCED IT TO 60000, JUST BELOW THE MILEAGE AT WHICH THE TRANSMISSION SEEM TO BREAK DOWN. I SUSPECT THAT THEY KNOW THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ARE DEFECTIVE AND CUT DOWN THE WARRANTY IN ORDER NOT TO HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF 2002 JETTA OWNER THAT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR "SEALED" TRANSMISSION AROUND 70000 IT SEEMS TO INDICATE A TREND OR AT LEAST A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PART. I AM NOW LEFT WITH CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF AROUND $5000. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10327823
Incident
Apr 22, 2010
Mileage
69,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 13, 2009

I HAVE SPENT OVER 9000.00 SINCE 2004 ON REPAIRS ON MY VW JETTA. I COMPLAINED TO THE AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP THAT MY CAR HAD TO WARM UP WHEN IT WAS 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE FOR IT RUN WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN AND ALMOST STOPPING. I TOOK MY CAR IN HAD BUSHINGS REPLACED AND THEY SAID MY TEMPERATURE SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR BACK NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT I NEED A VALVE BODY REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1600.00. EVEN THEN THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. THE OTHER OPTION IS TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR $3500.00. I HONESTLY THINK ALL OF THESE CARS ARE LEMONS AND I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN PRODUCT IN MY LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295517
Incident
Aug 27, 2009
Mileage
9,500 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Sep 5, 2009

2000 TO 2002 VOLKSWAGEN TIPTRONIC OWNERS NOT PROVIDED CORRECT INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION SERVICING SCHEDULING. VOLKSWAGEN STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A "SEALED" UNIT AND THEREFORE SERVICE IS NOT NEED UNLESS LEAKS ARE VISIBLE. KNOWING THIS, I DID NOT TRY TO DO TRANSMISSION SERVICE ON MY CAR WHEN IT REACHED ABOUT 86,000 MILES. - GEARS SLIP FROM 1ST TO 2ND AT COLD STARTS AND JERKS AT 3RD GEAR. I HAVE TO WARM THE VEHICLE IN 10 MINUTES TO GO BACK TO NORMAL OPERATING MODE. - TODAY I WAS TAKING MY WIFE AND MY 1-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO LAKE GEORGE NY FROM QUEENS NY FOR A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THE CAR SUDDENLY SLIPPED FROM 5TH TO 4TH GEAR WHILE WE ARE DRIVING 65 MPH. HOWEVER, I DID NOT FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL I NOTICED THAT OUR SPEED ALMOST FEELS THE SAME EVENTHOUGH I DEPRESS THE PEDAL A LITTLE LOWER. I PLACED IT ON MANUAL MODE AND THE CAR SHIFTED FINE. WE PULLED OVER AT THE REST AREA AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. WE COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT IF THE GEAR WOULD HAVE SLIPPED TO 2ND; ALMOST LIKE SLAMMING THE BREAKS WHILE DOING 65 MPH. - TOMORROW, I WILL HAVE VW REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. MOST LIKELY IS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT OR THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS. - SIMILAR ISSUES IN DSG TRANSMISSION WAS REPORTED AT "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" ON AUGUST 28 2009. - PLEASE SEE SIMILAR TIPTRONIC OWNER'S COMPLAINTS ON THIS FORUM: VWVORTEX.COM. THIS IS A PUBLIC WEB FORUM AND NO PERSONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10282926
Incident
Sep 4, 2009
Mileage
86,004 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 19, 2009

I PURCHASED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T WITH A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM A PRIVATE SELLER ON 07/18/2009 AT 12:00PM. 12 HOURS LATER, AT 12:00AM ON 07/19/2009 I AM ON MY WAY HOME WHEN I REALIZED MY JETTA WAS NOT DELIVERING POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER, BUT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING (TRANSMISSION FLUID, MOST LIKELY) AND PARKED IT IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I GOT HOME, I SEARCHED ONLINE FOR WHAT IT COULD BE AND IT TURNS OUT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THERE ARE COUNTESS OTHERS WHO HAVE POSTED THIS SAME PROBLEM ON VARIOUS MESSAGE BOARDS AND FORUMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I AM ASSUMING THAT THE REPAIR SHOP IS GOING TO TELL ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE IT. HOW CAN MY PREVIOUS CAR, A JUNKER HYUNDAI ACCENT WITH 101,000 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE LAST 36,000 MORE MILES WITH A 5-SPEED MANUAL, AND A JETTA CAN'T EVEN LAST ONE DAY? I AM INFURIATED BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON IT AS WELL AS REPAIR THE THING. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY VW AS A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10277360
Incident
Jul 18, 2009
Mileage
72,200 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Jun 4, 2009

