1,646 of the
13,865 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Jetta
are about the transmission —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
1,646
Complaints
12%
Share of all complaints
30
Crashes
7
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
Note: (never has any issues before ever as vehicle always maintained and taken directly to vw for maintenance.) /-/———————————————— I was driving: came to a stop: light turned Green proceeded to go through intersection YET VEHICLE. KT NOT MOVE! Put lever into park: turned off car and turned back on : put thr stick BACK INTO DRIVE - NOTHING HAPPENED I GUNNED it BY pushing my foot on the gas VW Jetta ALMOST REDLINED but didnt: was able to get across the interaction as I turned Left . Car sputtered: Car died: CAR CAUGHT FIRE! put fire out with towel: transmission fluid expelled: Car SEIZED ALL MOVEMENT Car would turned on with push start: could put in ALL GEARS BUT WOULD NOT MOVE
NHTSA complaint #11753433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MIL light came on in November 2025, OBD-II diagnostic trouble code P0613 - TCM processor fault. Volkswagen has had a nationwide backorder on the replacement (part no. 09H-927-158) for MONTHS. Last week, my car randomly went into Park while attempting to pull into my garage. Red transmission fault indicator lit up on dash. "Transmission faulty. Safely stop the vehicle!" Car would not shift into gear. Disconnecting battery terminals for 30 minutes caused the fault to go away. MIL light still on. If I were on the highway this could have caused an accident. I have since been seeing similar reports on websites such as Reddit for 2024 Jettas. Have been told VW has a TSB on this issue, but have yet to see it. This should probably be escalated to a recall/buyback.
NHTSA complaint #11753139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the RPM was revving high with the vehicle violently jerking and vibrating. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 73,816.
NHTSA complaint #11750755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is a noticable whine from the transmission or torque converted between 1000-2000 RPM that does not vary with speed and noticable when lightky pressing gas pedal on 8th geer. This happens only when transmission is waremed up and indicates an issue with 2025 Volkswagen tranmissions. I am afraid to drive it, because it can go bad in the highway and cause crash. Volkswagen dealers and manufacturer ignore this issues and state that all Jetta's make that "hormonic" whine. This is not normal and should be reported and investigated. Too many issues and could cause loss of lives in the future.
NHTSA complaint #11742974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission control module light comes on and the light states safely pull car over and put in park. It’s tried to been fixed multiple times, they are waiting on a software update. I’ll drive the car and have to pull over because the TCM light comes on and can’t drive/ accelerate. The dealership told me to drive the car and deal with it until it gets fixed. The issue first appeared in Nov of 2025 and it’s been a recurring issue since. I can’t take it anywhere without it happening, then i have to get towed.
NHTSA complaint #11737692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When I push the gas pedal the car does nothing for seconds. I was trying to do a u turn and pushed the gas to go and nothing for to long and almost got hit. It also did it trying to pull out into busy traffic that would have been no problem if the car would move when you push the gas. The car does not respond forever when pushing gas. I took to dealer to today and of course, they found nothing and said that's how those cars are. It has 20,000 miles. There is no way this is how they are. I'm going to end up getting hit at some point over it. No lights come on in the dashboard when it happens. It is available for inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11737393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Zero warning lights, dash clusters only allowing two options to show, oil temperature reading 200degrees Fahrenheit or higher, floor board feels like the firewall is almost in the interior of the vehicle and not engine port. Upon performing a thorough investigation of my own, the manifold, intake valve and wires are visibly damaged and BURNT, coil two is visibly damaged and was smoking. The battery generating system is also malfunctioning, with visibly burnt ground wires. Additionally the thermostat and temperature gauges both are not giving out any signal or alert for faulty electrical activity. However the vehicle was so hot from only driving 6 miles from my house that the arm to hold the hood up was legit bending and folding as it become unusually soft from the hot intake. Transfer case has been clicking, as well as the intake sizzling like making repeated sounds of sparking. All of which began in a matter of four days. Something is dangerously wrong with my car please help
NHTSA complaint #11736224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that after driving and shifting into reverse(R), the vehicle failed to reverse as intended. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the valve body, the wiring harness, and all fluids needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, after driving 5 miles, the vehicle started jerking and the message "Transmission Error - Please Pull Over Safely" was displayed. The vehicle was towed back to the same dealer, where the contact was informed that the seal was installed incorrectly, and the seal and the valve needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred the same day. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, where it was determined that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the engine revved, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. There was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle lost motive power. The message "Error Start/Stop" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #11734842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was going down the highway and enable cruise control, the car fell like RPM dropped then suddenly jolted back. Also when driving it feels like the transmission isnt proper and yoy can feel it be shotty. I've asked the dealer and they said "this is normal the camera may see a bump and cause it to slow down" but this has happened without the ACC and on normal cruise control mode. I think this can pose a saftey risk as this could cause further transmission and or engine damage and cause a failure in highways leading to a risk.
