Page 18 of 18 · complaints 851–889 of 889

2009 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2009 record →

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 3, 2009CA

ENTERING TRAFFIC IN 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TDI SPORTWAGON. AS I APPLIED THE THROTTLE, THE CAR WENT INTO A FALSE NEUTRAL, AND LOST POWER. THE ENGINE STILL REVVED, BUT NOTHING GOT THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. ALL THE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS (P-N-R-D-S) ON THE DASH FLASHED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND RESTARTED IT, (IN THE INTERSECTION) AND IT WORKED FINE. THE HAPPENED THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING FROM SEATTLE TO SAN JOSE ON 29 JULY. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 1, 20092,000 milesTX

1. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN 6TH GEAR, FLAT ROAD, IN CRUISE CONTROL. NO ERRATIC DRIVING OR FAST ACCELERATION. 2. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS BY FALSELY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER IS IN DRIVE. THE PRNDS GEAR INDICATOR ON THE DASH BEGAN FLASHING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ON JULY 15, 2009. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER TO THE FRONT (DRIVE) WHEELS AND HAD TO BE STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, THEN RESTARTED FOR THE CAR TO RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION. 3. THE CAR HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE VW DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR REPAIRED. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 30, 20096,300 miles00

WAS DRIVING MY 2009 JETTA TDI WAGON DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 90KM/H. ALL POWER WAS LOST, THE CAR WAS IN "NEUTRAL." RPMS DROPPED TO ABOUT 1000. THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS FLASHING "PRND." I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY, I WAITED 10 MINUTES, RE-STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE IT TO THE CLOSEST VW DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND THAT NONE WERE AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA. I WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND JUST TO PULL OVER EVERY TIME THE CAR BEHAVED LIKE THIS. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jul 29, 2009OH

HEAD LIGHTS ARE ON, BUT THE REST OF THE LIGHTS ARE NOT. ALREADY WENT DOWN THE ROAD (4) TIMES WITH OUT MY LIGHTS ON. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 29, 20092,500 milesMI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE ALSO NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE FINALLY RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE FAILURES OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 29, 200990 milesCA

2009 JETTA TDI SPORTWAGON WITH ONLY 90 TOTAL MILES ON THE ODO, 3 DAYS OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR JUMPED OUR OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOW (DGS TRANSMISSION). CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. WAITING ON PARTS. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 24, 2009825 milesNJ

THE DSG TRANSMISSION JOLTS THE CAR WHEN SHIFTING AT LOWER SPEEDS WHILE THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN S MODE. THE "MECHATRONICS" CONTROL UNIT HAS BEEN CHANGED, BUT THE CAR STILL JOLTS. I'M AFRAID THAT THESE JOLTS PUT EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON THE REST OF THE DRIVETRAIN AND CAN CREATE AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 22, 20093,281 milesFL

DSG TRANSMISSION AT SLOW SPEEDS WILL SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT INTO 1ST CAUSING ABRUPT ENGINE BREAKING IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING (<25MPH). TRYING TO ACCELERATING FROM THE SLOW SPEED OR STOP WILL CAUSING A 1-2 SECOND DELAY/JERK IN TRAFFIC (NARROWLY AVOIDING BEING REAR-ENDED IN STOP-GO-TRAFFIC). *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 20, 2009570 milesMD

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2009 VW JETTA 2.0TSI WITH A DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) TRANSMISSION. THIS TRANSMISSION IS JUST LIKE A STANDARD CLUTCH TYPE STICK SHIFT BUT WITHOUT A CLUTCH PEDAL. ON BOARD COMPUTERS DEPRESS THE CLUTCH FOR THE DRIVER INSTEAD. THE DRIVER HAS A CHOICE OF SELECTING THE GEARS THEMSELVES (TIP MODE) OR CHOOSING A 'D' FULLY AUTOMATIC MODE. WE PREFER FULL AUTO MODE. WE LOVED THE WAY OUR CAR DROVE UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN WE FELT THE CAR SURGE, PAUSE, AND THEN SURGE AGAIN AS WE ACCELERATED FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE TACHOMETER INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ERRATICALLY WITHOUT ANY RHYME OR REASON, AS IF IT HADN'T EVER LEARNED HOW TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. BUT THE ERRATIC ACCELERATION DIDN'T REPEAT ITSELF AT THE NEXT LIGHT OR THE NEXT ONE EITHER. WE DISMISSED IT AS A FLUKE. BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THIS CONDITION REPEATED ITSELF UNTIL IT GOT SO BAD IT WOULD TAKE A LONG PAUSE BETWEEN GEARS THEN SURGE AHEAD WITHOUT CONTROL! WE FEARED DRIVING IT SO MUCH THAT WE STOPPED AND CONTACTED OUR DEALER THAT MONDAY. WE ALSO GOOGLED 'DSG PROBLEMS' AND WERE ASTONISHED AT WHAT WE SAW, AND READ! WE WEREN'T ALONE. SOME HAVE HAD NEAR COLLISIONS WHILE OTHERS WERE LEFT STRANDED. IT APPEARS THE 'BRAINS' OF THE DSG IS AT FAULT. IT'S CALLED THE MECHATRONICS UNIT MODULE AND IS ON BACK ORDER FOR UP TO 2 OR MORE MONTHS. WE'VE READ THAT MANY WHO HAVE HAD THEIR MECH.U. RECENTLY REPLACED ARE EXPERIENCING REPEATED MELTDOWNS. OUR CAR HAD ONLY AROUND 570 MILES ON IT WH

