volkswagen jetta Problems

volkswagen jetta 2008 Complaints

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

tl*the contact owns a 2008 volkswagen jetta. while driving 15 mph, the brakes jerked when the pedal was depressed. the driver's foot was knocked off the brake pedal. the driver attempted a second time to apply the brakes, but the vehicle would not stop and crashed into the preceding vehicle. the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the dealer. the purchase date was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 7,300.

Reported in: SOUTH CHARLESTON WV || Crash: Y || VIN #: 3VWRM71K78M

TIRES

tl*contact owns a 2008 volkswagen jetta. two and a half months after purchasing the vehicle, he observed a blister on the front driver side tire. the dealer advised him that he has to purchase a new tire since there was no warranty on the tire and to contact bridgestone for assistance. they also informed him that they do not guarantee the original equipment. the dot, tire pressure and size were not available. the current and failure mileages were 1800. updated 4/29/08 *cn

Reported in: FRAMINGHAM MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRZ71K38M

VISIBILITY

the front defrost system does not work. there appears to be a secret formula need to get the defrost system to defrost the front windshield. i have made several complaints to the dealer and was informed that only 1 other person had complained of this issue. this is a very dangerous defect. normally i'm driving through a storm, the windshield fogs up and i can't see. i end up pulling over to the side of the road wherever i can.

Reported in: DOUGLASVILLE GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K38M

VISIBILITY

windshield wiper streaking problem: i purchased a new 2008 volkswagen jetta se on may 6, 2008. the first rain the car was driven in (within two weeks of purchase) the driver side windshield wiper was leaving a streak approximately three inches wide at eye level of the driver. the vehicle has been returned for dealership service on numerous occasions. the volkswagen service department replaced the driver side wiper blade twice and the wiper arm. this has not corrected the streak issue. the service department indicates the streak is indicative of all 2008 jettas and there is nothing that can be done to remedy the problem. i have contacted volkswagen customer care. they advised me they accept the dealerships assessment of the streaking problem and i will have to live with the problem. while driving in rain, light or heavy, the streak is present and presents a vision obstruction for the driver. i believe this is a valid safety issue that should be addressed further by volkswagen. thanks for your consideration in this matter.

Reported in: HENDERSONVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K98M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

excessive drive by wire throttle delay. throttle response delayed aprox. 1-2 or more seconds after depressing throttle pedal. throttle delay causing hazardous driving situations when pulling out into traffic etc. this "delay" is programmed into the car's software by design. unsafe, caused near miss accident.

Reported in: SANFORD FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: SANFORD FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

VISIBILITY

the front windshield fogs up, and you cant see anything through it. you need to turn on the air-conditioning, so that it heats the front windshield up. if you don't do that, you will crash because of 0% visibility.

Reported in: PHILADELPHIA PA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VISIBILITY

this issues involves the failure of windshield wipers set on the highest setting to remain at that speed. vw has confirmed the problem at a dealership but offers no fix to the problem. escalation within vw has yet to produce a satisfactory answer to this obvious problem. in heavy rain, driving is unsafe because the wipers vary in speed and to keep a constant wiper rate requires repeated changing of the settings.

Reported in: ROCHESTER MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRZ71K48M

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

excessive rear brake wear. brake needed replacing at 12k. car is a 5-speed manual and brakes are used very little.

Reported in: HIGHLAND CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

EQUIPMENT

brand new vw jetta off the floor room. both the driverside and passenger side windows leak air badly and water drips in.. dealer told me that this is they way it is and refused to fix it for me...

Reported in: ORANGE CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VISIBILITY

the driver side windshield wiper leaves a 2 or 3 inch streak right in the critical view of the driver when the windshield wipers are used. vw engineering response was that they don't see a problem with it. wipers have been replaced and issue still remained.

Reported in: DERBY KS || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71KX8M

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2008 vw jetta wolfsburg (less than 5000 miles at first occurrence) brake issue 1st occurrence - coming up to a stop, and brake pedal lost pressure but re-engaged after traveling 2-3 inches beyond normal braking pressure. very intermittent issue. after both of my teenage sons reported the same issue, i took the car into the vw dealership for repair. thelen (bay city, mi) bled the brakes and returned the car. within a few days, i was experiencing the same issue with more frequency, but could not reproduce consistently. took to dealership a second time - this time told that vw said this was a "normal" brake function. service technician drove vehicle home and back in the next morning. he experienced the problem twice and (as described to his service manager) "his heart went into his throat." still - vw maintained that this was "normal". received an email from dealership owner stating same. after continued pressure, vw technical rep came to dealership and finally determined that the brake power booster needed to be replaced (over a two week span). received car back, and within three days, the problem returned - as i nearly ran through an intersection when the brakes went to the floor before engaging (with abs). took back to dealer (3rd time) - dealer not able to replicate - stated that they cannot fix the problem if they can't identify/replicate - car still at dealership (5 days later). met with dealership owner to express concern for the safety of the vehicle and my family. i refused to take vehicle until they came up with a solution for the problem. scheduled meeting with vw rep at the dealership on 12/16 to discuss issue.

Reported in: CLIIO MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71KX8M

PARKING BRAKE

i bought a 2008 jetta from rod east vw in late june, in late july my brake light came on, i then called rod east vw to inform them and they told me to call their roadside assistance to have them tow my car over to them. one week had passed and they had still not looked at my car so i informed them that i would need a rental car because i am a student and i have a daughter that has numerous therapy and dr appt every week. they said fine and the man that i was talking to said let me go get your child seat out of the car for you, he then came back to me and said how about you come to the back and get it from your car, i did and that's when i noticed that my car had a big dent and deep scratch from the rear right fender to the back passenger door...i was then told that that's how the car was when they got it and that it was my fault. he then said that he could talk to the manager and see what he would say. i called the manager, on my way home and he said we will fix it, i see that its a new dent and scratch and we will send it to a body shop to get fixed. i then demanded that i get all oem parts and i was it brand new again and the service man said that's going to be too expensive and it didn't need new parts he also wanted me to return the rental when i left on vacation to san francisco, that's when i spoke to the manager again and he guaranteed that they would be oem parts and i wouldn't need to return the rental. when i picked up my car after 3 and a half weeks they said nothing was wrong with my brakes and the light was out. i noticed the next day that my 12 volt lighters were not working and i called the manger and he told me to come in. i never did because i didn't want them to work on my car again. today i took it to ancira vw and they said i had some wires mixed up, i started to drive off the lot and my brake light came back on! that can not be a coincidence and it tells me that some wires were changed to hide the fact that nothing was ever done by rod east.

Reported in: SAN ANTONIO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K78M

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

difficulty filling gas tank while at pump. the auto shut-off kicks in after putting in a few cents worth of gas making fill-up frustrating and time consuming. took to vw dealership. they spent a day investigating and couldn't find the problem so they kept it overnight and called vw to walk them through troubleshooting. vw says the fuel tank is not venting properly and the only way to fix it is to replace the entire fuel tank ($1500 for the parts). vw refused to pay because car was 1400 miles beyond its warranty. they claim situation is not dangerous, just annoying, but i plan to contact their resident agent anyway - suspect a manufacturing or design defect .

Reported in: FOREST HILL MD || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

rear brakes are wearing prematurely on 2008 vw jetta. only lasted 20, 000 miles.

Reported in: SANDEIGO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJZ71K28M

VISIBILITY

on my first drive in the rain i could not see out the window. i had to pull off the road because the driver side windshield wiper leaves a streak right in the line of vision when in use. dealer replaced the wiper, the streak is smaller, but the problem remains. in addition, now that winter is here, it is especially dangerous as the snow melts and salt and slush are hitting the window. the wipers will not clean it properly.

