2014 Volkswagen Jetta Powertrain (other) Problems

According to the mechanic to whom we took the vehicle, there was a massive short in the mechatronics component of the transmission. The mechanic also informed us that there was no proactive action we could have taken prior to this incident to prevent its occurrence. The car and its components are still available for inspection. The short caused the vehicle to immediately lose power while being driven between 60 and 65 mph on an Interstate Highway, and the vehicle had to be pulled over immediately. No warnings were provided before the short occurred but the failure resulted in the generation of a warning message after the fact. The vehicle had been serviced recently, including a basic inspection of the vehicle's electronics and transmission. I am unaware of the problem having been reproduced by a dealer or independent service center, but having researched the issue I discovered that other owners of similar make, model, and year numbers have experienced similar issues. Neither the vehicle nor its components have been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives, though, as noted previously, we did have a mechanic inspect the vehicle and faulty transmission to determine the cost of fixing/replacing the transmission. Please see Declined Jobs on attached invoice from Aspen Auto Clinic.

NHTSA ID

11708232

Incident

Dec 8, 2025

I was driving down the Highway at 65 miles per hour when my vehicle suddenly appeared to go into neutral and I lost power in the middle lane and almost was rear-ended. I was able to move over to the side shoulder just gliding. The vehicle starts but while driving it the transmission suddenly appears to go into neutral. The symptoms are consistent with the Recall 34J6 but when I look up my VIN it does not show any pending recalls.

NHTSA ID

11649963

Incident

Mar 13, 2025

I HAVE A 2014 JETTA HYBRID. MY CAR LOST POWER WHEN I TRIED TO USE IT. BROUGHT IT TO VW OF HAYWARD AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY MECHATRON UNIT. WHICH I PAID FOR. I FOUND A RECALL ON THIS UNIT BUT FOR SOME REASON THE RECALL DIDN'T COVER MY VEHICLE. THAT ODD BECAUSE IT SAYS THAT 2013-2015 JETTA ARE BEING RECALL FOR MECHATRON FAILURES (RECALL CODE 34J6). ALL OF THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL WERE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. I THINK MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE RECALL. I DON'T THINK I SHOUILD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR ($2400). THIS DEFECT WAS KNOWN BY VW AND IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO COVER THE COSTS.

NHTSA ID

11648428

Incident

Oct 26, 2021

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving on the highway at approximately 50 MPH, the RMPs revved however the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact merged to the side of the road and noticed transmission fluid was leaking. The vehicle was restarted however failed to increase in speed. The vehicle was towed to the residence where an independent mechanic diagnosed that the vehicle was leaking transmission fluid from between the transmission and the engine. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number:13V568000 (POWER TRAIN) as a probable cause for failure. The approximate mileage at the time of failure was 190,000.

NHTSA ID

11620466

Incident

Jan 15, 2024

Mileage

190,000 mi

The transmission is regularly malfunctioning leaving the car jerking/stuttering when idling. At its worst, the car stopped working while I was driving (felt like it dropped into neutral). I had to stop in the middle of the road (in traffic) to stop and restart the car. I have taken the car to an official VW dealership/repair shop (Smith VW in Wilmington, DE) and was told the transmission would have to be replaced ($10k+ repair). I got a second opinion at AutoStream in Annapolis, MD and was told the same thing. It has not been inspected by police or insurance. The check engine light is now on, though not 100% of the time despite the issue being consistent.

NHTSA ID

11592295

Incident

Aug 2, 2022

Timing chain went bad. Car only has 70k miles on it. Auto shop said there should be a recall because so many of this model car have this issue. It’s a very expensive repair. My son is still making payments on the car and now has to pay $3400 to replace the timing belt. He was told that if he kept driving it the motor would be damaged. He loves the car but this is very disappointing of VW.

NHTSA ID

11587554

Incident

May 3, 2024

I am writing this complaint in recognition of the 34J6 recall for the 2013 - 2015 VW Jetta Hybrid. The vehicle has only 62K miles on it and the transmission suddenly failed. The vehicle was parked at an ice cream shop and after entering it to drive away, it would not move and a wrench came up on the dashboard. It was then towed to a VW dealer and they quoted approximately $20,000 for a new transmission. VW dealer also said this vehicle was not covered under the 34J6 recall, though the failure symptoms are exactly as outline in the NHTSA's repair and recall document. We also contacted VW corporate and they told me to request good will through the dealer. They offered to then fix the car for $11,000. That price is also ridiculous. We denied paying those costs and towed the car to a private residence where it is sitting in the garage. The VW dealer charged us $205.36 for diagnostics. Safety was put at risk, as the transmission suddenly failed without warning and could have caused a serious incident. I am writing this on behalf of a family member who owns the vehicle and I am taking care this vehicle's issues. I found multiple complaints of dealers doing this to customers, so I decided to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The recall should be expanded to all vehicles, there are only 7,000+ units, this is nothing for VW Ag. The only warning light that came up was a yellow wrench.