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 19, 20091,000 milesIL

TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED APPROX 2 GEARS AND WAS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR OR TO THE AUTOMATIC MODE. THE PRNDS LIGHTS ON THE CENTRAL DASH STARTED FLASHING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO DESTINATION STUCK IN 2ND GEAR, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A DEFAULT LIMP HOME MODE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 19, 20093,500 milesTN

DSG TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL SPORADICALLY AT SPEED, AND LOSS OF WHEEL POWER OCCURS FOR 5-10 SECONDS, THEN TRANSMISSION REENGAGES. PRNDS GEAR INDICATOR ON DASH FLASHES DURING THE EPISODE. HAPPENS REPEATEDLY BUT NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TRIGGERED, AND DEALERS CANNOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM BECAUSE NO FAULT CODES ARE GENERATED. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REENGAGE AND HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE POWERED OFF ON AND BACK ON TO CLEAR PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 17, 2009100 milesOH

I HAVE THE WOLFSBURG EDITION 2.0T AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CAR IS ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING GEARS THERE IS A LOUD RATTLING SOUND. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT AND THEY CLAIMED THAT'S A NORMAL SOUND. I HAD A PASSAT WITH THE 2.0T PRIOR TO THE WOLFSBURG AND IT NEVER MADE THIS SOUND. WE TOOK ANOTHER JETTA WOLFSBURG EDITION FOR A DRIVE THAT WAS ON THE SALES LOT. UNFORTUNATELY, IT MADE THE SAME SOUND. IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS BECAUSE IT'S A BRAND NEW CAR. IT RATTLES EVERY TIME THE CAR ACCELERATES AND IS SWITCHING GEARS. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE ENGINE. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 16, 20091,170 milesTX

WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 VW JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI WITH DSG TRANSMISSION 65 MPH ON FREEWAY, CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 1175 MILES ON IT, SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL THOUGH WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED AND NO ACCELERATION RESPONSE WHEN ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. GEAR RE-ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS LATER AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN SPEED WITH NO INCIDENT. TOOK INTO VW DEALER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE, BUT CALLED VW TECH AND WERE TOLD TO REPLACE THE INPUT TEMPERATURE SENSOR ON THE TRANSMISSION. SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK 5 DAYS LATER. APPEARS TO BE RUNNING FINE, NO REPEAT OF "FALSE NEUTRAL" IN THIS CASE, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY, BUT SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ON THE INTERSTATE IN TRAFFIC COULD VERY EASILY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 15, 20094,800 milesCT

I HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND BLINKING PRND WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, AND SCARED ME. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I THOUGH I HIT THE SHIFTER WITH MY KNEE; SECOND TIME GOT ME CONCERNED; THIRD TIME I SAID I'M GOING TO THE DEALER; 4TH AND 5TH TIMES IT HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER! WHILE IN THE SHOP FOR 2 DAYS, I SENT A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF WHAT I EXPERIENCED TO THE HEAD MECHANIC, KNOWING HE WOULD NOT LIKELY BE ABLE TO RECREATE WHAT I EXPERIENCED ON HIS OWN. HE NEVER GOT A FAULT CODE FOR THIS. AFTER CALLING VW, HE CHECKED AND FOUND A FAULTY TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SENSOR, WHICH SHOWED FAILURE 54 TIMES! APPARENTLY, THE TRANNY GOES INTO PROTECTION MODE (DEATH MODE ON THE HIGHWAY IF YOU ASK ME) WITH THIS FAULT CONDITION. WAITING NOW FOR A TRANNY TEMP SENSOR FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 14, 20091,900 milesKS

