RoadVitals

2003 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.
38
Latest Oct 12, 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.
8%
of 456 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

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 2003 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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 38, in the owner's own words

ElectricalTransmission
Filed Oct 12, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE SPEED TRAVELED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, IT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 211,000. UPDATED 12/14/11 THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS EXHIBITING AN INTERMITTENT HESITATION. UPDATED 12/20/11. *JB

NHTSA ID
10429612
Incident
Aug 15, 2010
Mileage
170,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 27, 2009

2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T WOLFSBURG EDITION PURCHASED USED AT 23,000 MILES WITH A BURNT OUT CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO COMPLETE SALE. AT PURCHASE WE WERE ASSURED THE CLUTCH WOULD LAST AND NOT BE AN ISSUE. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THE SALE WAS COMPLETED. WITHIN 30,000 MILES THE CLUTCH HAS GONE OUT ONCE MORE. THE TECHNICIAN IT WAS TAKEN TO REPORTED THAT HE RECEIVES AT LEAST 2 OF THE EXACT SAME CAR WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE PER MONTH. VW DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PRESSURE PLATE IS DEFECTIVE AND BLAMES THE DRIVER. ANY CLUTCH IS EXPECTED TO LAST AT LEAST 90,000 MILES. BOTH VW AND EXTENDED WARRANTIES WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR WHICH IS BEING QUOTED AT $1900- $2200. THE PART HAS BEEN REPORTED DEFECTIVE IN PREVIOUS MODELS BUT IS STILL NOT BEING CORRECTED OR ACKNOWLEDGED AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, WHICH IT IS. THE PRESSURE PLATE, FLYWHEEL, AND CLUTCH DISC ARE UNDER-RATED FOR THE VEHICLES STOCK HORSEPOWER. THE IDENTICAL PARTS ARE FOUND IN OTHER VW VEHICLES WITH UP TO 80 HORSEPOWER LESS. THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED SINCE THE PREVIOUS 2 MODELS. THE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED. WHEN EVEN A VW TECHNICIAN ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH VW AMERICA, REQUIRING THEM TO REPLACE THESE PARTS AT THEIR EXPENSE WITH PARTS QUALIFIED TO SUPPORT THE VEHICLES NEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266994
Incident
Apr 25, 2009
Mileage
60,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 3, 2009

SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE. STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AT TIMES MY CAR WILL START AT THE TURN OF THE IGNITION AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT. I HAVE ALSO BROUGHT TO VW'S ATTENTION ABOUT MY CLUTCH, IN PARTICULAR IS VERY HEAVY (I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN MANUALS) AND AGAIN, AT TIMES I HAVE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO 'R' AND INTO '3RD' GEAR. I WOULD HAVE TO RETURN SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL; STEP ON THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES AND I AM ABLE TO GET INTO 'R'. AS FAR AS '3RD' GEAR, ITS PRETTY TRICKY(SINCE I AM MOVING!!!!) SOMETIMES I CANNOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, AND LITERALLY HAVE TO DOWN-SHIFT AND ATTEMPT 3RD AGAIN!!!! AND NOW, MY CLUTCH IS COMPLETELY SHOT, WITH ONLY 65,000MI ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10264097
Incident
Mar 1, 2009
Transmission
Filed May 30, 2008

AT APPROXIMATELY 61,000 MILES ON MY 2003 VW JETTA GLX (V6), I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS THAT SEEMED TO BE TRANSMISSION RELATED. THIS INITIALLY OCCURRED IN JUNE OF 2007. ALL EXCEPT ONE OF THE ISSUES WERE RESOLVED BY THE WRAY VW IN COLUMBIA SC. THE ONGOING AND CURRENT PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE CAR CHANGES GEARS HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. THE HARD GEAR SHIFTS HAPPENS 95% OF THE TIME THE CAR CHANGES BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO DUE TO THE FACT THE 2 VW DEALERSHIPS DEEMED THE TRANSMISSION TO BE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY PROBLEM IS STILL ONGOING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10229374
Incident
Jun 15, 2007
Mileage
61,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 22, 2008