Reported in: RIDGEFIELD CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRA71K48M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

on a cold march morning, was not able to put the key in the ignition. after a few minutes of unsuccessfully trying to force the key in, vw roadside assistance was called. the car was towed to the nearest dealer. when dealer looked at the problem, it was determined that the tumbler in the cylinder was in the locked position. the dealer sprayed with silicone lubricant to coax the tumbler to release.

Reported in: RUMFORD RI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRZ71K18M

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2008 jetta se has had recurring squealing back brakes since day 1. murrieta vw in ca says it is normal. they checked and sprayed. good to go, but now at 14k miles, noise has returned. only happens at slow speed (backing up/parking). is there a defect on the calipers/piston assembly? vw dealer says it is "normal." in 25 years of driving never had a car do this. it is very annoying and sounds dangerous. cars should not do this, esp at 14k miles. brake failure could be on the way, causing serious damage, or death.

Reported in: TEMECULA CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

AIR BAGS

the air bag light sensor is defective. it will come one for driver and passenger when both people are present in the car. i had it fixed once before and now it happened again.

Reported in: PICKERINGTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K48M

VISIBILITY

driver side front and rear window and passenger side front and rear window leak water.

Reported in: BROOKLYN PARK MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWHM71K28M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i drive a 2008 vw jetta wolfsburg edition equipped with the dsg (direct shift gearbox) transmission. after driving the car for about 1000 miles i started to noticed very harsh 2 to 1 downshifts and surging while in drive. by the harsh downshift i mean when slowing down coming to a stop when the gearbox would shift from 2nd gear down into 1st gear i would always experience a loud metallic "clunk" noise. in regards to the surging while in drive i mean when at a dead stop and you give even/slight pedal pressure on the accelerator the car would surge forward over and over again like you were stepping on the gas and then letting off. this characteristic was very prevalent on an incline. the vw dealership i work with diagnosed the problem as a faulty mechatronics unit which controls the functions of the complex dsg transmission. it was replaced at 5000 miles. after driving with the new mechatronics unit installed for roughly 6000 more miles i started to now experience the same surging issues but when the car was in reverse. i also noticed that the rpm's would always drop like the engine was going to stall everytime i would shift into drive from park. and lastly when starting from a stop, applying even accelerator pedal pressure, the car would always "jump" off the line. brought it into the vw dealership again and they ended up replacing the whole transmission. after the new dsg transmission has been installed the car drives very smooth now with no surging and no harsh 2 to 1 downshifts. the new trans only has 300 miles on it currently but i hope the same issues do not occur again.

Reported in: MAPLE GROVE MN || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

when the vehicle was purchased new it drove perfectly no hesitation no problems what so ever. over the past few months while backing out of a parking space i will put the car in reverse press the accelerator and the car will hesitate and then lurch backwards. this is a serious safety issue that occurs 1 out of every 25 times. since it does not happen all of the time i really have know idea how my vehicle will react while backing. also more recently occurring is while doing highway speeds and trying to pass a vehicle i will accelerate the vehicle and the transmission will slip into a neutral state. i will have to coast to the shoulder and re-start the vehicle. i have taken the vehicle to the dealer they had verified my complaints and ordered a new valve body (mechtronics unit) and advised me not to drive the car since it could be unsafe. unfortunately, the part is on back order for 4-6 weeks and the only alternate transportation they could provide free of charge was a compact car. i decided to keep my vehicle until the part comes in hoping i will not have any serious problems. this is a major safety issue and a recall of this part is needed.

Reported in: MATTITUCK NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my vw 2008 2.0t, shifts very hard when driving with the dsg transmission. it also lurches forward from a stop; at times it also loses power when the accelerator is stepped on. the vehicle jerks very hard and has also when reversing almost hit the garage. the car cannot be trusted to go from park to drive smoothly, at times violently jerking forward.

Reported in: SHOREVIEW MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K38M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

transmission surges/bucks during low speed operation such as parking. reverse is worse than forward. reverse operation can be dangerous as extra throttle must be applied to get the car to move but then there is a rapid acceleration that is difficult to control. transmission also down shifts very hard while slowing for a stop, 2nd to 1st downshift. car is inop. since 6/26/09 awaiting repair part. part eta is late august 2009. transmission is dsg model.

Reported in: CAMDEN POINT MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K78M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 vw jetta wolfsburg with 2.0t & dsg transmission 21k miles. transmission consistently lurches forward at a stop especially after driving at highway speeds. this is magnified when the a/c is on. rpm's will fluctuate +/- 200 as you feel the gear engage. symptoms are worse when the car is in reverse. has the same feeling as someone not knowing how to drive a manual transmission. the "jerkiness" continues from a stop until under acceleration into 3rd gear. the transmission also downshifts unusually hard into 2nd & especially 1st gear. all these symptoms have slowly become more pronounced over the last month. the worst & potentially hazardous problem was when i attempted to make a left turn onto a busy road with my entire family in the car. i was at a stop & shifted the car into "sport" mode which gives the car much quicker short term acceleration, which would help in the busy situation. as traffic cleared enough i pressed the gas & the car simply rolled without power into the oncoming traffic. i had to shift quickly into reverse to avoid being hit by oncoming traffic. i attempted this a 2nd time & the same thing happened...no power, just rolled like it was in neutral. i have not rusted this car in these situations since. i have an appointment with the dealer in 1 week to address this & a recall on the driveshaft bolts. i am filing this because as i researched this issue from credible sources, it is apparent this is a big issue for the dsg transmissions & the consumer is getting the run around. i could have been involved in a serious/fatal accident with my family & it would have been written up at the scene that i pulled out in front of oncoming traffic. when in reality this transmission failed to engage (twice) and jeopardized our lives. i would hope that this issue gains the attention it deserves and vw steps up and makes a permanent fix. the parts the are replacing (mechatronic) is failing again after time. i expect a dealer run-a-round. please help.

Reported in: HOWELL MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K38M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i have a 2008 volkswagen jetta 2.0t wolfsburg edition with the dsg transmission. around 5,000 miles, i started experiencing banging of gears when i was start up at a light, the problem continued to get worse to the point my neck was hurting and the front seat of the car has become loose due to the constant force of the banging. most recently on my way to the dealer, the car banged into gear and started to roll back (not like it does normally on a hill, this was after that should of happened) before it moved forward. i've also experience the car revving and not going into gear then in bangs into gear and surges forward at a higher speed then which you hit the gas. my car is currently being looked at. but from what i understand multiple complaints are posted for this same issue. volkswagen needs to address the issue and recall the transmissions, as the symptoms get worse the car becomes a danger to drive.

Reported in: DELRAN NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

while driving my 2008 volkswagen gli sedan equipped with a dsg transmission i have on numerous occasions either while accelerating or slowing had sudden, rough shifts, and at times have been literally bucked around in the vehicle while shifting from 1st to 2nd gear when leaving a stop light. this has been happening since february 2009...possibly before, and has been increasing in frequency. i have also had rough shifts downshifting at times causing the esp to become activated in my vehicle making it feel like i am losing traction. i understand there is an official investigation in to this and would like to have my stories added to the investigation. pe09-035. i have taken my vehicle in for service on this before and they denied any problems with the vehicle.

Reported in: SEQUIM WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWDJ71K88M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Reported in: SEQUIM WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWDJ71K88M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

my jetta wolfsburg is currently in shop due to a dsg mechatronic unit failure. prior to bringing it in the car was 'jerky' and 'jumpy' as though i was driving a manual transmission and releasing the clutch too fast. this happened in both drive and reverse. my car currently has ~ 12000 miles on it and the issue began around 10000 miles. the jumpiness of the car was significant enough that i backed into a wall (luckily at low speed) even with slight brake pressure (the car lurched backwards suddenly). the dealer believes that the replacement of the mechatronic unit should solve the problem. i have been waiting for the part to come in for 2 weeks now and am driving a loaner in the mean time.