NHTSA ID

11587353

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

My car died at McDonalds and we had to push it out of the way. I was on lunch with coworker. Then it started and on the way back to work the car just stopped. We did not get hit but we sure could have. I had to have my car towed to dealer with my triple A. They told me I needed a new transmission. After many calls and much haggling I decided to purchase a transmission if I could have the old transmission back. I am sure my car should be part of safety recall VW34J6 and NHTSA 19V866. There are so many of us that are NOT on the recall but have the same problem. My car only had 62,000 miles. And I still owed a loan on it.

NHTSA ID

11575593

Incident

Mar 12, 2021

Power train/transmission Clutch to fail to engage, loss of drive power in low speed and while drive in highways

NHTSA ID

11570641

Incident

Jan 27, 2024

I was on lunch brake, going through a McDonalds drive thru, the car just shut off. I had to have it pushed out of drive thru. After several tries it did start again but shut off in the middle of traffic. I couldn’t shift it. I had to have it towed. VW dealer said I needed a new transmission at 62,000 miles. Then I read about the recall and knew that’s what was the matter with my car. The trouble is my car is not on the recall list. It’s the same with many of us who bought jetta hybrids. So I am out $15,000. The only transmission that can be used is the one on the recall.

NHTSA ID

11559376

Incident

Apr 1, 2021

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly shut off and began to roll backward causing a second vehicle to crash into the rear passenger side door. No injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was driven away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that after the vehicle was serviced under a manufacturer's campaign the vehicle had randomly shut off on several occasions and after restarting the engine the vehicle would operate as normal. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failures but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 149,000.

NHTSA ID

11531388

Incident

Jun 21, 2023

Mileage

149,000 mi

Timing Chain failure on highway nearly causing serious accident. VW will not cover repair. Timing Chain failure is a common issue on these cars and is a safety hazard.

NHTSA ID

11523698

Incident

Apr 21, 2023

The car was driving fine then began to slow down on its own. I would press on the gas but it was not accelerating properly. The engine light came on and another light. The car just died and I was trying to get off the road and to a shoulder. Stuck on the road. Car was dead. I tried to move it. Then I went back to car and restarted it. It did start enough to get me off the road. I took it straight to the dealer and they said it would cost $10,000 to fix because it's a hybrid.They called it transmission troubles. It is in process of failing.

NHTSA ID

11523393

Incident

Apr 1, 2023

Car suddenly losses its power and stops, and I have to turn off the car and turn on again to drive. It happens in small roads and in highways that causes very dangerous situations. No check engine or issues shown.

NHTSA ID

11507573

Incident

Jan 27, 2023

For the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid 2013-2015 units, a safety recall 34J6 was issued to service transmission issues that caused powertrain failure. The problem is caused by hairline fractures in the accumulator that cause insufficient transmission oil pressure (my vehicle is showing codes that this is the case). Recently, my 2014 VW Jetta Hybrid has been experiencing issues as described by the 34J6 recall. My car would lose powertrain capabilities at stoplights or if i was slowing down. It would also occasionally stop and start when it was supposed to be idling. The dealership has confirmed that my accumulator is the issue,however, my VIN number is allegedly not affected by this recall. Can an investigation be put forth to determine if this recall can be extended to be more inclusive of VIN batches that it is affecting?

NHTSA ID

11506106

Incident

Feb 7, 2023

The vehicle transmission will disengage while driving. Dealer stated entire transmission needed to be replaced.

NHTSA ID

11500722

Incident

Jan 2, 2023

The vehicle will constantly try to switch from gas engine to electric mode while at a stop causing transmission issues. Code that show are as follow: P0841 and P17BF.

NHTSA ID

11500369

Incident

Jan 4, 2023

Hello, Recently error codes P309D and 01314-013 were detected via a code reader. Translation of codes indicate Powertrain System and/or ABS ECM. The vehicle will lose power upon downshifting which requires the engine turned off and back on. Once the car reaches normal operating temperature, the issue does not occur. In addition, the Hybrid System is not available. The monitor indicates the battery is being charged. The battery will discharge power, but not to the engine. Not sure where it goes. Finally, the loss of the Hybrid System has resulted in a lower miles per gallon from 45mpg down to 29mpg. Vehicle is available to inspect. Loss of power puts me at risk. The issue has not been confirmed by an Independant source including dealer, police and insurance company. The vehicle has had transmission problems in the past. Loss of power and certain gears, specifically even gears and reverse.