I HAVE A 2003 VW JETTA TDI. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD IT SERVICED ON TIME AND HAVE KEPT IT WELL MAINTAINED, I HAVE 78,000 MILES ON IT. THE SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO FIX IT. I WORRY BECAUSE THE DOORS NOT LOCK CORRECTLY BECAUSE OF THIS AND I AM NOT AWARE AT THE SPEED I TRAVEL BECAUSE THE GAUGES HAVE FAILED. MY BIGGEST WORRY IS THAT IF I WERE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST IT IS GOING. IF THIS WERE A NORMAL ITEM LIKE BREAKS, TIRES OR SOMETHING THAT HAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR I WOULD UNDERSTAND BUT ITS NOT. IT IS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WHAT I VITAL FUNCTION OF THE CAR. I REALLY FEEL THAT VW SHOULD COVER THE COST OR AT LEAST SPLIT IT WITH ME. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? *TR

NHTSA ID
10228645
Incident
May 15, 2008
Mileage
78,126 mi
Transmission
Filed May 11, 2008

I AM A RESIDENT OF SOUTH FLORIDA AND IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 , DUE TO THE FACT MY CAR HAS BEEN RELIABLE I DECIDED TO DRIVE CROSS COUNTRY TO LOS ANGELES , I TOOK ALL PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO LIVING, FROM OIL CHANGES , BRAKES , TIRE ROTATION AND SO FORTH. IN OCT. OF 2007 , I WAS IN A FENDER BENDER IN LOS ANGELES , WHICH DELAYED MY RETURN TO SOUTH FLORIDA IN THE ACCIDENT THEY HAD TO REPLACE FRONT END LIGHTS AS WELL AS MY RADIATOR. I ONCE AGAIN TOOK ALL PRECAUTIONS ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO MY JOURNEY. AS OF MID NOVEMBER I WAS BACK IN MIAMI , NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR , ALL IS GOOD AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 72,000 OR SO . IN MID MARCH I NOTICED THAT WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND TRY TO ACCELERATE THE CAR , IT WOULD NOT SURPASS 15/20MPH AND IT MADE A VERY STRANGE SOUND. IT WOULD ONLY FUNCTION APPROPRIATELY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS @ 190. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THEY BOTH HAVE INFORMED ME THAT MY CLUTCH IS WORN OUT. I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT IS? I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO KEEP THIS CAR UP TO PAR , AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE . THE DEALER QUOTED ME $5600 AND THE OTHER MECHANIC $2500. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD BEEN AMAZING TO ME TILL NOW, I HAVE A LITTLE LESS THEN 80,000 AND WOULD LOVE TO DRIVE IT TOO AT LEAST 160,000 , BUT THE WAY THIS IS GOING I'M AFRAID THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN . I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE ISSUE. VW JETTA STATION WAGON - 2003 , TURBO GLS TIPTRONIC - 80,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227395
Incident
Mar 20, 2008
Mileage
77,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Mar 17, 2008

THE CLUTCH ON MY VW JETTA BURNED OUT ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE AND WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CAR HAD 46,604 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD HAVE LASTED MANY MILES ABOVE THAT BUT I HAVE LEARNED OF 100'S WHO OWN THE SAME CAR WITH THIS SAME SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10221455
Incident
Mar 4, 2008
Mileage
46,608 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 19, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED AT 34,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,489 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 09/17/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10196851
Incident
Jul 5, 2007
Mileage
34,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 3, 2007

2003 VW JETTA AT 40K MILES TRANS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FEB 06, JUNE 06 SAME SYMPTOMS, TOLD BY DEALER NOT TO BE CONCERNED THAT THE SENSORS TAKE TIME TO ADJUST TO NEW TRANS, EMISSIONS LIGHT ON DEALER SAYS NOT TO WORRY IF IT DOES NOT STAY ON, CONTINUE TO CALL,WITH SAME RESPONSE. DEC 06 CAR LOSES POWER ON INTERSTATE TAKES TWO WKS TO MAKE AN APPT TO GET INTO DEALER, TOLD IT IS NOW THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, VW WILL NOT WARRANTY ALTHOUGH THIS PART WAS NOT CHKD WHEN TRANS REPLACED, TOLD THIS PART IS THE BRAIN TO TRANS IT TELLS TRANS WHEN TO SHIFT. DEALER AND VW OF NO HELP. LOOKED AT CONSUMER AFFAIRS ON THE INTERNET NOTICED HUGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS AS I SAME YEAR SAME MODEL. THE ECM LIGHT STAYS ON AND IS NOT EMITTING SMOKE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10177679
Incident
Dec 12, 2006
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Sep 28, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READ 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 97.3 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE GEAR BUSHING WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE GEAR WAS: 01M-409-187. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE BUSHING WAS: 095-409-190. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT, THE MANUFACTURER NEEDED TO KEEP THE OLD GEAR AND BUSHING. THE CONTACT DID NOT AGREE AND WANTED THE OLD PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10169492
Incident
Sep 28, 2006
Mileage
36,022 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 15, 2006