Reported in: STAMFORD CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K48M

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

purchased a 2008 vw jetta with dsg transmission. have taken to dealer 3 times since purchasing for same problem. the transmission downshifts "clunks" hard in stop and go traffic primarily 2nd to 1st to neutral. this is worse the longer and hotter transmission gets. also transmission jumps or surges forward or back after putting in drive or reverse. this primarily happens when putting into gear with foot on brake, then taking foot off brake and slightly pressing accelerator pedal. the vehicle jumps several feet forward or reverse. the dealer tells me that this is to be expected from a manual transmission that is operated by software. i like the car and have no problems with the transmission at highway speeds. they need to do something to"soften" the stop and go jerkiness of this supposedly cutting edge technology.

Reported in: WOODBURY NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRA71K08M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i'm going on my 3rd dsg/mechatronics unit. i have a 08 wolfsburg with 31,000 miles. the very first day i had the car in broke down with 101 miles on it. flashing prnds and it would not shift into any other gears or reverse. had it towed to dealer and waited 3 weeks for new mechatronics unit. for a few days it was fine then it started with jerking,hard down shifts from 3 to 1 in drive. backing up was scary at times. brought it back to the same dealer 4 different times and they said this was normal for dsg. got tired of hearing the same story from them and took it to another dealership and they said it was mechatronics unit and its on order since june 12,2009 and today is july 25, 2009 and still waiting for my car to be fixed.

Reported in: DEERFIELD BEACH FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K48M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1. this issue is more prevalent when the car is warmed up, like after driving for 20 or 30 minutes or so. 2. my car (vw jetta '08 dsg) automatic tranny operation fails usually when in 1st gear (while in 'd' mode) or in reverse so that you experience very bad "lurching" and surging effect. the car would suddenly rev and jump forward a foot or two then feel like it was idling wrong and feel like it was going to die, then run fine then do it all over again. this could cause serious accident because car wouldn't have power to move when its needed for example in t-junction. 3. i called the dealer and they want to get the car in to fix the bad mechatronics unit. the new mechatronics unit part was ordered and it will take "some time" (no less than one month), no exact date was given when then new part is available and ready for replacing. i fear that the dsg repairing is not the final solution and it will take lots of repairs to get this thing eventually fixed. *note* car vin site didn't accept it for some reason.

Reported in: JOKELA, FINLAND 00 || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i am submitting a complaint regarding my 2008 volkswagen jetta, wolfsburg edition.we purchased this car 8-08 from a vw dealer, it was brand new. within several months of owning the car, when attempting to accelerate when in drive, the car would lunge forward. the condition kept getting worse and began also lunging forward when idling. i took it to the service dept. of the vw dealership where i purchased the car. they said it had to do with the computer memory in my car and it was memorizing how i drive and if i switched over to another driver it would be confused and lunge. this is written on my receipt for the work: "advise customer to only drive the vehicle. it is acting as if two people are driving and the adaptive learning is confused. no codes stored." my car is confused, therefore there can only be one driver???? sounded silly to me, but i needed my car and i accepted that explanation and left. the condition only worsened. the lunge or surging forward became so noticeable that it was embarrassing. my husband said he also noticed it lunging or surging in the reverse gear as well as forward and idle. i returned it to the service department at the vw dealership july 13, 2009. they have determined that it is a faulty mechatronics unit. they cannot even get the part until the first week in august. they told me that problems with the mechatronics unit are rare. however, i did my own research and found that there are many people who have vw jettas with the same problem. and, this part is a bit weird...many of them had to wait weeks for the part. one person reported that the "surging forward" was so bad that he hit another car. i am reporting this because this condition could be potentially dangerous.it is extremely frustrating to own a new car that has something so major wrong with it. and it was very upsetting to find so many others (online forums) with the same problems. thank you for your help and consideration of this situation.

Reported in: BOWLING GREEN KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K58M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 volkswagen jetta wolfsburg w/ dsg transmission, 22k miles. after warming up, there is significant lurching and stuttering from a stop when in d(rive), s(port) or "manual" mode. when in d & s, there is often times a harsh downshift into 3rd or 2nd gear. engine almost dies when coming to a stop on occasion, then lurches forward. in reverse, there is almost no response to pressing the accelerator for a split second, then the car lunges backwards very nearly causing a crash on multiple occasions. problem has been occurring for approx 6 months. i originally thought it may need a regular servicing to fix, but the recommended interval isn't until 40k miles. currently waiting on appt at dealer to have it looked at.

Reported in: AMHERST NH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K28M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 volkswagen jetta gli with dsg transmission. this car has a faulty dsg transmission which makes the car unsafe to drive. the car shifts roughly, bucks while rolling in stop and go traffic, and rolls backwards an excessive distance when shifting into park on a hill (nose pointing uphill). this is a dangerous defect.

Reported in: WEYMOUTH MA || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i have had my 08 vw jetta wolfsburg with dsg transmission for a little over a year and have driven it 25000 miles. the transmission has never really been perfect but i put the various clunks, hesitations and hard shifts down to the transmission technology rather than a potential failure. however, as time has gone by i have noticed an increased tendency for the car to surge when attempting to slowly reverse. this causes repeated sudden accelerations much greater than anticipated with the small amount in throttle input. given that i need to negotiate my child's daycare facility parking lot twice a day this situation has become a real safety concern for me. a similar problem occurs when very slowly starting forward from a complete stop. this situation is not quite as serious a concern for me but is at least very annoying. primarily i am concerned about the ability to safely reverse my vehicle and maintain control of my speed in doing so.

Reported in: MARICOPA AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K58M

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

we own a 2008 vw jetta. 2.5 l the jetta has 25,000 miles and less than year of ownership (purchased at 8000 as program car) rear brakes are completely gone & ruined one rotor -no warning prior? (per dealer) front brakes are fine told rear pads and rotors must be replaced.

Reported in: FORT WORTH TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K98M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

failure of vw dsg transmission after 7000 miles.

Reported in: SCARSDALE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K88M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

we purchased a 2008 volkswagen jetta wolfsberg edition. from a dealership on staten island. the car now has approximately 5,000 miles on the odometer. we began to notice that the car would lunge forward from a starting position while in drive or lunge backwards from a starting position while in reverse. the car makes very jerky, jolty movements forward. we have taken it to the dealership open road in brooklyn, ny. the mechanics believe it is a transmission issue. the part is on order, but the dealership has said it is safe to drive until the part comes in from germany. although they offered us a "rental" car just in case we felt uncomfortable. i read today (august 21st) that vw in conjunction with the nhtsa is recalling several vw's due to problems with the dct in the transmission. i am concerned that this problem may involve more than the cars listed, as i am sure that our vehicle is affected by this defect.

Reported in: STATEN ISLAND NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRA71K58M

POWER TRAIN

i bought the car in may of 2008. it is now august 23, 2008 and it is going into the shop this week for the third time. the mechatronic unit has been replaced once as well as the clutch plates. it is a 2008 jetta wolfsburg edition 2.0t with the dsg transmission. the problem is a jerky, surging feeling when the transmission is warmed up. you take your foot off the brake and it starts to jerk as if you're tapping the gas and letting off. it happens 2 or 3 times a day when i drive a lot. not sure what else it could be. the car was built in may 2008 as far as i know, meaning its not part of the recall as of today august 21, 2009. i can't believe a car that has 18,000 miles on it is having these many problems.

Reported in: GREENSBURG PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K28M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1. this event occurs constantly under all conditions 2. the transmission will jerk from a start causing discomfort and irritation 3. nothing has been done to prevent this issue.

Reported in: GLEN ALLEN VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWFJ71K58M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

08 vw jetta dsg trans. after the trans is warmed up, the car is jerky taking off from a stop, as if the clutch is not engaged properly. on a few occasions, it seemed that no power was being transmitted to the wheels, leaving the vehicle in the middle of an intersection. once the rpms came down, the trans. engaged, and the car became mobile again. the "jerkiness" from a stop is almost all the time once the car warms up, the total lack of power transmission has only happened once or twice. the car was tested by the vw dealer service dept. a new mechtronic unit is on order.

