1996 Volkswagen Jetta power train problems

“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.”

“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”

“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”

“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”

“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.”

“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";”