2003 VW JETTA CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL OUT AT 47,962 MILES. I AM AN EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION DRIVER. THIS IS NOT MY FAULT, AND THIS IS VERY PREMATURE FOR A CLUTCH FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $2088.00 PLUS TAX FOR PARTS AND LABOR. MY DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME AT $1400 BACK HOME, BUT IM STUCK IN COLORADO WAITING FOR THE CUSTOMER CARE TO GET BACK TO ME. EVERY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO INCLUDING VW CERTIFIED; BUT NOT AFFILIATED HAVE TOLD ME THAT EVEN THE WORST CLUTCH -RIDER(WHICH I AM NOT) WOULD HAVE CLUTCH FAILURE AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES. VW IS TOO CHEAP TO SUBMIT A RECALL FOR THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES ON THEIR 2000-2004 VEHICLES. WITH THE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB AND EVEN ON THIS SITE, THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND IM NOT JUST SPEAKING ABOUT THE EXTREMELY OUTRAGEOUS REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR COSTS. PLUS! THEY NOW USE NON- RE-SURFACE FLYWHEELS...*JB

NHTSA ID
10165577
Incident
Aug 11, 2006
Mileage
47,962 mi
BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed Jun 23, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITION PROBLEMS WERE NOTICE WITH THE TRACTION BUTTON FOR THE ESP SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE BLACK BRAKE SWITCH FAILED. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE PURPLE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TWICE. THE BLACK BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD A RECALL FOR 2002 MODEL BUT DOES NOT COVER THE 2003 MODELS. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH, WHICH INCLUDES THE TRACTION BUTTON FOR THE ESP SYSTEM AND THE PARK POSITION LEVER WHICH LOCKS OFTEN. ALSO THE CONTACT ONCE BECAME STRANDED ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. ALL REPAIRS MADE BY THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN COVERED BY THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT BRAKE LIGHTS BECAUSE REPRESENTS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
10160626
Incident
Feb 8, 2005
Mileage
33,969 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 7, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK WHEN STARTED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10152123
Incident
Mar 7, 2006
Mileage
43,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 26, 2005

THE CLUTCH ON MY 03' VW JETTA HAS BEEN FAILING SINCE DAY ONE , I NOW HAVE 42,000 KMS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. REVERSE, SECOND GEAR AND THIRD GEAR ALL HAVE PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH EVERY PERSON WITH A MANUAL JETTA, ESPECIALLY A 1.8T. I THINK VWOA SHOULD RECALL THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. WE SPEND HARD EARNED MONEY ON OUR CARS AND DO NOT DESERVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ON BRAND NEW CARS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10140804
Incident
Nov 13, 2003
Mileage
100 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 26, 2005

* 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WITH 38,116 MILES / ONE OWNER * VW CASE # 50260581 * REPAIR LOCATION: NORTH POINT VW, SHERWOOD, AR (501) 945-5353 THE PROBLEM THIS VEHICLE'S CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL BOTH FAILED (COMPLETELY WORN) AT 38,116 MILES, WELL BEFORE THE AVERAGE EXPECTED LIFE... POSSIBLE MATERIAL DEFICIENCY. BACKGROUND ALL SERVICE FOR THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND DOCUMENTED WITH VW. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SUBJECTED TO ANY EXTREME DRIVING IN ANY WAY. MANUFACTURER'S ASSISTANCE NONE. THE CLUTCH IS A WEAR ITEM AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER AGREES THAT A CLUTCH SHOULD NOT FAIL AT THIS LOW MILEAGE, NEITHER HE, OR THE VW HELP CENTER (800 411-6688) WOULD HELP IN THE $1,600 REPAIR. BOTTOM LINE AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "VW JETTA CLUTCH FAILURE", I NOTED NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PREMATURE VW CLUTCH FAILURE. IS THIS A "WEAK LINK" IN THIS VEHICLE? IS VW TRYING TO HIDE AN INFERIOR PART?