Reported in: PARKSVILLE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71KX8M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

when shifting into reverse and taking foot off the brakes, vehicle launches backward. i have to wait a few seconds after shifting into reverse before taking foot off the brakes to avoid launching. never experienced this in another vehicle.

Reported in: OVERLAND PARK KS || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K78M

POWER TRAIN

since i purchased the car it has been exhibiting erratic behavior. for example when i press on the gas there is a delay of a second or two before the transmission engages and provide power to the wheels. everytime i stop and then start again there is a sudden jerk. it is a safety hazard when merging onto highways.

Reported in: NANUET NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRA71K48M

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

Reported in: NANUET NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRA71K48M

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

i purchased my 2008 volkswagen jetta 2.0 in may of 08. since my purchase the car is jerky all the time while in motion, especially during acceleration. i brought this to the attention of the dealership i purchased it from and they found no issues each time it was serviced. this is not normal for a car to do this however volkswagen states there are no problems.

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K88M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

there was no specific event that led up to the problems. i bought the car brand new and problems began after about 4 months.the car "bucks" or "jerks" when gas pedal depressed to accelerate. also when pulling out or when car is in reverse (ie for parking,etc). the first time i took the car to the dealership where it was purchased and they simply reset the computer. the problem persisted so i returned to the dealership. the second time we were told the problem was the clutch packs and they were replaced. the problem continued and the third time the mechatronic unit was replaced. the problem is still ongoing and i just dropped it off to the dealership again.

Reported in: HIBBS PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K38M

STRUCTURE

toxic mold: thank you for this message. for the record, we did not request financial relief for the mold problem with our 2008 leased volkswagen (vw) jetta. we requested receipt of a new, mold-free vehicle for the completion of our lease. this request was made because of the recurrent mold problem that resulted from a manufacturer's defective gasket seal on the car's trunk. we also must iterate that the mold is a serious toxic health hazard for which we will hold volkwagen responsible if health, i.e., breathing or other mold related problems result from this hazardous condition for which vw refuses to take responsibility by either fully abating the mold in this vehicle or replacing the vehicle with a healthy, i.e., mold-free, vehicle. it is our desire to receive full-service from the vehicle that i am currently leasing, however, if it is determined by certified mold inspectors, that this vehicle is unsafe due to a toxic mold infestation, we will pursue this matter to the full-extent of the laws of the state of florida, and those of the u.s. federal government. volkswagen's callous determination that the health of the drivers and passengers of this leased vw vehicle are not worthy of the concern and resolution of this problem, is an unfortunate situation that must be made known to all vw owners/drivers/passengers, and particularly to the government agencies that regulate the automobile industry, and the consumer health agencies of the state of florida an the united states. to all those in receipt of this message, please pass this along to all people you know who drive cars, ride in cars, or who are in the market to purchase or lease a car. thank you for your consideration of the health and safety of all vehicle owners, particularly those who own or lease volkswagen vehicles. for additional information about this please contact me by response to this e-mail.

Reported in: DAYTONA BEACH FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K48M

STRUCTURE:BODY

Reported in: DAYTONA BEACH FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K48M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 volkswagen jetta wolfsburg 2.0t fsi dsg (direct shift gearbox) while pulling out into traffic on numerous occasions from a full standstill there was a very significant delay in the response of the dsg transmission to driver throttle input. there will be a 1-2-3 go, (delay) the car will then jerk forward out into traffic then only creep very slowly forward at this point which commits the car and it's passengers to the maneuver of turning into active traffic pattern. this delay/jerk/then creeping forward has caused a few close calls with having an accident from oncoming traffic. the possibility of traffic colliding into this vehicle is very high as the car does not respond to driver throttle input leaving you dead in the water until the car finally decides to move itself forward. this is a very dangerous situation which could very easily result in significant injury or death. when one purchases and drives a car one would expect the car to properly respond to driver inputs and not be left in oncoming traffic with a car that wont respond to the driver.

Reported in: SANFORD FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K38M

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Reported in: SANFORD FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K38M

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: SANFORD FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K38M

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

Reported in: SANFORD FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K38M

AIR BAGS

airbag light illuminated. first occurred september 2009, taken to dealer to be repaired. once again in december 2009.

Reported in: GRAHAM NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K28M

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

horrible brake wear on rear brakes on 2008 vw jetta.

Reported in: PITTSBURGH PA || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

2008 vw jetta 2.5 with 5 speed manual and 25,300 miles. unable to shift into reverse and shifting into first gear was difficult. dealer stated that clutch was bad from wear and tear.

Reported in: SOUTHFIELD MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

PARKING BRAKE

i have a 2008 volkswagen jetta. i purchased it new in august 2008. the rear brakes wore into the rotors at 12,000 miles. the dealership repair shop had just informed me that the brakes were fine at 10,000 miles. the rotors and brakes had to be replaced at my cost as it is not a warranty item but a wear item. at my 20,000 mile checkup, i was again told that my brakes were fine and had 50% remaining. i took the car to meineke to have the brakes double checked. i was shown that the rear calipers are defective. they do not allow the emergency brake to disengage. as such, my emergency brake is constantly on, causing my brakes to lock on to the rotor. the mechanic had to use a crow bar to pry loose the emergency brake. i was told that i cannot use the emergency brake until it is fixed. i have a 5 speed and this is concerning that i cannot use the emergency brake. the dealership explained that the warranty will only allow them to replace one caliper at a time. if the other one is broken, then i have to wait until i drive it a while after one is replaced. i have seen a lot of data online about the exact same problem in several model years of the volkswagen jetta. interestingly, my dealership was out of the calipers and had to reorder more. i am very frustrated that my safety has been in jeopardy as my brakes could have once again failed. i am upset that the dealership neglected to correct the problem. i had to take it to a different mechanic to finally have the problem correctly diagnosed. incidentally, part of my engine went out within the first 6 months of owning the car. i have also had to have the front end repainted as it began chipping immediately. now the door edges and the top edge of the hood are chipping.

Reported in: HARRISONVILLE MO || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Reported in: HARRISONVILLE MO || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

my 2008 vw jetta was giving burnt smell/fumes. loss of power in gear with in 1 mile radius was difficult to move. had to tow to vw dealership

Reported in: MUSKEGON MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

pre-mature rear-brake wear. the rear brake pads completely wore out at about 17,000 miles causing metal to metal contact with the rear rotors. most of the miles are highway. many forums report similar problems for other years of the vehicle and it seems that the cause could be calipers that don't disengage completely when the parking brake is used. since i have a manual transmission it's hard not to use the parking brake. my rear wheels are always covered in brake dust and it seems like the pads will wear out soon again (about 22,000 miles later). i tried not to use the parking brake after the first repair and have a commute consisting of about 85 percent highway miles so this kind of brake wear is inexcusable. the front brake pads did not need any attention yet and look good.

Reported in: WEST HOLLYWOOD CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJZ71K38M

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

i have experienced a challenge with my rear brakes on my 2008 volkswagen jetta so i began searching for information from others on the internet. refer to www.edmunds.com for other concerns regarding similar concerns. i am not the only individual experiencing these challenges. now let me describe my situation. i noticed some squeaking here and there around 26,000 miles. i asked the dealership about the noise at that time. they didn't share that anything was wrong so i drove off the lot. from that point forward, i heard the same squeaking noise only when it rained and they mentioned that happens when frost gets in between the rotors and pads so i did not think much of it. when i drove into the dealership at 31,000 miles they shared my rear brakes were between 2-3; therefore the rear rotors would need to be replaced. i shared my concerns as a volkswagen owner, (have owned 4 in the last 5 years), that it seemed odd that the rotors had to be replaced at such a young age of 31,000 miles. they assured me that they did nothing wrong and they assured me that there was not a recall about this issue. overall i am disappointed with my dealership in their response considering i have been a long standing customer who does all of my service with them. and i am still left wondering if there is an issue with the making of the car; therefore causing pre-mature problems with the rotors. what would be a next step to share this information? i wonder how many other people have been affected.