I OWN A 2009 VOKSWAGON TDI WAGON. LAST WEEK WHILE ON VACATION WITH MY FAMILY I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL "FALSE NEUTRALS". THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WOULD SHIFT INTO A NEUTRAL GEAR AND THE RPM WOULD REV TO 3000+ RPNDS LIGHTS ON THE MFD WOULD FLASH AND ACCELERATION WOULD CEASE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS IN THE CITY... IT ALSO HAPPENED ONCE WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 14, 20091,500 milesOR

THIS IS A JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI WITH DSG AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WITH DSG TRANSMISSION IN 'D" MODE, COASTING AT MODERATE SPEED IN TRAFFIC, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR INTO FALSE NEUTRAL, TRANSMISSION DISPLAY FLASHING "PRNDS". STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR CAUSED ENGINE TO REV TO REDLINE, CAR DID NOT SPEED UP. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, EACH TIME I TRIED REPEATEDLY PLACING TRANSMISSION INTO "TIPTRONIC" MODE AND BACK INTO "D", PROBLEM RESOLVED WITHIN 30 SECONDS AND TRANSMISSION THEN FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. CEL DID NOT ILLUMINATE. AS THIS HAPPENED IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, THE FAILURE ONLY DELAYED VEHICLES BEHIND ME TEMPORARILY. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO VW DEALER YET AS THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM. TDI CLUB FORUM POSTS SUGGEST PROBLEM IS FAULTY TRANSMISSION TEMP SENSOR, MAY BE MORE COMMON IN VEHICLES SOLD IN SPRING 2009. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 13, 20098,000 milesWI

THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 VOLKSWGEN JETTA TDI WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. THE AUTO SO EQUIPPED CANNOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY AS THE CAR HAS SERIOUS ACCELERATION LAGS BEFORE POPPING INTO GEAR AND SEVERE DOWNSHIFTS. THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THE NEXT INCIDENT WILL HAPPEN ONLY THAT THE ACCELERATION LAG HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES AT INTERSECTIONS. TO DATE ONLY A SCRAPED WHEEL WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A BANK DRIVE THROUGH. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 11, 20093,050 milesMD

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON I-95, CAR DISENGAGED FROM TRANSMISSION. ENGINE REVVED, BUT SLOWED DOWN. AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGED. AT SAME TIME, CENTER DISPLAY FLICKERED AND BEGAN INDICATING ALL DRIVE MODES. ON JULY 10, 2009, WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT TRANSMISSION DIDN'T ENGAGE, AND WOULDN'T ENGAGE, UNTIL I RESTARTED THE CAR. AS THE INTERSECTION WAS ON A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE, THIS LEFT ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 10, 2009298 milesNY

I JUST GOT MY BRAND NEW 09 VW TDI SPORTWAGON WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION AND IT ONLY HAD 298 MILES ON IT, I WAS ON THE THROGS NECK BRIDGE WITH MY 20 MONTH OLD TWIN GIRLS, SOPHIA AND JESSICA AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND THEN NO POWER AT ALL . I WAS STUCK ON THAT BRIDGE FOR OVER 3 HOURS WITH MY TWIN GIRLS ! THE TOW TRUCK FINALLY CAME AND TOWED THE CAR TO BAYSIDE VW. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 9, 20091,450 milesFL

2009 VW JETTA TDI WITH DSG TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL UNDER HIGHWAY CONDITIONS RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER/ACCELERATION. REQUIRES SHIFTING TRANSMISSION TO ANOTHER MODE, SOMETIMES PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE. OCCURS TYPICALLY ONCE A DAY UNDER PROLONGED DRIVING CONDITIONS, BUT CAN BE COMPLETELY RANDOM. EFFECT OF SUDDEN STOP OR DECELERATION IN TRAFFIC, VERY UNSAFE. PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED, DEALER UNABLE TO REPRODUCE OR FIND FAULT. OTHERS WITH ISSUE HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION TEMP/SPEED SENSORS REPLACED. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 7, 20093,067 milesMA

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, IN TRAFFIC AND NOT IN TRAFFIC, I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION GO INTO A FALSE NEUTRAL THAT WOULD NOT RECOVER UNTIL I RE-STARTED THE CAR. TRAVELING ALONG AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY APPROACHES REDLINE, WITH NO WARNING. THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR, P R N D S STARTS TO FLASH, INDICATING THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEUTRAL. TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER IS A WHITE KNUCKLE RIDE. I AM REPORTING THIS HERE NOW, AS I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SITE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 7, 20096,000 milesMA

