Jetta Transmission Problems and Questions

390 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 10:52 AM

You are in the Volkswagen Jetta Forum.

What is this discussion about? Volkswagen Jetta, Transmission, Sedan

#71 of 390 No warning, differential/transmission locks up on freeway by naz2

Nov 28, 2007 (9:46 am)

I had a very scary thing happen with my 2002 Jetta a few days ago. Driving on the freeway and all of a sudden I feel something like I hit something in the road. Then I had control of the car for about another minute. Got it off the freeway somehow without hitting anyone. Wheels wouldn't even move forward and leaking transmission fluid everywhere, they had to drag it up the tow truck ramp. Mechanic told me the differential internally exploded. He said he had the same thing happen to a Volkswagen he used to have. I could have easily been killed or killed someone else because this happened. I was fortunate no one was around me when it blew. Car only had 75,000 miles on it. I'm the original owner and I took very good care of it. Very scary how this happened with no warning. I considered buying another Volkswagen for my next car, but now never again.

#72 of 390 Re: No warning, differential/transmission locks up on freeway [naz2] by razor111

Nov 28, 2007 (11:48 am)

Replying to: naz2 (Nov 28, 2007 9:46 am)
Good thing you are okay! I cant believe that happened. I've never heard of that happening, but I think it would be possible if the differential had no gear oil inside it to lubricate the internal parts, but with volkswagens I am pretty sure you dont need the gear oil because most of their cars are front wheel drive which would mean the differential and transmission work as one unit which is called the transaxle. I'm pretty sure the transmission fluid lubricates the entire unit. For whatever reason it happened, luckily you are alright.

#73 of 390 does anyone know what this is by karma6

Dec 06, 2007 (12:59 am)

i have a 2003 jetta gl. manuel transmission. when driving the vehicle it does not matter if in the middle of changing gears driving or going from a start to a go position, the vehicle will lunge and will make a loud clunk noise. i have also had the vehicle completely stall at red lights. the vehicle has 158k miles i am the original owner. i changed the spark plugs thinkine maybe that was the problem but the vehicle still does it. somedays it will start others it will not. i have been told that it is possibly the clutch, the oxygen sensor, or the cat converter....has anyone experienced any of the symptoms?

#74 of 390 jetta automatic transmission jerk going into 2nd by jartzh

Dec 10, 2007 (10:10 am)

2003 Jetta has a serious jerk when it shift to 2nd. Sometimes. maybe more ofen when its cold. When it had 20,000 we took it back to dealer and they didnt something (dont know what) and it didnt occur for a while then it started once a month and now its down to once a week. its out of warranty now so VW wants me to pay to have them look at it. This has to be a known/common problem that they should have fixed the first time. anybody else got this?

#75 of 390 2000 Jetta , Transmission dragging by rkk6862

Dec 12, 2007 (11:30 am)

I have a 2000 jetta that has recently developed an apparent transmission problem. While driving on the interstate at 65 MPH, the car suddenly started to drag , the rpm's increased significantly, it seemed like it down shifted into 3rd. This is an automatic tranny. The engine light came on as well. After 209 miles, the light went off, and the tranny went back to normal. About 3 days later, the engine light came back on and the tranny started dragging again. I plan to run to Autozone to have them run a diagnostic on the light. Any thoughts on what the problem may be?
 
Thanks

#76 of 390 Re: No warning, differential/transmission locks up on freeway [naz2] by 600kgolfgt

Dec 12, 2007 (6:54 pm)

Replying to: naz2 (Nov 28, 2007 9:46 am)
Unfortunately, automatic transmissions are an Achilles' heel with VWs - dating back to the 1970s. They have been notorious differential-eaters. The manual transmissions have been very robust.
 
As far as your Jetta is concerned, the 2.0L automatic transmissions were made in Mexico, and are a mixed bag when it comes to reliability (at best). I have a 2003 Wolfsburg 1.8T with the 5-speed tiptronic transmission which was made in Japan by Aisin (the same supplier for Toyota, Honda, etc.) - which has been rock solid approaching 110,000 miles.
 
The Japanese and German-sourced automatics are less likely to give you headaches than the Mexico-sourced ones. Unfortunately, these are only available on the Jetta/Golf 1.8T (Aisin), and the Passat (German transmission).
 
Golf/Jetta 2.0 cars manufactured between 1993 and early 2005 came with the Mexican Transmissions.

#77 of 390 Re: jetta automatic transmission jerk going into 2nd [jartzh] by jetta10

Dec 15, 2007 (3:56 am)

Replying to: jartzh (Dec 10, 2007 10:10 am)
hey,i have a 05 jetta and in the past couple of months it has started having a serious jerk when it shifts from 1st to 2nd?and seems to do it mostly when its cold. the shifting problem seems to be ok after driving it for about an hour maybe.it seems to be getting worse and worse.my warranty is ending at 75,ooo miles and right now im at about 61,ooo.i have called the nearest v.w and i live 2 hours away from them.after driving up there for 2 hours it will be shifting fine so they will obviously need to keep it overnight.but they refuse to give me a loaner car from the dealership to get my back home,untill they find out whats wrong with it...............................its a no win situation.it sucks because vw cars for the most part are really good but you have to go thru hell with thier customer service. Your expeirence was close to mine so i thought i would let ya know.i'm currently trying to get it to vw to look at it.im sure what they tell me will be useless though.

#78 of 390 Re: Jetta 2004 clutch [9ersfan1] by joyride71

Dec 15, 2007 (8:33 am)

Replying to: 9ersfan1 (Nov 09, 2007 1:58 pm)
Thanks for the tip on the clutch kit. I didn't even bother trying to negotiate with the dealer - if they are going to charge for parts that you don't need and may not even receive, then they don't deserve my business. I fortunately found an independent mechanic who somehow got around getting an entire kit and even seemed to enjoy doing the job - it cost $1000 - half the price of the dealer! Hopefully, this clutch will last another five years.

#79 of 390 Re: jetta automatic transmission jerk going into 2nd [jetta10] by jeffyscott

Dec 15, 2007 (9:47 am)

Replying to: jetta10 (Dec 15, 2007 3:56 am)
Maybe you can rent a car from them and they will reimburse you, if they find a warranty issue? Worst case is you are out $20-25.
 
We had a similar problem in our '05 new Jetta with the 6 speed automatic and they had to replace a part in the transmission called "valve body", IIRC.

#80 of 390 01 Jetta TDI Manual Transmission Problem by superfrog66

Jan 10, 2008 (6:18 pm)

Recently, I started having problems w/ shifting in 1st gear and reverse gear. The gears works great once engaged. The problem w/ 1st is when I go from neutral to 1st, it kinds of hooks a little bit. I go down to 2nd and back to first, no hooking. When I go down to 2nd, it seems to align it for the 1st. For the reverse gear, when I depress my lever, and engage it, it actually moves forward, engaging 1st gear instead. I have to put it back to neutral and then work it into reverse. I took it to my garage and they said that my linkages were actually seized. They cleaned them up and lubrify them again. It engages smoothly, but the problem w/ my reverse gear is still there. As far as the hooking of the 1st, it is quite less, but still does it a little bit. Hopefully, someone has an opinion of what it might be. I am going to go back to my garage and tell them that it is still happenning. They only charged me 1 hour, 65$. As you know, with trans. problem. price is usually rather high. The clutch was changed at 92K and presently have 145K.
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