Reported in: PORTER IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K88M

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

changed rear brake pads because of squeaking noise. after that brake started to lock and smoke coming out of rear passenger side. went back to my mechanic and was told could be problem with caliper. changed caliper and brake locked again with more smoke and smell of burn coming from rear passenger side. had car towed to mechanic and they adjusted brakes. took car to vw dealer and was told nothing was wrong with brakes. nothing happened for about 5 days and again burned smell came back, took car back to my mechanic day after since they were the ones that changed pads and caliper but brakes were not locked anymore.

Reported in: RAHWAY NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJZ71K88M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

drivers heated seat activated on its own. control switch on dash was set at 0, drive received moderate burns to legs and buttock. removed fuse and took vehicle to dealer. nothing found, dealer suggested if the seat heats up again, bring vehicle directly to the dealer, do not shut it off. burns are similar to a bad sunburn, some redness, no blisters.

Reported in: SAINT JOHN IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K08M

SEATS

Reported in: SAINT JOHN IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K08M

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

2008 volkswagen jetta s my car has 36000 miles on it and i have changed the rear brake pads and rotors twice on this vehicle. it is my understanding that this has been a problem with many jettas around that year. i have luckily avoided many wrecks that i would not have potentially been in if the rear brakes responded as they should. i feel that this is definately a safety issue that needs to be addressed.

Reported in: SALEM AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWHM71K08M

VISIBILITY

the wiper blades leave a unbearable streak right in my line of sight while driving my 2008 jetta wolfsburg. the windshield is out of contour for the factory wiper blades. both sides leave streaks that are a distraction to my driving especially in rainy weather at night.

Reported in: RIVERSIDE CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

i have a 2008 jetta, with an automatic transmission and i have been the sole owner. the car has 18,000 miles and needs new back brakes. vw says it is no longer under warranty and will not pay for brakes. they told me that there is 'equal wear' on both back brakes (the front are fine); however, when i looked at the brakes with the vw mechanic, there was not equal wear. i am contesting the issue and believe that it is a mechanical problem and not a case of natural wear.

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

volkswagen jetta dsg mechatronics failure.

Reported in: CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K88M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

volkswagen jetta dsg mechatronics failure.

Reported in: CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K88M

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2008 vw jetta. consumer states engine shutdown *tgw the consumer stated while driving on the turnpike, suddenly the vehicle felt as if it downshifted and began to lose speed. depressing the accelerator had no effect. the consumer managed to get to the emergency lane. he put the gear in neutral and then in drive and the vehicle started to respond and moved forward. he continued on with no further problems. *jb

Reported in: PITTSFIELD MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRZ71K38M

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

knocking sound when the vehicle is in motion.

Reported in: LANCASTER CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJZ71K98M

WHEELS:RIM

tl*the contact owns a 2008 vw jetta. the tires were replaced september 17, 2010. the contact noticed that the rear rims, and the right front rims were bent. report 1003146 was filed with the manufacturer. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the diagnosis revealed that the rims were defective and there was no evidence of a crash that may have caused the rims to bend; however, the manufacturer concluded that they would not replace the defective rims under warranty. the contact stated that the passenger rear tire blew; yet, the tire shop didn't locate a failure on the tire. the failure mileage was 41,000 and the current mileage was 42,000.

Reported in: HOUSTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K68M

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

i have a 2008 vw jetta and i have had to have the brake pads, rotors and calipers replaced now for a 3rd time. the first 2 times happened within the first 12 months of owning the vehicle.

Reported in: WAKE FOREST NC || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

rear brake pads on my 2008 volkswagen jetta are worn down to nothing and my front brake pads are just about perfect. have noticed many online forums have mentioned this problem as well.

Reported in: PRAIRIE VILLAGE KS || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K78M

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2008 vw jetta 2.5l engine stalls and epc light illuminates.

Reported in: TRINITY TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K08M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2008 vw jetta 2.5l engine stalls and epc light illuminates.

Reported in: TRINITY TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K08M

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2008 vw jetta 2.5l engine stalls and epc light illuminates.

Reported in: TRINITY TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K08M

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

front passenger abs wire came out of bracket and rubbed on the axle. abs light and traction control light came on...abs is inoperable. dealership said it was caused by snow and ice. we live in illinois where there is snow and ice 6 months out of the year. why is this kind of engineering allowed in snowy climates if it is unable to probably function. this is a safety hazard as the brake line is also fastened to this bracket. when checking online this seems to be a very recurring issue. we will be needing to get this fixed....car is under warranty but they say this does not fall under the warranty. the repair is $506.00 for an entire wire harness. we have owned autos and vans since the inception of abs. we have never had a vehicle that has had this problem.

Reported in: CAROL STREAM IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K08M

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

Reported in: CAROL STREAM IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K08M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

the following relates to a 2008 jetta 2.0l wolfsburg edition sedan. three times in the last month the vehicle has suddenly lost motive power, with the engine quickly dropping to 0 rpm, with all 3 incidents occurring during busy traffic conditions. after the first incident, the car was able to restart, and was brought to the dealer. a fuel pressure sensor was replaced. two weeks later, the exact same incident occurred, but the car could not be restarted. vehicle was towed to dealer, and the fuel pump was replaced. while in the shop, the dealer stated that there was a recall on a part within the transmission, which was order and replaced. upon receiving the car the 2nd time, the vehicle behaved noticeably different - poor acceleration, unusual shifting, sudden jerking and lurching while idling. three days after receiving the car, once again a complete loss of motive power during heavy traffic. now waiting for a second tow, and third visit to the dealer service department. these incidents pose serious safety threats, since the sudden loss of power seems to unrelated to vehicle operation status - ie, speed, incline, etc do not affect the vehicle's sudden loss of power, and thus can occur in any traffic condition. *ln

Reported in: CAMBRIDGE MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRA71K68M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

december 13, 2010. the check engine light came on. metro vw service diagnosed an ignition miss. they replaced (1) ignition coil on cylinder #2 with a different type of ignition coil than the original. the "new version" ignition coil has insulation where the original coil did not. february 8, 2011, approximately, two months later, the check engine light came on again. at least one of the three original ignition coils is failing, causing an ignition miss, and needs to be replaced. the original ignition coils are not performing as originally designed. the original ignition coils should be recalled and replaced with the new versoin ignition coils at the manufacturers expense.

Reported in: FRISCO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K28M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1. no prior warning before failure occurred; 2. the automatic transmission will not go into reverse; this occurs everytime after the initial instance; consequence is that the car can not be backed up; 3. the dealer has reviewed and wanted new transmission but no guarantee it wouldn't happen again. have also taken to independent service for vws and serviced transmission but indicated internal mechanisms needed to be inspected by vw dealer.

Reported in: LONG BEACH CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWSP69M02M

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

tl* the contact owns a 2008 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that the rear brake pad locked while driving, due to the brake pad being stuck. when the contact put the vehicle in park, the brake pad fell off onto the floor. the dealer diagnosed that the vehicle needed a new brake caliper and brakes. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified, but did not assist the contact with the repairs. the failure mileage was 48,000 and the current mileage was 49,000.

Reported in: SARASOTA FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71KX8M

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

in take off hard clutch kicking, during drive hard shifting, problems with reverse and gearbox not responding. the mechatronic unit was changed in my vehicle after it was working fine due to a recall and now the car has severe problems.