NHTSA ID

11497938

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

EPC light randomly comes on when driving ,car goes limp and I’ve came close to have 3 accidents.Had car checked out at Volkswagen dealership and they said no repairs were needed .The EPC continues to come on and off This is dangerous Occurs multiple times

NHTSA ID

11469719

Incident

Apr 29, 2022

Motor was replaced at 104,714 miles due to knock in engine. Got car after motor replacement and car is doing same exact thing with less than 5000 miles on new motor. Codes that are appearing are oil pressure switch and power train computer issues.

NHTSA ID

11464903

Incident

Nov 11, 2021

The contact's wife owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was oil leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics and diagnosed with a transmission coolant assembly leak. One of the mechanics related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V182000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was informed that the transmission oil cooler assembly and the intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer and diagnosed with a rear transmission leak. The dealer informed the contact that the rear main seal needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11454681

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

Mileage

90,000 mi

I was driving on a busy interstate at 65-70mph when an error notification flashed saying that there is a problem with my hybrid system, then disappeared. A short time later, my car began to rapidly decelerate and the engine just revved when I pushed on the gas. Fortunately, I was in the second to right lane of 5-lanes heading north and was able to coast into the far right lane. Unfortunately, there was no shoulder due to construction, so I was still blocking a lane. After turning on my flashers, I put the car in park, then turned it off. I was able to restart the engine, but could not get it into drive. I tried this multiple times with the same effect. the engine would start, rev when I pressed the gas, but would not move forward. This was a terrifying and life-threatening experience. I am so lucky to have avoided a catastrophic collision with another vehicle. As it was huge semis and other cars were passing me very closely and rapidly. After finally getting through to roadside assistance and the state patrol, I made progress in getting off the interstate and arrange a tow. The engine would go into neutral, so I was eventually able to be pushed off the interstate onto the shoulder of an exit ramp. The transmission shop owner the car was towed to could not accurately diagnose the issue but found this article: https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1126507_2013-2015-volkswagen-jetta-hybrid-recalled-for-transmission-issue. He recommended having it towed to the dealership for further diagnosis. Diagnostic screenshots are attached. There was a recall (38C4) to deal w/ the mechatronic unit, but that did not prevent the problem. The dealership states that it's a "Transmission mechatronic accumulator/transmission internal failure." I spent time on the phone w/ VW America Customer Care. They refuse to help w/ this KNOWN problem with this make, model, and year of this car. The repair estimate is $9,965.67. I have already spent $500 out of pocket for 2 diagnoses and towing.

NHTSA ID

11447960

Incident

Jan 12, 2022

2014 VW JETTA HYBRID. DQ200 complete failure. Vehicle shuts off while driving and won’t go into gear. Taken to Osteen VW Jacksonville Fl. Osteen VW + personal research shows that my vehicle ( should** ) be included in RECALL [ 34J6 ] NHTSA CAMPAIGN 19V86600. Have contacted VW Customer support, they told me to screw the off, that only NHTSA can add my vin #. Why is my Vin # not added when 100% of everything involving Recall 34J6 matches my vehicle??? Please lord help me- my car has been in my driveway useless for over a year. I do not have $9000 for this repair. There are literally hundreds of people in my shoes dealing with this identical issues. Please help all of us.

NHTSA ID

11446488

Incident

Dec 25, 2020

RECALL [ 34J6 ] Does not show my Jetta? yet my Jetta is 100% affected & 100% identical to the recall notice. My vehicle transmission has locked due to hairline fractures caused by pressure inside my DQ200 7Speed DSG Automatic TRANSMISSION ELECTRONIC GEARBOX. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 19V866000. Please include my vin number into the recall-

NHTSA ID

11446200

Incident

Jul 16, 2020

Without any warning, the clutch failed to engage with the transmission. There appeared to be sudden loss of power to the wheels, which left the car inoperable. Upon encountering this issue, we had the vehicle towed to a local VW service center. They proceeded to do an inspection of the vehicle and recommended replacing the entire transmission given issues with their mechatronic units. As we later discovered this is an issue that VW is aware of. Recall 34j6 regarding the mechatronic unit and transmission. I called VW Customer Care and they refused to cover any cost associated with the recommended transmission replacement from the service center. Given that this is a known defect, I'd like VW to stand behind their product and cover the cost of repair, which was estimated at around $9000.

NHTSA ID

11442009

Incident

Nov 6, 2021