9.1

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,930
Average Mileage:
118,900 miles
Total Complaints:
14 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. new or used transmission and clutch (3 reports)
  3. replace transmission (3 reports)
  4. transmission and clutch replaced under warranty (2 reports)
  5. need new tectronix unit (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Volkswagen dealer.

problem #14

Jun 172017

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

At around 85,000 miles my (automatic) car started having issues shifting and getting stuck in neutral. I took it into the dealership and they told me the transmission needed to be replaced. I got a second opinion to see if they could rebuild the transmission and they found they could just replace the valve body and it would solve my issue. Which it did, until my car hit around 110k miles and quite suddenly got stuck in neutral. Turns out the transmission is officially dead (their are shards in it). Now, I'm lucky if I can find anyone to take it off my hands for a measly $500...

- Jessica M., San Gabriel, CA, US

problem #13

Jan 012018

Jetta 1.9L Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 220,000 miles

Meticulous maintenance with expensive Germain fluids yet the transmission fails early. The dangerous part is when the mechatronic unit fails the car is placed into limp mode...what is that you may ask? Well, its neutral. Why is neutral dangerous or deadly you may inquire? Well, if you need to ask that question head to your local interstate at rush hour and for no good reason grab your shifter and throw that sucker into neutral and then proceed to look in your rearview mirror as magic begins to happen! It is strange that limp mode for other manufacturers is increased hydraulic pressure and firm shifts. Nope, German engineering decided a visit with Jesus is a better solution. Thank God no distracted text depraved moron was behind my wife and she was able to coast to safety.

- M G., Gosport, IN, US

problem #12

Jun 012013

Jetta 1.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 195,000 miles

VW knows they have a transmission problem called the textronics, which is in the transmission and was recalled in 2007-2010. Why not 2006?? The same problem exists, driving 70 on the expressway and transmission suddenly shifts down to 1st gear. Oh my god, freaked, me and son could have died.

Parked the car and regrouped, attempted to drive after shutting down, drove fine then 30 mins later did the same thing. Limped at 10 mph to destination. Stayed over night, drove away no problem, went to a movie and then to leave no reverse, had to manually backup the car and push with son only 8!! Then attempted to drive at 10 mph, no money, stranded 2 hours, later car decided to go. Drove home, 70 miles fine, went to work next day and same issue!! Took into local mechanic, could not fix, no idea what was wrong except for the complaints I've read online. He suggests Volkswagen and lawyer!!

After year could afford to take into dealer and cost over $2500.00 to fix tectronix and no guarantees. Could have died!! multiple times. Paid $33,000 plus for this vehicle and great mileage, other than that, piece of sh*t!! What are recalls for, to prevent deaths not wait for them to happen. Complaints all over the internet about the problem and no recall by VW and you can't buy the part anywhere except VW. What a f joke!!

NO RECALL, NO PLACE TO BUY PART EXCEPT VW, CONSPIRACY HAVE TO GET FIXED FOR LOTS$$$$ OR TRADE IN TO BUY OTHER PILES OF SH*T RECALLS. PRAY THEY GET SUED AND LOOSE BIG SO THEY MAN UP AND FIX THE MISTAKES. NEVER BUY!! UNLESS WILLING TO LOOSE ALL TRANSMISSION CONTROL AND POSSIBLY KILL YOURSELVES OR LOVED ONE. MAYBE THEY WOULD MAN UP THEN. BFS.. NEVER AGAIN RIP OFF!!!

- Steven B., AuGres, MI, US

problem #11

Jun 012014

Jetta ES 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,000 miles

Ugh. My GF's mom gave us a 2006 VW Jetta so of course we were happy to get a free car. It had 90k+ miles on it at the time and she companied of a jerk-bang going from reverse to drive but it just got worse from there. The car died multiple times on the highway after failing to shift gears. The transmission is officially dead according to the local German mechanic specialist. I have to replace it for $4900 but I really don't know if I'm going to bother...

I will NEVER buy a Volkswagen.