2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IRREGULAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10272881
Incident
May 27, 2009
Mileage
79,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 26, 2009

AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES MY CAR WOULD SOMETIMES GET STUCK IN PARK. IT FELT LIKE I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON. THEN IT STOPPED GOING IN REVERSE. THE SHOPS IN MY AREA DON'T WORK ON VW'S DUE TO THEIR COMPLICATED TRANS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY DON'T REPAIR ANY TRANSMISSIONS, THAT THEY CAN ONLY REPLACE IT AT A COST OF $4500. I TOOK A LOAN FROM MY 401K, PAID IT THINKING IT WOULD LAST, AND SURE ENOUGH THIS ONE IS GOING TOO! IT ONLY HAD A WARRANTY OF 12000 MILES... SEEMS FISHY SINCE IT'S NEW. NEVER WILL I BUY A VW AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10270006
Incident
Apr 10, 2008
Mileage
65,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 26, 2009

2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8TURBO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. $4500. *TR

NHTSA ID
10263187
Incident
Feb 10, 2008
Transmission
Filed Feb 25, 2009

I BOUGHT MY 2002 JETTA 1.8T WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN AUGUST OF 2006. THE DAY I PICKED IT UP, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AFTER ABOUT 2 MONTHS, I FINALLY GOT IT BACK BUT THE CAR WAS STILL SHIFTING HARD AND HAD TO BRING IT BACK. THE CAR DIES RANDOMLY, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE A/C UNIT AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER REPAIRS. THIS MORNING THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN STOPPED AND WHEN ACCELERATING UP TO 60 MPH. I HAVE NOTICED THERE ARE OVER 35 OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSIONS ON JETTA AND FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED INFORMALLY ONLINE, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS. APPARENTLY THE 2002'S WERE BUILT IN MEXICO AND HAVE HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS. I AM ONLY A COLLEGE STUDENT AND WOULD APPRECIATE HELP RESOLVING THE ISSUE OF OWNING A FAULTY CAR. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP UP A CAR THAT WAS NOT MADE PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID
10259968
Incident
Feb 25, 2009
Mileage
87,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspensionTransmission
Filed Feb 19, 2009
Crash reported

I PURCHASED A 2002 VW IN 2005. I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT IN DEC '08. SHORTLY AFTER THE COLLISION PLACE REPAIRED MY CAR. THE VEHICHLE STARTED MISFIRING AND ESSENTIALLY WASN'T DRIVABLE. THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING WERE REPLACED $800 (AT THE VW PLACE) AND THE SERVICE DEPT SAID THAT THEY WOULD CHECK FLUIDS IN PARTICULAR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T HAVE THE UPDATED TRANMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) AND HAD TO REPLACED ( $700 PART AND 300 LABOR) THE SERVICE TECHNICAN DID STATE THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST STEP IN DIAGNOSING AND CORRECTING THE PROBLEM AND THAT THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT NOT A RECALL. WELL $1000 SPENT ON THIS STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOW THEY SAY THE NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON A CAR THAT HAS 87K MILES ANOTHER 4K. WELL, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT VW IS UNRELIABLE AND DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR NAME, PRODUCT OR REPUTATION. THIS IS SHAMEFUL. I AM VERY DISSAFIED AND LEARNED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB RELATED TO TRANSMISSIION, TCM ON THE VW 2002 - 2006 MODEL. VW SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE AND COMPENSATE FOR THIS A DEFECTIVE/INFERIOR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10259364
Incident
Dec 6, 2008
Mileage
87,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 27, 2008

4TH CLUTCH REPAIR. DEALER BLAMES BAD DRIVING HABITS WHEN CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10252883
Incident
Dec 25, 2008
Transmission
Filed Nov 2, 2008

I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN AUTOMATIC TDI JETTA AND THE CAR WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN I SHIFT IT IN REVERSE. IT EITHER ROLLS FORWARD OR JUST REVS WITHOUT ENGAGING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 JETTA'S. IT IS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND WILL BE COSTLY TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247497
Incident
Nov 1, 2008
Mileage
90,000 mi

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