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Problems · by component

2010 Volkswagen Jetta power train problems

111 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta cite power train, 13% of all 875 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

All 2010 Jetta problems
Complaints
111
13% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unintendedly shifted into neutral(N). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V333000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,900.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2023Power trainODI 11533319
“2010 Jetta, manual transmission Key gets stuck in ignition and wont cut car off. Eventually got key out, ignition locked wont let key turn car on. This is a known vw issue with over 860 complaints on this exact issue between 2009-2013. VW refuses to do recall, even though this is a manufacturing parts issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2023Steering, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11501984
“CAR WILL UNPREDICTABLY STALL SOME TIMES, CLOSE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ENGINE WILL BE ABLE TO START,,, WILL GO IN LIMP HOME MODE WHEN THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOR DTC P00AF....”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2021Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11391144
“ALL SYMPTONS OF VW RECALL NO. 37E3/S7 OR NHTSA 09V333000" TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. THE DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK IN A GEAR AND IT WON'T SHIFT. IN BOTH CASES, ONCE YOU STOP THE VEHICLE, TURN IF OFF AND CRANK IT BACK ON, THE PROBLEM WILL SOLVED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2020Power trainODI 11297037
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, IT JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE DRIVING IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V333000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 2019Power trainODI 11280845
“I AM TRULY NOT SURE. IT IS GOING INTO THE SHOP TOMORROW. ALTHOUGH, I JUST PURCHASED IT USED, AND WHEN I PARK IT ON A HILL. IT MAKES THIS ODD SOUND AS IF THE BODY IS GOING TO FALL APART? I SMELL A BURNING METAL SMELL AS WELL. IT WAS PARKED ON A HILL SO IT WAS STATIONARY, JUST NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. I KNOW IT IS USED BUT I ONLY HAD IT FOR 1 MONTH!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2019Power train, Structure, Unknown or otherODI 11244087

Showing 6 of 111 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall 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
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

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