- Eamonn C., Bellevue, Wa, US

problem #10

Jan 092014

Jetta 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

I currently have transmission issues, when it started I only had about close to 108,000 miles on it. I have invested so much into this vehicle and it is not dependable. I have also contacted VW of America, of course, they did not stand behind their product. I refuse to put any more money into this vehicle, it has been one issue after the other. I have documents from VW stating that transmission is bad and needs replacing, it operates horribly.

- Sharyl M., Fort Pierce, FL, US

problem #9

Sep 262012

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 118,000 miles

Got it sept 2012 4 days after it stalled on me and then

Jan 15th 2013 AGAIN but only this time it was up an icy incline up a mountain (with out the kids thank goodness) it started down shifting into 1st then up to 5th and stalled but in the mean time while it did that unwanted shifting in wrong gears it caused my car to stall & when it did that EVERYTHING SHUT OFF COMPLETLY !!!! MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED & HERE I AM SLIDING DOWN A F(&(&(7 MOUNTAIN!!!!!! THANK GOD FOR THE E BRAKE BUT THAT ONLY HELPED A LIL CAUSE I WAS STILL SLIDING AND HIT THE MOUNTAIN!!!!!

OK SO IM CURIOUS WHAT ARE MY NEXT STEPS,

DEALER SAYS THERE NOT FIXING IT UNDER MY WARRANTY BECAUSE OF SOME DENT THATS ON MY TRANS, UMMMM OK I GET THAT PART BUT WHAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY IT DID THAT BACK WHEN I BOUGHT IT????

ANYONE PLEASE HELP WITH ANY INPUT ON THIS FUC98768KED UP PICKLE IM IN NOW IM CARLESS WITH KIDS AGES 1YRS & 5 & THE DEALER IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND

I WAS THINKING ABOUT GETTING A LAWYER TO HELP RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AT HAND BECAUSE IM OUT OF WORK , CANT GO ANYWHERE BC ALL ITS BEEN DOING IN RAINING HERE IM LOST HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEE

- ashleew, lakewood, CA, US

problem #8

Jan 232013

Jetta 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 138,000 miles

I wish VW could fix their frickin problems. It bull shi*& they act like they have no idea whats going on and 18 other people on here have exxact same issues . rediculous

- Jenny K., Livingston, CA, US

problem #7

Jun 302012

Jetta GLI 2.0L Turbo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,000 miles

VW has admitted to NHSTA they have problems with their DSG trans. and have agreed to repair "certain (2007-2010 models)" but refuse to do so on my 2006 Jetta (DSG) with the same problems the other models have. It was first taken to dealer in May of 2007 with shifting problems and nothing was done. In 2009 and 2010 I had transmission disengage while traveling in high temperature condition (desert) which I reported to dealer and nothing done (still under extended warranty). In June of 2012 again in high temp. cond. transmission failed to go into gear (rev. or drive) and then violently engage. On return from Arizona (high temp.) for 100 plus miles, transmission would actually disengage and re-engage while traveling on Interstate. Avoided getting ran over by big rigs barely. New DSG cost is $7000.00 and repair about $2400 to $2600 but local dealer will not "GUARANTEE FIX" for this price.

- jimmiracer, Rancho Dominguez, CA, US

problem #6

Aug 202012

Jetta 1.9L Tdi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

I just completed my 120K service. Less than a week prior to the scheduled service I hear a unique scraping type sound unchanged by acceleration. I asked my VW specialist that services my car. He said it sounded like it was coming from DSG transmission but he doesn’t work on these transmissions. The car is running fine, except for the sound. My mechanic suggested having his colleague at a dealership check it out. I took it to the dealership service center where I was charged a $55 diagnostic. I get a call the following day saying I need a new transmission for $4,800. The dealership was unable to give me any specific reason or documentation, only that they noticed a noise that sounds mechanical in the transmission. My vehicle already had a transmission fault where the Mekatronic was replaced and transmission serviced at 38K which at that time was covered under warranty. No other information was provided by the dealership. They said they would contact VW America to request assistance. They then tell me no assistance is available. With suspicion, I start doing research on the web and find lots and lots of information about transmission problems with my model and multiple more recent models in multiple countries. I found very detailed descriptions of faulty dual mass flywheels (DMF). There are some youtube videos of faulty DMF that share the exact sound I am hearing with my car. I suggested this to the dealership and they refuse to check unless I pay for 6-8 hr of diagnostics. I have now contacted VW America via online complaint submission and am waiting for response. My wife and I sold both of our cars in 2006 in order to get the most benefit from the Jetta TDI that was touted as reliable for 250,000 to 300,000 miles and superb fuel economy. Now, it seems like the transmission or the components (DMF) can’t last past 120,000 miles. Counting the previous problem I had, the transmission components are not capable of passing 40,000 without issue. I have complaints for both the dealership service centers AND Volkswagen for making an unreliable component of their drivetrain. This problem is now very evident and based on owners comments, VW response has NOT been consistent.