NHTSA ID
10130060
Incident
Jul 14, 2005
Mileage
38,116 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 3, 2005

BLOWN CLUTCH ON NEW 2003 VW JETTA TDI 1.8. FIRST OCCURANCE IN AUGUST OF 04 WITH 26,000 MILES AND AGAIN NOW IN MAY OF 05 WITH 40,500 OR 14,000 MILES TO ANOTHER BLOWN CLUTCH. I AM NOT A TEENAGE DRIVER, I AM 23 WITH EXCELLENT DRIVING SKILLS AND HAVE DRIVEN CLUTCHES ALL MY ADULT DRIVING LIFE. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEIR CLUTCH SYSTEM. I HAVE FOUND TONS OF EVIDENCE IN BULLETIN BOARDS. VW IS BLAMING THIS ON POOR DRIVING SKILLS AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT OCCURS EVERY 20,000 MILES. CONSUMERS LIKE ME ARE GETTIGN RIPPED OFF ON THIS ONE LEFT AND RIGHT. YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING. THIS IS NO ISOLATED INCIDENT!

NHTSA ID
10124085
Incident
Aug 10, 2004
Mileage
26,888 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 6, 2005

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS CLUTCH BURNED OUT AT 21,851 MILES NEED TO REPLACE CLUTCH

NHTSA ID
10116509
Incident
Apr 5, 2005
Mileage
21,851 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 30, 2004

DRIVING ALONG, CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES, WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER THEY SAID THE PRESSURE PLATE IS COMPLETELY WORN AND ITS MY FAULT, AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THIS IS QUITE COMMON. I HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE OR ANY NUMBER OF MANAGERS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10104817
Incident
Dec 26, 2004
Mileage
25,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 30, 2004

I HAVE A 2003 VW JETTA TDI. AT 29,000 MILES THE CLUTCH FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY IN A BLIZZARD. THE VW DEALER HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE CLUTCH FAILED DUE TO MY DRIVING AND THAT IT WILL COST $2000. I HAVE DRIVEN A JEEP WRANGLER OVER 100000 AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH. MY FAMILY AND I WERE IN DANGER IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE 70 FOR SEVERAL HOURS. IN ADDITION TO CALLING THE VW DEALER, I ALSO SPOKE WITH 2 CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAD THE CAR IN 2 WEEKS AGO FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM AND THE DEALER NEVER TOLD ME THAT MY CLUTCH WAS NOT FUNTIONING PROPERLY. VW SOLD ME THE CAR BASED ON QUALITY AND RELIABLITY IN BAD WEATHER. THEY CERTAINTLY CANNOT BACK WHAT THEY ARE MARKETING TO CONSUMERS. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AS THIS. I WILL BE SEEKING LEGAL ACTION IF I AM NOT REMIBURSED FOR MY TROUBLES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10100790
Incident
Nov 28, 2004
Mileage
29,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 2, 2004

I BEGAN NOTING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR IN FEBRUARY OF 04. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALERSHIP AND VW OF AMERICA, THEY BOTH DISMISSED MY CONCERNS. THE CLUTCH WAS INSPECTED IN THE SPRING BUT THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH IT. MY CLUTCH HAS NOW FAILED AT 18,600 MILES AND VW IS REFUSING TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN ANYTHING OTHER THAN MANUAL TRASMISSION CARS AND HAVE NEVER NEEDED TO REPLACE A CLUTCH, EVEN AFTER 130K. THE DEALERSHIP HAS MY CAR AND REFUSES TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE NO TRANSPORATION AS A RESULT AS THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME A LOANER CAR WHILE I WAIT FOR THE FACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON TO INSPECT THE CAR. I HAVE NOTIFIED THEM THAT I WILL SEEK LEMON LAW STATUS IF THEY FAIL TO REPAIR THE CAR BY OCTOBER 8TH, 2004. *AK