2009 VW JETTA TDI SPORTWAGEN: LOSS OF DRIVE AT SPEED, ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR'S DASH BOARD FLASHES THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR ITS AUTOMATIC DRIVE MODE 'PRNDS' AND PRODUCES NO POWER TO THE WHEELS, DESPITE THE SHIFTER REMAINING IN 'D' FOR DRIVE. VEHICLE POWER WAS RESTORED ONLY AFTER COMING TO A FULL STOP, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING IT. THIS HAPPENED ONLY ONCE, FOR US. VW CHECKED THE VEHICLE, FOUND NO COMPUTER GENERATED "CODES" AND RETURNED IT TO US WITH NO CHANGE MADE. WE BELIEVE IT WAS UNSAFE TO BE WITHOUT POWER ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, WITH NO SHOULDER AND HOPE VW WILL IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 6, 2009480 milesMD

DSG TRANSMISSION MECHATRONIC UNIT FAILURE (INTEGRATED CPU UNIT) RESULTING IN SEVERE TO ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR. CARS WOULD SUDDENLY STALL... BUCK OR LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON THE SHIFT MODE. MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ON THE VWVORTEX WEBSITE ABOUT THIS MOST RECENT AND SEVERE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. VW IS TAKING UP TO SEVERAL MONTHS TO REPAIR CARS. IT APPEARS TO BE VW-AUDI CARS '08 THROUGH PRESENT THAT ARE SEVERELY AFFECTED. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 5, 20094,638 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL FAILING TO DELIVER ANY POWER TO THE WHEELS. I STRUGGLED TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAS NEARLY IN TWO ACCIDENTS AND I THINK I SCRUBBED ONE OF MY RIMS ON THE CURB, BUT DIDN'T NOTICE AT THE TIME SINCE I WAS FREAKED OUT. I THEN HAD TO STOP AND RESTART THE CAR TO GET IT TO DRIVE AGAIN. THIS WAS THE SIXTH TIME IN ABOUT A WEEK THAT WE HAD THE CAR ACT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING ALONG. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT POWER WAS NOT REGAINED SHORTLY AFTER LOSING POWER. THE FRUSTRATING THING IS THAT I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER EARLIER IN THE WEEK COMPLAINING THAT A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED THE PREVIOUS WEEK WHERE I HAD LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS BUT THAT I HAD REGAINED IT AFTER 5-10 SECONDS. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND THAT NO "ERRORS" SHOWED UP IN THE COMPUTER HISTORY FOR THE VEHICLE. THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO BULLETINS PUT OUT BY VW THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE ERROR OCCURRED AGAIN. THANKFULLY I WAS CARRYING MY VIDEO CAMERA IN THE CAR AND MY GIRLFRIEND RECORDED MUCH OF THE INCIDENT. I AM EMAILING THE DEALER TODAY AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY NOW. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jul 3, 20091,500 milesFL

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF WARNING AND AIRBAG FAULT WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 22, 2009868 milesNC

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. HE STATES THAT DSG DUEL CLUTH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT THE TEMP SENSOR GOES BAD IT SENDS FALSE READING=S TO THE ELCTRONIC MODULE AND CAUSES THE TRANMISSION TO LOCK UP. GOING AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO NEUTREL. THE VEHICLE STAYED IN NEUTRL UNTIL IT HIT 45 MPH WHEN GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND AT A STOP SIGN ON A OFF RAMP AND TRYING TO PASS THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO LOCK UP AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TURNED OFF AND THEN TOWED TO AN DEALER AND THEY TOOK A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. ALSO VOLKSWAGEN DIDNT TAKE THIS SITUATION SERIOULSY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 868.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 20, 2009703 milesNY

DSG TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING DOWN BROOKLYN-QUEENS EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING 50MPH, HAD TO COAST CAR FROM LEFT LANE TO RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER. INCIDENT HAPPENED ABOUT 3-4 TIMES WHEN CARE HAD LESS THAN 700 MILES FROM NEW PURCHASE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 20, 20092,300 milesIA

