Problems · by component

2009 Volkswagen Jetta power train problems

142 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta cite power train, 16% of all 905 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
142
16% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stopped driving the vehicle due to safety concerns. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2025Service brakes, hydraulic, Power train, EngineODI 11682847
“While driving the vehicle, suddenly and without warning it downshifted, went into limp mode and became stuck in second gear. Fortunately, I was driving on a secondary road with little traffic. Had I been on a major road or highway, its likely I would have been rear ended resulting in injury/death. I have taken vehicle to dealership where it has been confirmed it is the DSG transmission caused by a faulty Mechatronics unit. I am being told the entire transmission needs to be replaced. Had VW recalled and fixed the problem earlier, I would not need a new transmission now. VW is refusing to pay for cost to replace it. After speaking with VW service representatives and mechanics, it is well known by VW this could happen. There have been recalls in other countries - Australia, Singapore, Japan, China, etc. to replace faulty unit/transmission because it caused deaths. VW only did an extended warranty for cars in the USA. My vehicle is beyond that warranty.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2024Power trainODI 11566975
“The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the gear shift indicator started blinking on and off. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact parked on the side of the road and restarted the vehicle to reboot the gear shift indicator lights. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2022Power trainODI 11464449
“THE CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING IT & WILL NOT RETURN TO GEAR. MY CAR ENDING UP STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE! I WAS ALMOST IN A CRASH. THE DEALER REPAIR SAID IT WAS A MECHATRONIC ISSUE. THE RECALL INCLUDES MY YEAR & MODEL BUT SOMEHOW NOT MY CAR? THE DEALER & VW CORP TOLD ME MY VIN SPECIFICALLY WAS NOT PART OF THE TRANSMISSION MECHATRONIC RECALL BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING. THE VIN'S NEED TO BE RE-EVALUATED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE CAR JUST COMES OUT OF GEAR & STOPS -- NO WARNING!! NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE & CANNOT AFFORD $4K REPAIR (THE DEALER ALSO STATED IT'S A "DEALER ONLY" TYPE OF REPAIR).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2020Power trainODI 11385444
“THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING FIRST. THEN IT GOT STUCK N NEUTRAL AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. HAD TO GET A NEW GEAR SHIFTER AND AFTER ALL THAT MONEY SPENT IT STILL ISN'T FIXED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2020Steering, Power train, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11325507
“HAD DROVE THE CAR LITTLE WHILE, THEN MADE A STOP, CRANKED THE CAR TO LEAVE AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS LOW ON OIL, THAT KIND OF. TAPPING SOUND. OIL WAS FINE. BUT THE SOUND STILL THERE THE NEXT DAY. AFTER DRIVING IT A MILE OR TWO. IT GOT LOUDER, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I STOPPED AT THE CLOSEST PART STORE ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY CHECKED IT WITH THE SCANNER. SAID IT WAS A KNOCK SENSOR CODE. P0328, BANK 1.TOOK IT TO VW. TO GET A DIAGNOSITS DONE. AND THE MAN SAID IT WAS DUE TO A RECALL. THE PROBLEM I WAS HEARING, AND THE CODE. WAS FROM THE RECALLED PART. THEY CHANGED THAT PART. SAID IT WAS A FUSE PANEL ON ENGINE BLOCK. THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THE SAME. THEN, HE SAID IT WAS NOT DUE TO THE RECALL. AND I STILL HAD TO PAY THE 120 DOLLAR FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. AND SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO OPEN THE ENGINE TO CHECK ANY FURTHER, AND THAT THE LABOR WOULD BE ABOUT 2000 DOLLARS. I HAD TOOK IT BY VW BEFORE IT STARTED TO HAVE ANY NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS.WHEN I HAD HAPPENED TO LOOK UP RECALLS ONLINE. THE MAN LOOKED IT UP BY MY VIN. TOLD ME THERE WERE 3 ACTIVE RECALLS. BUT IT WOULD BE ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE THEY COULD GET TO IT. I ASKED IF IT WOULD BE OK TO CONTINUE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2019Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11282962

Showing 6 of 142 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Power train: automatic transmission

Free remedy

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. IN ADDITION, THE "DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL" INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES.

Power trainReported Aug 20, 2009NHTSA 09V333000

Power train: driveshaft

Free remedy

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 25,594 MY 2006-2009 JETTA 5TH GENERATION EQUIPPED WITH 2.01 ENGINE. THE FASTENING SCREW CONTACT SURFACES ON THE DRIVESHAFT COVER PLATE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. SOME SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY AND COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHES FROM THE GEARBOX.

Power trainReported May 19, 2009NHTSA 09V164000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.