Reported in: MARGATE FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71KX8M

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

the car had been properly locked; the steering wheel was not turned after parking to activate the wheel lock; on re-entering the locked car, using the correct key, the problem was that the key could not be inserted into the steering column ignition key slot. nothing had been done to damage the slot; our 2nd key was also used, but it also could not be inserted into the ignition key slot. vw service advised they had only seen the problem once before, and the car had to be towed to the dealer 6 miles away. my reason to consider this a safety matter is that such a problem could have happened at a dangerous time (such as a zero degree day in the middle of nowhere; or a middle of the desert scenario; or when needing to get away fast --- e.g., bringing someone to a hospital). thanks you.

Reported in: OMAHA, NE || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K98M

POWER TRAIN

dsg transmission seems to slip when cold, or from dead stop or under kick down acceleration. *tt

Reported in: INDIANAPOLIS IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K98M

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

every morning my 2008 vw jetta 2.0t is very hard to start. sometimes when the car is trying to start it stalls in the middle of starting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tgw53yvlqa&feature=youtube_gdata_player.

Reported in: WINTER GARDEN FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Reported in: WINTER GARDEN FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: WINTER GARDEN FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

vehicle loses motive force, shifts into neutral while in motion. shift indicator lights on dash flash and green "apply brake" icon lights up.

Reported in: TITUSVILLE FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71KX8M

AIR BAGS

believe it is the airbag sensor that is malfunctioning. have had it reset about five times and within a five to six weeks, the airbag light goes on again. this is not the first time the vw has had issues with electrical components. of course, the warranty is over.

Reported in: CORTLAND NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRZ71K48M

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

i first took my car to the dealership june 1st for an obvious rattling noise in between my front tires. on june 15th back to the dealership for them to replace my bushings but problem still existed so they ordered pins for caliper bracket. in july after replacing struts the problem still existed. aug 31st they replaced the sway bar and declared the problem was resolved. when i got in my car the problem still existed and they had left my car out of alignment it was almost impossible to drive. sept 14th i returned back to the dealership for the same problem. they replaced both sway bars. the problem was finally resolved after losing my car for 6 full days, however my brake lights were on. they assured me it was just a coincidence, the service guy discovered the tech had forgotten to connect my brakes back. i did not file a formal complaint at this time because i was so relieved they had finally fixed my suspension issue. ive had to buy 2 brand new sets of tires since june because of all the ware on my tires from my messed up suspension. today, jan 3rd 2012 my car is back in the shop yet again. this time for a rear passanger side door lock that had been set on child lock will no longer lock. ordered the part, since my car is no longer under warranty the part with labor 360. in the meantine the tech discovered an oil leak. the dealership is now saying my vaccum pump is leaking and is no longer under warranty for them to fix it. their quote 960. i checked on the part its 257 new. even though i didn't file a complaint or cost them money when they forgot to connect my brakes bake they are going to charge me 700 dollars in labor. my car is only a 2008 and has been in the shop more in one year than any of my other cars combined. it is daily a safety hazard because of the lingering of fixing my car right the very first day i took it to the dealership june of 2010.

Reported in: BARBOURSVILLE WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K48M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: BARBOURSVILLE WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K48M

SUSPENSION

Reported in: BARBOURSVILLE WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K48M

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: BARBOURSVILLE WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K48M

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

tl* the contact owns a 2008 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that the rear driver side brake was defective. the contact inspected the vehicle and found that the rear driver side brake pads were worn prematurely. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer or repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 38,000. updated 07/06/12 *bf updated 07/12/12.*jb

Reported in: CHARLOTTE NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRL71K89M

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

on 10 february 2012, at approximately 7:45 am, i was driving on interstate 395 north , washington, dc. in the high occupancy vehicle (hov) lane when i heard noise from the engine and i saw white smoke coming from underneath the hood of the engine. i checked the indicator lights and no lights were on that indicated there was a problems. at the stop sign near the entrance near the navy annex off colombia pike, i noticed a smell similar to burning oil. first, the vehicle was checked by jack taylor toyota in alexandria, va. toyota stated they were not aware of a volkswagen dealership in the area and indicated they had the ability to identify any problems with the vehicle by conducting a diagnostic test. according to the diagnostic test, the rear main seal, which is located at the rear of the engine between the engine and the flywheel of flex plate/torque converter was leaking transmission fluid. i learned later via an internet search there was a volkswagen dealership approximately 10 miles from the toyota dealership. i consulted with a technician at volkswagen who indicated the problem described by toyota was confusing and was possibly an error was asked to bring the vehicle in for a certified volkswagen technician to inspect further. presently, the car is at the volkswagen dealership in alexandria, va for further diagnostic testing and repairs. they confirmed the rear main seal was leaking transmission fluid and ordered the part which was projected to arrive on or about 13 february 2012. the car was serviced for 50k tune up at volkswagen in springfield, va and this problems was not identified. this is the first incident in-which i have encountered transmission problems with this car.

Reported in: WOODBRIDGE VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJZ71K68M

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: WOODBRIDGE VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJZ71K68M

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

this vehicle was purchased approximately september 2008, and to date has experienced five (5) failures of the electronic door locking/unlocking mechanisms of three of the four doors of the vehicle and in some case multiple failures. i am currently experiencing failure number six (6). the failure of the locking/unlocking mechanisms is a safety issue as these failure have at time prevented being able to exit the vehicle and in the case of an emergency it is a serious threat to my safety. additionally, i'm unable to lock the vehicle whenever i go anywhere thus putting anything in the vehicle at risk of loss from theft. the dealer's solution is to replace the locking mechanisms as they fail and as the vehicle is no longer under warranty it's cost roughly $370.00 per incident. below is a summary of the failures experienced thus far. i have copies of the service records available. 2008 jetta door lock failures: date ro # item responsible partycost 11/16/09 116190drivers side front door lock replaced warranty 03/02/10 118212left rear door lock replaced warranty 08/03/10 121525right rear door lock diagnosed warranty 08/06/10 121609right rear door lock replaced warranty 06/01/11 129079left rear door lock diagnosis customer paid $69.00 06/01/11 129247left rear door lock replaced customer paid $303.09 10/18/11 132986drivers side front door lock replaced customer paid $367.25 03/15/12 right rear door lock beginning to fail. door lock failureoccurances drivers side front 2 left rear 2 right rear 2

Reported in: FORT WAYNE IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K28M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: FORT WAYNE IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K28M

AIR BAGS

this vehicle (2008 vw gli) should be covered under sb-69-11-01 as well. the passenger side airbag warning light has come up. vw jetta gli is a special model based on the vw jetta 2008. i think there is an oversight for not placing this same type of vehicle under sb-69-11-01. gli is essential a sports model upgrade of jetta model, why isn't this vehicle covered by the same tsb? make / models: model/build years: volkswagen / eos 2007-2008 volkswagen / gti 2006-2008 volkswagen / jetta 2005-2008 volkswagen / new beetle 2004-2008 volkswagen / new beetle convertible 2004-2008 volkswagen / passat 2006-2008 volkswagen / passat wagon 2006-2008 volkswagen / r32 2006-2008 volkswagen / rabbit 2006-2008 service bulletin number: sb-69-11-01 nhtsa item number: 10038665 summary: volkswagen: air bag light is on with an internal trouble code stored. this could be a wiring problem. *rm

Reported in: EDMONDS WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWDJ71K08M

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

2008 wolfsburg edition jetta: started experiencing issues with one door lock and the dealer told me that the locks can go bad and need to be replaced, costing $450 for the replacement. after having this fixed, only two months later, another lock started having an issue. i have not yet replaced this lock, but now a third lock is starting to experience problems on the same vehicle. at this rate, i expect the fourth and final lock to start having issues. at $450 for each lock replacement, this seems excessive. on a single car that is kept in a garage, with only two adults (no children) using the front doors, it doesn't make sense how three doors can experience lock issues, unless there was some larger issue with the locks. this is a serious issue as the locks serve as the first line of defense in anti-theft. after searching online and seeing others with similar issues, i decided to report this.