- jkga, Atlanta, GA, US

problem #5

Feb 182012

Jetta Tdi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

I paid around $23000 for a vehicle in 2006 in which I thought would last 250000 to 300000 because it was a Volkswagen and diesel to boot. Boy was I wrong! 115000 and now I have to replace a transmission! 70% of driving is on highway! How do you put a transmission that will not last 125000 miles with an engine that will last twice as long and charge 2x the price?!?!?! Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice shame on you! I will never buy another VW and I will spread the word!

- jrice65677, Blountville, TN, US

problem #4

Dec 072011

Jetta 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 114,000 miles

Took the Jetta to Jack Ingram in Montgomery Al on a Saturday, Hooked it up to the computer and was told it was a bad valve body and asked to bring it back on Wednesday so it could be inspected by my extended warranty folks....Wednesday comes, car is at Jack Ingram, inspected and now we need a new transmission..go figure! Total price is around $5600.00...the car is a 2006 and has 114,000 miles and worth about $7500.00 at trade in...I aint that stupid that I would do something like that. My extended warranty folks said it was a $2800.00 job and no more, so I had to hunt around for someone to try to fix the car..which we are in the process of doing. The folks at Jack Ingram just left us out to dry...gave us no other option and one of the service guys there told me to just come get the car and take it someplace else..they couldn't do it for $2800.00..

I would not buy another VW for love nor money and especially one from Jack Ingram...they just wanted to break one off in us...and we bought the car there back in 2006...go figure....

How can you go from needing or having a bad valve body on a Saturday to needing a new transmission on Wednesday???

From what I am told the transmissions are only good for about 100,000 miles and then you start having problems and from what I have read on the internet this is true...

NO MO WV FO US!!!

- Gary F., Selma, AL, US

problem #3

Jan 022011

Jetta TDI 1.9L

  • Manual transmission
  • 112,280 miles

click to see larger images

transmission failure transmission failure transmission failure

Rivets that hold ring gear together came loose and destroyed the case. Used transmissions run around $1700.00 or new transmission around $2200.00 You can find more information at http://www.vwtransaxles.com/rivet.html or just Google "VW rivet problem".

- tmossa, Du Bois, IL, US

problem #2

Oct 122010

Jetta 4 Dr Sedan Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,860 miles

I have a 2006 VW Jetta, TDI. automatic. I change oil as required, take very good care of my car. One night while driving through town at 15/20 mph, the transmission just shift back into 1st gear and would not change. The VW dealer wanted $7,000 to fix it. I went to a Transmission dealer and got it for a little over $4,200.00. The care I take with my VW. It should have not gone bad. I wonder how many other have had this problem. Is there a recall? The 105,000 miles on this car is all highway miles.

- Ira B., St Peters, MO, US

problem #1

Apr 212007

(reported on)

Jetta Value 2.5L

  • Manual transmission
  • 8,100 miles

With only 8100 miles on my brand new Jetta I was going down a road coming up to a stop sign so I down shifted and hear this bang... and then clicking, I pulled into a gas station and then I see a puddle of transmission fluid under my car. Had it towed to VW they said they had heard of this problem before that it was a factory defect on a select few Jetta's. I am VERY HAPPY with how quickly they fixed it (5 days) and gave me a rental car in the mean time. I LOVE my Jetta... by far my best car ever, just hope the transmission holds itself together from now on. It may have blown a transmission but hey its still better than any Ford...

- steve2006, Eden, NY, US