09 VW TDI SPORTSWAGEN DSG WILL RANDOMLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS TIMES VARYING FROM BEING STOPPED TO CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. DURING THE FIRST VISIT, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME, WE TOOK A VIDEO OF THE EVENT AND SHOWED IT TO THE LEAD MECHANIC. THE SHOP HAS DETERMINED A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION IS OVERHEATING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. THE PART IS REPORTEDLY ON BACK ORDER AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ESTIMATE AS TO WHEN THE REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 19, 20093,000 milesVA

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN CAR, THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING AND THE TRANSMISSION GEAR RANGE DISPLAY FLASHES. THE CARE MUST BE STOPPED AND RESTARTED TO ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO REENGAGE. DIAGNOSED AS A DSG TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CAUSING IT TO GO INTO "SAFETY MODE" IN RESPONSE TO A MALFUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE SENSOR. DEALER WORKING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN INFREQUENTLY AND VERY UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 19, 20091,300 milesPA

DSG TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL SPORADICALLY AT SPEED, AND LOSS OF WHEEL POWER OCCURS FOR 5-10 SECONDS, THEN TRANSMISSION REENGAGES. PRNDS GEAR INDICATOR ON DASH FLASHES DURING THE EPISODE. HAPPENS REPEATEDLY BUT NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TRIGGERED, AND DEALERS CANNOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM BECAUSE NO FAULT CODES ARE GENERATED. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 18, 20097,140 milesTX

2009 JETTA WITH 7100 MILES FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN DIED. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY 3 TIMES DURING A ONE WEEK PERIOD. THE CAR COULD BE RE-STARTED AFTER THE FAILURE BUT THEN DIED AGAIN. IT ACTED AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING GAS. I FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO VW DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I DIDN'T TRUST THAT IT WOULD NOT DO THIS WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY. VW DETERMINED THAT IT HAD A FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 18, 20093,945 milesSC

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED RESULTING IN NO POWER TO MAINTAIN SPEED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE, ONCE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ONCE ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. WITH THE FIRST OCCURRENCE THE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGED AFTER A FEW SECONDS. WITH THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, THE "PRNDS" SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND I HAD TO MERGE OVER THROUGH TRAFFIC INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, ALL THE WHILE HAVING NO POWER. I THEN HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT TO CLEAR THE MALFUNCTION. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND A SENSOR(S) WERE REPLACED ON THE TRANSMISSION'S COMPUTER. SINCE THE REPAIR I'VE NOT HAD ANOTHER MALFUNCTION. THIS MALFUNCTION POSES A SERIOUS HAZARD AS ONE LOSES THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN TRAFFIC, RESULTING IN A STALLED VEHICLE SITUATION. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 17, 2009487 milesFL

2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS BRAND NEW WITH 487 MILES. THE CAR COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC ALTHOUGH ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND IN DRIVE. FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. PNDRS LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD BEGAN BLINKING. PROBLEM RESOLVED SPONTANEOUSLY ONLY TO RECUR MOMENTS LATER. WAS TOLD BY VW TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION IF IT OCCURS IN TRAFFIC OR DURING A LEFT HAND TURN. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 16, 200911,000 milesGA

I OWN A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TDI. IT NOW HAS JUST OVER 11000 MILES. AFTER ONLY A COUPLE THOUSAND MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE ENGINE HESITATES AND IN SOME CASES PRODUCES SEVERE BUCKING FOR MAYBE 2-3 SECONDS. DURING THESE INCIDENTS, THE VEHICLE HAS LESS POWER AND THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF ONE IS TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND SUDDENLY HAS LESS POWER THAN ANTICIPATED TO ACCELERATE. THE PROBLEM UNFORTUNATELY CAN'T BE REPLICATED ON DEMAND. IT IS MORE OFF A SPORADIC OCCURRENCE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TOP THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN FIND WRONG WITH THE CAR. THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES THAT SHOW UP WHEN THEY USE THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS DONE TO TRY TO SOLVE THE ISSUE WAS DURING THE MOST RECENT VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FUEL WAS SAMPLED AND LEFT OVERNIGHT IN A FREEZER TO CHECK FOR GELLING, I DON'T THINK IT WAS SENT TO A LAB FOR ANALYSIS. THE FUEL FILTER WAS ALSO CHANGED. THESE ACTIONS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Jun 2, 20095,600 milesNY

THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 2009 V.W. TDI (DIESEL ENGINE). WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT YET WARMED UP, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED A HESITATION OCCURS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC. THIS WAS REPORTED TO PLATINUM VOLKSWAGEN ON 1/6/09 DURING A VEHICLE COURTESY CHECK. THE CAR DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THIS HESITATION HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES PER WEEK. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jun 2, 2009200 milesPA