Reported in: CENTREVILLE VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

tl* the contact owns a 2008 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that the key would not insert into the ignition and the vehicle would not start. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an inspection and they stated that the cylinder lock was blocked and the ignition switch needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified and they took a complaint. the failure mileage was 47,000.

Reported in: WILMETTE IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K58M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

the car's own keys could not be inserted into the ignition. the dust cap inside the ignition cylinder/ switch was blocking the key from entering. the steering wheel was locked because of the ignition key not able to enter the ignition switch. also the transmission could not be moved from parking because of the above reason. as a result, we were all stranded on the road for several hours because the car keys could not be inserted to the ignition. had to tow the car to vw dealership and the dealers wanted to change the entire ignition switch. later found out that it can happen to any vw jetta because of the way the cylinder has been designed by vw and vwoa does not want to make any recall and change this design. please note that the car is only 4 years old, used only by me very gently, and the ignition switch design is faulty. *jb

Reported in: WILMETTE IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K58M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Reported in: WILMETTE IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K58M

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

i have a 2008 jetta and i started experiencing problems with 1 door. my car was still under warranty and the lock was replaced at the dealership. then only months later i started having similar problems randomly (the lock would work some times but not others). everytime i stopped at the dealership to have it fixed the lock worked- therefore they could not diagnose which door had a problem. the lock failed everytime and when i returned to the dealership, the car was no longer under warranty. the dealership said the locks can go bad and quoted me a cost of $400 to repair. after having one door "fixed" only to have another lock fail after months later seems excessive. at this point i have not replaced the second lock. it is frustrating to see a car with four doors have problem with two of the doors! at a cost of $400 to replace i felt there must be a larger issue that needs attention. we keep our car in the garage, the door that is now in need of repair is rarely used. this is a serious issue as the locks serve as the first line of defense in personal protection and anti-theft. after searching on line and seeing others with similar issues, i felt it was important to report this. i trust you will promptly follow up and assist me in resolving this issue.

Reported in: HARTFORD WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K08M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: HARTFORD WI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K08M

ENGINE

the 08 jetta se stall w/o any warning, usually after 30 minutes of driving and sometime at stoplights.

Reported in: CEDAR HILL TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM81K28M

TIRES

sidewall tearing apart in two sections as well as center treads contain severe cracking.

Reported in: SOUTH GATE CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i was driving to work one morning and it started to smell like something was burning. i thought maybe it was just a weird smell in my vents but within 10 minutes of driving a cloud of smoke filed the driver side of my car. luckily i was not on the highway yet and i was able to pull over and shut off the car. not knowing where the smoke came from i immediately got out of the car. it when then that i looked down and saw the source of the smoke, there was a quarter size hole in my driver seat. i had been driving with the seat heater on and it caught fire. luckily i was not injured and was able to quickly get off the road and discover the issue however i have read other complaints of similar events and yet no recall.

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWSE69MX4M

SEATS

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWSE69MX4M

ENGINE

i was told by the vw dealership that there is known defect with the motor that is part of the air intake manifold which causes the valves to stick and not allow the proper mixture of air/gas, causing the engine to misfire....at times, the misfire can be intense and could possibly cause someone to lose control of their vehicle ("bucking sensation"). i found many threads on the internet regarding the vw jetta (2.0t engine) and a problem with the air intake manifold, but yet, vw has never issued a recall for the problem.

Reported in: DANIELSON CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRA71K18M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

drivers side door lock actuator failed to lock or unlock the door, alarm horn fails to sound when alarm is activated. rear driver's door lock actuator failed to lock or unlock the door. the rear drivers door doesn't have an external key hole to unlock door and the only way to open the door is from the inside. in the event of an accident with a child in a child safety seat, this could result in a delay of removing the child from a potentially dangerous situation. the volkswagen manufacturer/dealership charges between $450 to $550 per actuator. after an extensive search of the internet and numerous forums, this actuator repair is more common than volkswagen would like anyone to believe. this part is kept in stock at dealerships and they are vague when questioned about the frequency of repair. this appears to be more a problem with newer models. i've owned a used 2003 vw jetta for over 5 years now and haven't needed an actuator yet.

Reported in: SAN ANTONIO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K08M

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

Reported in: SAN ANTONIO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K08M

STRUCTURE:BODY

apparently this car was in a serious front end accident that was not repaired properly. i purchased this car from carmax. i was unaware of the previous accident. it was only until i had my windshield replaced after taking a stone to it that many problems were shown to me including parts missing, bent rim, fraudulent representation by car max.

Reported in: ALGONQUIN IL || Crash: Y || VIN #: 3VWHM71K08M

WHEELS

Reported in: ALGONQUIN IL || Crash: Y || VIN #: 3VWHM71K08M

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

the problem is the intake manifold and the intake valves stuck from excessive carbon buildup. it was replaced in feb 2011 and now needs replacing again. problem is, now i'm out of the warranty period and the dealer is saying i would have to pay for this myself. they also added that there was only a 1 year warranty for the first time this was replaced in feb 2011. there have been many complaints on the intake manifold and no recall from volkswagen. if the decarbonization had been done when the intake manifold had been replaced the first time, this would have never happened again.

Reported in: SPOTSWOOD NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRA71K58M

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: SPOTSWOOD NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRA71K58M

ENGINE

Reported in: SPOTSWOOD NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRA71K58M

AIR BAGS

we had the car in the body shop for a repair! dent in the rear corner panel the air bag light came on a couple days later we took the car back to the body shop they took it the columbus ga vw dealer and were told the clock spring in the steering column was bad and they were getting quite a few cars back for the same problem.well it turns out all your electronics horn, radio,cruise control, air bags,dash lights,all the wires for these any many more items travel thru the clock spring! there having alot of problems with this item why is there no recall? they had a recall on there 2011 jetta honk your horn and your motor might turn off! the cause clock spring! (so the body shop was told nothing they did caused it to go bad that they just go bad). the car is five years old they don't just go bad!!!! bad design maybe? my car is out of warranty and have been told the airbags will not deploy???? safety first!! oh ya and the horn is not working! i guess the cruise control will be next! thank you for your time........[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: SMITHS AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K18M

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Reported in: SMITHS AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K18M

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Reported in: SMITHS AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K18M

ENGINE

the cam follower failed resulting in severe engine hesitation upon acceleration making the car unsafe to operate. the metal the part it is made from is not strong enough. this causes it to wear through and break, which in turn causes severe damage to the camshaft and fuel pump. as a result, all three parts must be replaced at great expense. volkswagen has chosen to cover this repair on some but not all vehicles with the identical problem. they state that they are choosing which vehicles to cover based on vin # alone and not all vehicles with the identical problem. the failed part extends beyond their vin # metric. they have acknowledged the problem and have chosen to cover the repair on some, but not all vehicles affected. this is unfair to those consumers stuck with a bill, while others with the identical problem have it covered.

Reported in: HOWELL MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K38M

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

tl* the contact owns a 2008 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the vehicle became hesitant to acceleration attempts. the failure recurred intermittently at speeds between 10 and 50 mph. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where the technician stated that the camshaft, camshaft follower, fuel pump, and a valve would have to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

Reported in: HAZLET NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

Reported in: HAZLET NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

my vehicle passenger door(s) will not respond to the keyless entry lock or unlock commands. they can only close and open manually. i have read several different forums and this seems to be a standard default in model years ranging from 2007 and onward. the sunroof will periodically open by itself and the blinkers do not function properly (example is when i flick the blinker up to make a right turn, the left blinker comes on instead). why hasn't there been a recall to replace these faulty, and life threatening, issues? *js

Reported in: CLERMONT FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K28M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the led mirror turn signal and the front bumper orange illuminated safety reflector both on the driver's side of the vehicle simultaneously stopped working. i'm unsure if this is due to fuse issues or computer related electrical issues. a safety problem is posed when they're not working.

