1996 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Power Train Problems

25 complaints about Power Train

25
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Power Train Complaints (25)

Sep 11, 2005

ON SEPT 2, 2005 AND SEPT. 6, 2005, UNDER TWO CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING QUICK ACCELERATION WITH MODERATE LOAD (TWO ADULTS AND ONE KID. ABOUT 50 LB LOAD IN TRUNK), THE ENGINE KEPT HIGH REVVING AFTER THE GAS PADDLE HAD BEEN FULLY RELEASED, THUS PULLING FORWARD HARD UNINTENTIONALLY; IT KEPT SO DOING FOR SECONDS, EVEN AFTER BRAKING WAS APPLIED FOR THE FIRST FEW SECONDS, AND PUMPED. IT RECOVERED BACK TO NORMAL RESPONSIVENESS AFTER HARD BRAKING FOR AT LEAST FIVE SECONDS IN THE FIRST INCIDENT AND ABOUT THREE SECOND IN THE SECOND. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE CRUISE CONTROL NEVER WORKED SINCE THE PURCHASE IN 1996.

Mileage: 78,000

Apr 2, 2003

I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN MY ONE OWNER AUTOMATIC JETTA, THREE TIMES. MY LAST TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 35,000 MILES AGO, AND I NOW NEED TO SPEND 1,700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT. *NLM

Jul 17, 2001

THERE IS A CRACK IN VALVE BODY WHICH CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO BURN OUT.*AK

Jul 12, 2001

ALL PROBLEMS HAVE REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER TO NO AVAIL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

Feb 15, 2001 Crash

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. WOULD MAKE WHINNING NOISE, FLUID WOULD BE LEAKING. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC TRIED TO REPAIR IT. CLAIMED WOULD WORK FINE. TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP, AND VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

Feb 7, 2001

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH HARD SHIFTING, THE TRANSMISSION COOLER RUPTURED INTERNALLY AND WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY, FINAL DIAGNOSIS IS TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY, PCM AND ECM, HOWEVER THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING HELP. *MJS

Jan 3, 2001

SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHERE THE CAR WILL SHIFT HARD WHEN CHANGING GEARS(2ND-3RD, 3RD-4TH ECT.). I HAVE HAD THE CAR GO THROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SEVERAL TIMES WHICH REVEALED THAT AN ADJUSTMENT HAD TO BE MADE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THESE ADJUSTMENTS SEEM TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THEN THE CAR WILL SLIP BACK INTO POOR SHIFTING MODE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE BUT THE DEALERSHIP AND VW OF AMERICA CLAIM THAT THESE DIAGNOSIS' ARE NOT CONSIDERED FAILURES BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THEREFORE REPLACEMENT IS NOT WARRANTED. IT IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT FOR ME TO HAVE THESE ADJUSTMENTS MADE PERIODICALLY. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT BEING PERMENANTLY CORRECTED.

Jan 2, 2001

BOLTS THAT HOLD AXLE IN PLACE ON DRIVER'S SIDE TO WHEEL HAVE FALLEN OFF. DEALR HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Jul 14, 2000

WAS DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY AND VEHICLE FAILED TO GO PAST 45MPH. WOULD NOT CHANGE INTO EITHER 3RD GEAR. *AK TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REPLACED. *YH

Apr 30, 2000

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF CAR, WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED; TRUNK RELEASE INSIDE CAR WORKS OCCASIONALLY, NEVER WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF; ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON YEARLY, NEVER TURNS UP PROBLEM, HAVE TO CLEAN OXYGEN SENSOR, TOLD NOT TO USE "CHEAP GAS";

Nov 1, 1999

TRANSMISSION JUMPS WHEN SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND, AND 2ND TO 3RD, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT 43K, HOWEVER PROBLEM IS RECURRENT.*ET

Jul 8, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 43000, LINKAGE IS STILL NOT CORRECT. NLM

Jul 7, 1999

THE CV JOINTS DISINTERGRATED, CAUSING AXLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE DRIVETRAIN. ALSO DESTROYING THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Jun 23, 1999

I AM DUBIOUS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF A WELL MAINTAINED CAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILS IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICEMAN JUMPS THE BATTERY AGAINST OWNERS MANUAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND BLOWS THE INTERNAL FUSE FOR THE RADIO AND SETS OFF THE AIRBAG SENSOR (NEITHER REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AT NO CHARGE. ALSO,) TIRES NEEDING REPLACEMENT AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES - LOCK CYLINDER FALLLING OUT OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR- AND ALL THE POWER LOCKS FAILING, RESULTING IN HAVING TO GO TO THE DEALER JUST TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. *AK

Jun 9, 1999

TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PACK FAILED. *ET

Jan 13, 1999

THE MULTI-SHIFT SWITCH THAT CHANGES THE GEARS AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT 60 MPH, SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO THE 3RD GEAR, CAUSING A POWERFUL DOWNSHIFT IN THE SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

Jan 13, 1999

TWO WIRES OF THE REAR DEFROSTER DO NOT WORK WHICH OBSTRUCTS VIEW--AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CLICKS LOUDLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS--RADIO/CASSETTE PLAYER BECOMES EXTREMELY HOT WHILE DRIVING--WHEELS MAKE FUNNY VIBRATING NOISE AT CERTAIN SPEEDS--PAINT JOB ON BODY OF VEHICLE HAS BEEN SCRATCHING AND PEELING EASILY

Sep 29, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL CUT OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. AT TIMES, WILL NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER . ALSO, REPLACED TRANSMISSION/ THROTTLE BODY AND ALTERNATOR. IN ADDITION, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AND FRONT PADS CRACKED/ENGINE IDLES/BUCKS AND STALLS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. *AK

Aug 26, 1998

ENGINE RUNS AT HIGH RPMS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT REST. TRANSMISSION JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR.

Jul 30, 1998

MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. DEALER AND VOLKSWAGON AMERICA REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE STATE AND FEDERAL LEMON LAWS.

Mar 17, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING HESITATION AND JERKING WHEN SHIFTING.

Mar 12, 1998

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Sep 8, 1997

TRANSMISSION MODULE FAILED.

Sep 6, 1996

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE'S REAR WHEEL AND AXLE ASSEMBLY FELL OFF. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING (60) MPH AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT.*AK

Jun 12, 1996

WHEN BACKING IN REVERSE, NOTICED LOUD SQUEALING NOISE, DLR HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT AND CONCLUDED IT'S NORMAL. *AK