I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2009 JETTA TDI ON 5/28/2009 AND 2 DAYS LATER AFTER I HAD ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 200 MILES, THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE CAR WAS SITTING STILL. I OPENED THE HOOD AFTER I GOT TO MY DESTINATION TO REALIZE THAT THE COOLING FANS WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. THEY WOULD NOT EVEN COME ON TO COOL THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED ON A SATURDAY, AND THE VW DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT WAS CLOSING IN AN HOUR. THEIR MASTER TECH AGREED TO STAY UNTIL I GOT THERE AND HE RAN SOME TESTS ON IT, AND TOLD ME HE SIMULATED A SEVERE ENGINE OVERHEAT AND THE FANS STILL DID NOT COME ON. HE SAID THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND IT WOULD HAVE TO STAY AT THE DEALER. HE SAID THE FAN RELAY WAS FAULTY AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEN MONDAY MORNING THE SERVICE MANAGER WHOM DID NOT BELIEVE THE MASTER TECH DECIDED TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING COOLING SYSTEM TO SEE IF HE COULD REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HE CALLED ME TO DISCUSS THE FACT THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WORKED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING TO WHICH I SAID IT WILL WHEN YOU DRIVE IT, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT WORK WHEN YOUR COME TO A STOP BECAUSE THE FANS DO NOT TURN ON. HE FINALLY DECIDED AFTER A DAY OF WASTED TESTS TO ORDER THE PART. I FINALLY GOT MY CAR BACK TODAY AFTER THEY HAD IT FOR 5 DAYS OF THE FIRST WEEK I OWNED IT. I AM SO GLAD I PURCHASED THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, BECAUSE THAT SORT OF PROBLEM AFTER 2 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP DOES NOT SAY MUCH FOR VW. EVERYTHING WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I WAS STILL WITHOUT MY CAR FOR JUST SHY

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Apr 1, 20093,900 milesCA

WE WERE HEADING UP HILL WHEN SUDDENLY TRAFFIC CAME TO A CRAWL AFTER A FEW MINUTES WE STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING LIKE BURNT BRAKE PADS, WE FIGURED IT WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLES HEADING DOWN HILL BRAKING FRICTION, WE DID NOTHING OF IT UNTIL WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LIFT OPEN THE HOOD THEN NOTICED THAT THE SMELL WAS ACTUALLY COMING FROM OUR CAR ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON A SATURDAY, ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I CALLED VW CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED, THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC MADE THE RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED, VW AGREED TO HAVE IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER THE NEW CLUTCH IS BEGINNING TO SHOW THE SAME SIGN OF FAILURE THE CAR HAS ONLY 6500 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HEARD FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES THAT MAIN CAUSE COULD BE THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OWNERS. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Mar 4, 20094,500 milesNY

I DRIVE A 2009 VW JETTA SEDAN 2.5 S, WHICH ONLY HAS 4,000 MILES. TWO DAYS AGO, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. IT LOST ELECTRIC POWER AND COULD NOT MOVE FURTHER. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE LACK OF GAS, BUT REALIZED IT WAS NOT THE CASE BECAUSE THE TANK WAS FULL. THE CAR DASHBOARD SIGNALED THAT THE BATTERY HAD A PROBLEM -ITS INDICATOR WAS TURNED ON. AND THAT WAS WHEN I REALIZED THAT THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE BATTERY WASN'T WORKING. SO, AFTER MOVING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, I WAITED AND TRIED AGAIN AFTER TWO MINUTES AND, FORTUNATELY, THE IGNITION STARTED. THE PROBLEM WAS "FIXED," AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING. ALSO, A FEW MINUTES LATER THE BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE PEDAL TURNED REALLY HARD AND I COULDN'T PUSH IT ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM. SO THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THEY HAVE FOUND THE BRAKES PROBLEM (A BRAKE PUMP, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED). THEY STILL HAVE TO CHECK THE BATTERY PROBLEM. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT IF BOTH PROBLEMS COMEBACK AGAIN ME, AND MY FAMILY, MAY BE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT AGAIN THAT THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT I HAVE DRIVEN FOR ONLY SIX MONTHS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 8, 2008230 milesFL

VEHICLE'S MOTOR ENGINE'S FAN WOULD NOT STOP RUNNING EVEN AFTER VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN OUT. *TR

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta → · Every Jetta year → · How the figures are calculated →