NHTSA ID
10093458
Incident
Sep 28, 2004
Mileage
18,600 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 16, 2004

REPEATED COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE ON MY 2003 JETTA. I AM AN EXPERIENCED STANDARD TRANSMISSION DRIVER AND NEVER HAD PROBLEM LIKE THIS WITH ANY OTHER CAR. THE CLUTCH SEEMS TO BE OF LOW QUALITY AND VOLKWAGEN IS BLAIMING CLUTCH FAILURE ON THE DRIVER - EASY WAY OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10091106
Incident
Sep 8, 2004
Mileage
22,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 13, 2004

COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE ON MY 2003 JETTA. I AM AN EXPERIENCED STANDARD TRANSMISSION DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10090889
Incident
Aug 20, 2003
Mileage
17,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 23, 2004

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 VW JETTA HAS NOT WORKED RIGHT SINCE THE 1ST WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT SHIFTS INAPPROPRIATLEY AND HESITATES WHEN PULLING INTO ON ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN NEARLY HIT BY CARS AND TRUCKS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN GOING UP A HILL THE CAR SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT OR SKIP A GEAR, THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. GOING 75 MILES AN HOUR RECENTLY THE CAR SEEMED TO DOWN SHIFT AND I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO SPIN AROUND IN THE ROAD. I WAS ON THE TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY. VERY SCARY. WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE CAR ACCELERATES EXTREMLEY FAST. THE CAR HAS BEEN FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR 6 OR MORE TIMES. VOLKSWAGON IS AWARE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10088442
Incident
Jul 3, 2004
Mileage
17,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 16, 2004

COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE, (THE CAR WILL IDLE IN ALL 5 GEARS) SUDDENLY THAT LEFT MY CAR DISABLED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 2 Y/O SON IN HIS CAR SEAT 30 MILES AWAY FROM ANYWHERE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10086951
Incident
Aug 1, 2004
Mileage
21,453 mi
Transmission
Filed May 12, 2004

LAST JANUARY I BOUGHT MYSELF A 2003 JETTA STRAIGHT OFF THE LOT BRAND NEW. EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT UP TO OCTOBER ONCE THE COLD WEATHER STARTED TO SET IN. THE CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC AND WHEN LEAVING IT TO SIT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME I WOULD GET IN TO DRIVE THE CAR AND STARTING OUT WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR IT WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. IT WAS ABSOLUTLY HORRIBLE AND SCARY FELT AS IF THE CAR WAS GOING TO BOTTOM OUT. SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND BROUGHT IT IN FOR A CHECK, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR SO I TOOK IT HOME AGAIN BUT THE PROBLEM KEPT HAPPENING. SO AGAIN COME MARCH I BROUGHT IT BACK THIS TIME THEY HAD IT FOR A WHOLE WK AND AGAIN TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG, SO I BROUGHT IT HOME AGAIN AND AGAIN LATER ON NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER IT STARTED TO SHIFT LATE AGAIN SO I CALLED AGAIN THIS TIME THE SERVICE REP TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING MORE HE COULD DO FOR ME. I CALLED THE VW COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE WAYI WAS DRIVING THE CAR "I WAS AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER". I CALLED THE BBB AND OPENED UP A CLAIM AND NOW AGAIN THEY HAVE MY CAR AND I HAVE A RENTAL BUT AGAIN THEY ARE TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. NEVER ONCE HAS ANYONE APOLIGIZED. NO AUTOMATIC SHOULD SLAM INTO GEAR WHEN DRIVING IT. THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO EVEN TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ALL THEY KEEP DOING IT TURNING IT AROUND ON ME AS IF IT IS MY FAULT THE WAY I AM DRIVING THE CAR.. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON MYVWLEMON.COM AND I HAVE FOUND A MILLION OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND INFORMED BARRYS OF THIS AND THEY TOLD ME UNLESS IT IS THE EXACT SAME CAR SAME ENGINE SAME STYLE THERE IS NO CASE.. THIS IS THE ABSOLUTLY THE WORST I HAVE EVER BEEN TREATED FROM A COMPANY.

NHTSA ID
10072500
Incident
Oct 17, 2003

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