Reported in: LAKEWOOD OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K88M

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Reported in: LAKEWOOD OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K88M

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

doors do not lock, or unlock, random opening of sunroof and door lock mechanism.

Reported in: RALEIGH NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K18M

TIRES

purchased 4 new nexen n5000 (225/45r17) tires and had them installed on 10/21/13. approx. 2k miles on the tires, and we noticed a bubble on the front driver side tire where the tread and sidewall meet. no signs of scratches on the sidewall, and we are not aware of any impact with potholes or anything else that might have caused it.

Reported in: DANIELSON CT || Crash: N || VIN #:

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

fuel cut-off/surging when accelerating and tapping noise from engine. engine is throwing engine codes; a loss of power is present when accelerating. this occurs every time i try to accelerate. this is a known issue with the cam follower and high pressure fuel pump on all 2.0t fsi motors from vw. my cam follower has a hole in it (have the part) and the high pressure fuel pump is worn down (have the part) because it has made contact with the cam lobe, which has been scarred (have the part). replacement requires a new cam, high pressure fuel pump, and cam follower. the design however will require constant inspection of the cam follower to avoid major engine failure. all 2.0 t fsi engines will experience this problem. volkswagen has a tsb #2015153 dated december 16, 2009 that warns of this problem upon cel light being shown. but by then the damage was done, upon further inspection it had a hole in the cam follower, with severe damage to the cam and high pressure fuel pump. repair cost was over $2,000.00. after researching this i found out this is a common problem with this particular motor. so much so that voa extended the warranty to ten years and 100,000 miles just for this exact problem. unfortunately they used vin numbers and my vin numbers is after the cutoff point even though it's the exact same motor with the exact same problem as the earlier vin numbered cars. they need to cover the affected motor numbers not the vin numbers.

Reported in: ALFORD FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K28M

ENGINE

Reported in: ALFORD FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K28M

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: ALFORD FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K28M

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

the back passenger side door lock quit working and the door won't lock at all. anybody can open the door and hurt your child or still the car. i called the dealer here in austin, tx today, and they told me that is a very common problems with the jetta model and it has happened to hundreds of costumers. the electric locks quit working. this is a safety issue and clearly a manufacturers defect that should be a recall.

Reported in: MANOR TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K08M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: MANOR TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K08M

SEATS

turned seat warmer on while driving. thirty minutes later after arriving at destination, felt like my lower back was burned. had my wife look at my back. i had what appeared to be a second to third degree burn. throughout the afternoon, the burn began blistering. there is an imprint in the seat which matches where the burnt part of my back was resting against the back of the seat. a burn mark (hole), a little larger than the size of a pin tip, was left in the seat and the fabric appears to be melted around the hole.

Reported in: BETHALTO IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K88M

SEATS

while my sister which is currently pregnant, was driving my jetta the heated seat overheated. the heated seats became so hot that it burned the seat, her jacket and her skin. she received 1st -2nd degree burns on her back.

Reported in: ORTONVILLE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K78M

SERVICE BRAKES

the brakes on my vehicle are failing for the third time in 6 years and the vehicle only has 68,000 miles on it. the first time they failed, the car was barely two years old and had 22,000 miles on it. the second time they failed was two years later, at 40,000 miles. they are now failing again. research on the internet shows that vw had discovered a design flaw on their 2008 jetta brakes that was causing this, but no recall or resolution has ever been issued. vw now refuses to take responsibility for their defective vehicle or to offer any assistance to resolve the problem.

Reported in: ASPINWALL PA || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

while merging onto the freeway, as i reached 60mph the car lunged and the engine began revving over 6000rpm. it felt like the car was stuck in 3rd gear. the gear/drive mode display led began flashing constantly. the car would not shift up to a higher gear so i moved into slower lanes and kept the car at about 5000rpm/55mph until it was safe to stop. the car geared down as i decelerated but appeared to skip a gear and lunged at each shift. i tried switching between drive and sport mode but there was no change. when i finally was able to bring the car to a stop i discovered the reverse gear did not engage. it simply went into neutral. i shut the car down, waited a minute and started it again. it no longer had any visible problems or error messages. i later learned this is a known issue with the dsg transmission and is referred to as the 'dsg flash of death'.

Reported in: SANTA MONICA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K48M

SUSPENSION

recently, i heard some bumping from the back of the vehicle while driving. i took the car in to get repaired, and they told me that the coil spring in the right rear had broken due to corrosion and that it need to be fixed or that spring could pop out while driving and cause the suspension to fail. the volkswagen mechanic stated that this was a common problem with the model. i had the spring replaced, but i am concerned that the other spring may have the same failure while driving. with the vehicle being only 5 years old, i am concerned that this is a problem for other drivers that do not pay as close attention to the sounds their cars make. i believe this is a safety issue that should warrant a recall.

Reported in: CRANBERRY TWP PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRJ71K18M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i got locked inside the car on a hot day with my kid! i sat in the back to play with him and keep him company. the door closed and it would not unlock no matter how many times i would pull on the lever. i was pinched between the child seat, the driver's seat (i keep it pulled back quite a bit) and the door. i could barely move. my wife had to unlock the door from the outside. the door lock/latch mechanism has (since this incident) failed on both rear doors. both!!! we can no longer lock the car without spending 10-15 minutes opening, closing, working the remote etc, until it finally produces the desired beep with the car being actually locked. the door would close, the alarm would be activated but the rear door (passenger side) would remain unlocked. i pull on the handle, the door opens and the alarm goes off. we are almost at the point where we might have to take the child out of the car via the front doors. i am not even talking about the car probably getting stolen over this. this is a serious child hazard! there are dozens of threads on vw forums about these mechanisms failing either on: 1. electrical harness being damaged. or 2. door lock/latch not activating or deactivating. or both how long is vw going to ignore this massive problem. the dealership wants $450 in parts and labor for 1 door. that's almost a $1000 for a problem that is very common. very.

Reported in: DULUTH GA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

tl* the contact owns a 2008 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that when the a/c was operated, there was a strong odor emitted from the vents. the failure recurred on several occasions. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised that the evaporator coil needed to be cleaned. the failure mileage was 59,000 and the current mileage was 66,000.

Reported in: OMAHA NE || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K98M

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

Reported in: OMAHA NE || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K98M

SEAT BELTS

the rear center seat belt is locked and will not release. the vehicle was not in an accident and now the vehicle cannot safety carry 5 passengers. i am sure this is a safety issue and needs to be addressed since the safety system should never fail for any reason.

Reported in: WYANDOTTE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K38M

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl * the contact owns a 2008 volkswagen jetta. while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle stalled. the contact steered the vehicle to the side of the road and was able to restart the vehicle. the failure recurred four times in five days. the dealer stated that the electronic computer machine needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Reported in: CORPUS KRISTY TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWJM71K28M

ENGINE

i took my car in to have oil changed and to have my ac looked at due to strange smell coming from vents. per dealership request they stated i should have the ac flushed. i left my car there within 30 minutes of dropping it off the dealership called me to tell me my car died. they had hooked it up to flush the ac and the engine died. upon their investigation a compression test was performed and it was determined cylinders 1,2,3 and 5 showed zero compression while 4 showed 80psi. they are stating due to improper cam timing. further investigation showed the securing bolt on the intake camshaft was loose. it is now recommended to replace the cylinder head and retime the camshaft to the crankshaft. my car did not show any issues leading up to the oil change, no warning lights nothing. clearly i should have had some sort of warning signs.

Reported in: THOUSAND OAKS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3VWRM71K58M

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