2002 Volkswagen Jetta Powertrain & Transmission Problems

WHILE GOING 55 CAR DROPPED TORQUE AND GEARED DOWN FORCING CAR REV VERY HIGH RPMS, NOSE DIP. JERK ME INTO ON COMING LANE. LUCKILY NOTHING WAS COMING.

ONE DAY WAS RUNNING 75 TODAY WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR TRANSMISSION HOLDBACK FEELS LIKE

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT "JERKS" OR MAKES A SHAKING MOVEMENT. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT STAYS ON ALTHOUGH ALL DOORS HAVE BEEN OPENED AND CLOSED. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING. WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE REAR MIDDLE PASSENGER SEATBELT IS NOT USEABLE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR REMAINS UNLOCKED AFTER PRESSING THE "LOCK DOORS" BUTTON.

THE SHIFTER FIRST LOCKED UP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THEN LATER CAME COMPLETELY LOOSE IN TRAFFIC. THE VW PARTS DEPARTMENTS SAID THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SO MUCH THAT NO ONE WITHIN 200 MILES HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK AS THEY WERE SOLD OUT. VW REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN RESOLUTION. THE BBB TOLD ME TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA>

ENGINE ABRUPTLY LOST ALL POWER AND TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE CAR RESTARTED AND RAN NORMALLY FOR 6 MONTHS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER. 10 MINUTES AFTER THE SECOND EPISODE, MECHANIC WASN'T ABLE TO FIND A FAULT CODE AND DROVE IT WITHOUT THE STALL RECURRING. *TR

AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE CAR SUDDENLY WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THE ENGINE RACES AND I AM STUCK IN FIRST. I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE AT HIGH RPMS IN 1ST JUST TO GET HOME. IT HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS DAILY IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REBUILT FOR $6000. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT COOLS DOWN, I CAN SOMETIMES GET IT TO STAY IN GEAR. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OFF THE ROADWAY. UNREAL THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS "UNAWARE" OF THIS ISSUE AND CAN'T SEEM TO REPAIR IT. PLEASE RECALL! *TR

AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND LETTING IT WARM UP. I DROVE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO THE STOP SIGN. MADE A RIGHT TURN AND THEN A QUICK LEFT. AFTER TURNING THE CAR COULD NOT GO INTO GEAR,THE RPMS KEPT RACING UP. BUT THE GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE. PULLED INTO A STORE PARKING LOT AND DROVE AROUND IN CIRCLES AT THIS LOW SPEED. UNTIL FINALLY THE CAR JUMPED INTO GEAR AND I TOOK OFF. CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A BAD MOTHER BOARD TO THE CARS COMPUTER. IT DROVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS THEN AT A STOP LIGHT IT JUMPED OFF AGAIN. (CAR WAS WARM BECAUSE I HAD DRIVEN A DISTANCE). TODAY I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND CHANGED. NO IMPROVEMENT AGAIN. USUALLY THE CAR WILL DRIVE STRAIGHT AFTER IT'S REAL WARM. BUT IF I MAKE A SHARP TURN THE CAR JERKS AND REVS UP THE RPMS JUST AS IF IT WAS COLD. THE VW FOLKS KEPT MISDIAGNOSING AND GIVING ME THE WRONG PARTS (THESE MUST BE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT MADE THE TRANSMISSION. THEY'VE BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR ASSISTANCE VERY UNKNOWLEDGEABLE. I HAVE BEEN BUYING VOLKSWAGENS SINCE 1974. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A CRAPPY PIECE OF A CAR(ALSO MY FIRST TIME OWNING A CAR WITH A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND MY LAST). IT DRIVES BEAUTIFULLY (WHEN IT'S WORKING) BUT HAS ALL PLASTIC CRAP FOR PARTS.(WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY I HAD MOST OF THAT REPLACED). BUT TO FIND THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY I DEMAND A RECALL ON THIS 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T. I PROMISE I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW OR WILL I LET ANY ONE I KNOW OR CONTACT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PURCHASE A VW. I CAN ACTUALLY SAY WE HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF BY VW WITH THEIR LOW STANDARDS FOR A CAR. THESE CARS USED TO LAST FOREVER WHAT A WAY TO RIP OFF THE PUBLIC FORM FOR MONEY! JUST LIKE TOYOTA HAD A RECALL VOLKSWAGEN YOU NEED TO RECALL THIS UNREPAIRABLE CAR NO AND SAVE YOUR ADVERTISEMENT FEES, BECAUSE BAD NEWS TRAVEL FASTER.. *TR

THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. EVEN THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE MECHANIC SAYS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS BURNT OUT WHICH INDICATES AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. REPAIR ESTIMATES BETWEEN 3500 AND 4000. *TR

MY 2002 VW JETTA GLX (AUTOMATIC) HAS SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN ACCELERATING, IT HESITATES AND THEN POPS INTO GEAR JERKING THE CAR. THIS IS VERY ALARMING AND DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM ON THE ROAD WITH OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME. I ALMOST HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO TRYING TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS SO UNRELIABLE AND SLIPS THEREBY CAUSING ME TO STALL IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THEN, TODAY THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL AT ALL. I'VE SEEN SO MANY TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS YEAR'S MODEL AND IT IS SO UNFAIR FOR THE CONSUMER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR

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

AT A COLD START, CAR IS SLUGGISH GOING INTO 2ND GEAR. SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS REVVING UP AT ACCELERATION, BUT IT WILL GO NO FASTER THAN 10 MPH!! ALSO I CANNOT REVERSE! THE CAR MUST BE WARM (190 TEMP) IN ORDER TO REVERSE AND SHIFT PROPERLY! IVE READ OF OTHER VWS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TT

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND JERK FORWARD. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A COMPUTER OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN THEN ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN APART TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHEN COLD WILL HESITATE OR NOT CATCH AT ALL WHEN PUTTING INTO DRIVE. PUTTING THE CAR INTO 1ST, THEN MOVING IT TO DRIVE WILL USUALLY WORK. SHUDDERS WHEN COMING TO STOP AFTER HEATING UP AT TIMES. MECHANIC SAYS IT NEEDS A TRANSMISSION REBUILD AT $3000. FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND CASCADING TO THE MASTER CONTROL MODULE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION NOT TO LEAVE THE PARK POSITION, THAT TOW AND REPAIR WAS $300 ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION FAILING REPEATEDLY, A FAULTY DESIGN. WE NEED A RECALL FROM VOLKSWAGEN TO FIX THIS DESIGN FAILURE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT 35MPH THE TACHOMETER WILL INCREASE AND DECEASE AT 2000RPM'S AND CAR WILL SLIGHTLY INCREASE AND THEN DECREASE IN SPEED. THERE IS A JERKING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. ALSO THERE IS A SLIGHT DELAY OF MOVEMENT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. BOTH ARE SAFETY HAZARDS WHILE ON STREETS WITH TRAFFIC. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTING IN INABILITY TO SHIFT ABOVE THIRD GEAR WITHOUT ALLOWING THE CAR TO WARM UP FOR 20+ MINUTES. SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND THE CAR WILL LOSE ALL POWER FROM THE ENGINE. (RPMS DROP TO 0, CAR WILL COAST). *TR

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

ON COOL DAYS (APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND BELOW), THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTS OUT IN EMERGENCY RUNNING MODE IN THIRD GEAR. IF CAR WARMS UP SUFFICIENTLY, THE IGNITION CAN BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO WORK CORRECTLY. I HAVE READ MANY BOARDS WHERE PROBLEMS VERY SIMILAR TO THIS SEEM WIDESPREAD AND MANY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DO COSTLY REPAIRS. A RECALL MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

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