NHTSA complaint #11734462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car made a loud banging noise and would not move even though engine was running. Had towed and was told car needs new transmission I brought to another mechanic for second opinion and was told the same thing code P073300
NHTSA complaint #11728653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving, the vehicle suddenly shut off without warning. The engine lost power and multiple dashboard warning lights illuminated. The vehicle then displayed a malfunction related to the transmission, with the park (“P”) indicator blinking, and the vehicle would not shift out of park. The failure appears to be related to an electrical or ignition system issue, possibly the ignition switch. This created a significant safety risk as the vehicle lost power while in motion, increasing the risk of a crash. Prior to the failure, the only warning observed was a check engine light. No other warning messages were present before the incident. The problem has been confirmed by an independent mechanic/contractor. The failed component is available for inspection upon request. This issue appears consistent with known ignition switch/electrical failures reported in similar vehicles
NHTSA complaint #11727716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta SE transmission making whining and whistling noise from 1000 to 2000 rpm when on light load or coasting. There is a high probability of transmission failing on 2025 car with 12700 miles and danger of failure on the highway while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11726131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2025 Volkswagen Jetta SE with 12,000. Developed transmission whine from 1200-2000 RPM. During low speed acceleration and when engine is under slight load. It is whining sound coming from transmission.
NHTSA complaint #11724859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle lost automotive power intermittently, and the vehicle shuddered abnormally. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer stated that the cause of the failure was unknown. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.
NHTSA complaint #11719231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VIN: [XXX] Previous Report: XXX.. This a report of a continuing problem with my vehicle. The engine randomly shuts down endangering both myself and my passengers who are often my [XXX] and [XXX] grandchildren . No warning lamps. the car both stumbles and stops while driving and at stop signs and traffic lights. I repeatedly have taken it to my dealer (Elgin IL VW) they have been unable to determine the fault and fix it. This has been going on since June 2026 and progressively worsened. The most recent incident was on the afternoon of 19 June 2026. The “fixes’ so far have included bith replacing the fuel taknk fuel pump and today a part of the fuel feed system. It’s still at the dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11719261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car was great for first 100000 miles. Then it was not. While driving in heavy traffic on a three lane highway, car lost power, ability to accelerate and went into limp mode. EPC code went on. Very dangerous. Took it to several mechanics, VW dealerships, could find nothing wrong. Issue has happened over 100x since, but I am unable to afford another vehicle and pray over car continually to keep me and others on road safe. Few times car would suddenly shudder like engine was quitting. Canceled medical trip to city when this happened 50 miles from home. Have had to cancel work as well one day when this happened. Recently bought a FIXD sensor and it diagnosed issues with faulty gas cap and purge valve. Replaced both. That issue seems to have resolved. Car has been burning oil like crazy. Sometimes 1L after driving 150 miles. Fuel efficiency is terrible. Even running 91 grade fuel hasn't helped. In cold weather, around -30, sometimes driver door won't close. Literally have to drive with one hand holding steering wheel and one hand on door. Scary. Newest issue this week. While driving highway speed, low oil light flashed momentarily. Then speedometer and rpm gages quit. Then entire instrument cluster went black. Was almost at work, so prayed and got there safely. After work, instrument cluster worked, but car started and stalled immediately. Mechanic code reader pulls up nothing. My FIXD reader says it's a upstream oxygen sensor. Looking at youtube videos, the issue it describes sounds like this may have been what contributed to those EPC codes for last few years. Borrowing a vehicle from family - car is stranded at work. This is my first and likely last VW.
NHTSA complaint #11711696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle Information •Make / Model / Year: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SE •VIN: [XXX] Recall Information (if known) •Camshaft recall: 23R1 (2016) •ECM software update: 24DR (2020) Description of Problem: My 2015 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T SE experiences loss of power while driving, where the engine RPM increases but the vehicle does not accelerate properly, especially when driving uphill. This creates an unsafe driving condition. The vehicle previously received recall repairs for the camshaft (23R1) and ECM software (24DR). Despite these recall repairs being completed, the same symptoms persist, indicating the recall may not have fully resolved the defect. I reported this issue to Volkswagen Customer CARE under case number [XXX], but the concern remains unresolved. I am filing this complaint to document that this is an ongoing safety concern, post-recall, that has not been resolved by Volkswagen. I request NHTSA to review this unresolved post-recall safety issue and ensure Volkswagen investigates whether the original recall repairs fully corrected the defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11711278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11708232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH up an incline, the hill assist system engaged. The contact stated that while descending the incline, the hill assist was still engaged. The contact pulled over and turned off and restarted the vehicle to disengage the feature. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had gradually become a recurring failure. The contact stated that the vehicle had additional failures with the transmission and the rear brakes due to the hill assist not disengaging as needed. The contact stated that the manual transmission was slipping out of gear and the rear brakes showed premature wear on the pads. The contact had taken the vehicle to several dealers. The contact stated that one dealer recommended that the transmission be replaced. The contact had taken the vehicle to another local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,600.
NHTSA complaint #11705279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am submitting this complaint regarding Safety Recall 34J6, which is listed as INCOMPLETE for my 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid. I brought my vehicle to Volkswagen of Murfreesboro, Tennessee to have this recall performed. The dealership refused to complete the repair, claiming it was “too old” — a statement that is factually and legally incorrect. Federal law and NHTSA regulations require manufacturers and their dealerships to repair open safety recalls at no cost, with no expiration. The dealership’s refusal is a direct violation of these requirements and represents a serious safety risk to me and potentially to other drivers. I have already contacted Volkswagen Customer CARE, but the dealership has refused to perform the recall despite clear evidence that it remains open. Their inaction demonstrates noncompliance with federal safety regulations and unlawful denial of a mandated repair. I request that NHTSA investigate Volkswagen of Murfreesboro for refusal to perform a federally required recall, ensure that my vehicle receives the required repair immediately, and take appropriate enforcement action to prevent further violations. This behavior is unacceptable and poses a significant public safety risk.
NHTSA complaint #11703821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.