2019 Volkswagen Jetta Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
JETTA S MANUAL TRANSMISSION. CLUTCH IS BURNED AFTER 10K MILES/14 MONTHS OF USAGE. HAS SHOWN PROBLEMS FOR A WHILE, DEALER CLAIMS NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE. THE ISSUE IS THAT CLUTCH GETS STUCK AFTER STARTING TO MOVE, AND A STRONG BURN SMELL COMES FROM ENGINE. THIS TIME CAR STALLED WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY (1ST GEAR, 2ND GEAR FAILS TO ENGAGE, CAR GOES IN NEUTRAL AND LOSES SPEED). DEALER SAYS CLUTCH IS BURNED DUE TO WEAR ISSUE, ASSUMES DRIVER HAS BEEN RIDING THE CLUTCH (FALSE, I'VE DRIVEN MANUAL CARS FOR OVER 30 YEARS), AND WANTS AUTHORIZATION TO VERIFY FLY WHEEL BUT WARNS IT WILL BE AT LEAST $2,200 TO FIX, UNLESS SOME SPECIFIC PROBLEM IS FOUND. DEALER SAYS THERE ARE NO ISSUES REPORTED BY VW. *TR
THE EIGHT SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN THE MID GEAR RANGE WHEN UNDER ANY SORT OF LOAD. OCCASIONALLY THIS NOISE PREVENTS A PROPER DOWNSHIFT UPHILL, PREVENTING THE PROPER AMOUNT OF POWER TO BE DISTRIBUTED, AND AS A RESULT THE CAR SLOWS. THE LACK OF POWER, AS A RESULT OF A DELAYED DOWNSHIFT AND GRINDING OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAN ALSO BE NOTED WHEN TRYING TO OVERTAKE ON A HIGHWAY. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE THROTTLE IS DEPRESSED TO SPEED UP, THE TRANSMISSION GRINDS AND PRODUCES POWER ONLY AFTER A DELAY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN TRAFFIC IS CLOSELY FOLLOWING BEHIND MY VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS IN ALL DRIVING MODES (NORMAL, SPORT, ECO, CUSTOM). THE NOISE IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER. VW HAS STATED THIS IS A NORMAL NOISE, AND OFFERS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE NOISE BEGAN WITH ONLY 150 MILES ON THE CAR, AND HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE EVER SINCE. PLEASE CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DEFECT.
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY NEW 2019 VW JETTA I HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR FROM A STOP. I DO NOT HEAR IT ONCE THE CAR IS GOING. AFTER ONLY 1200 MILES IT IS ALSO LOW ON OIL. IT IS NOT EVEN DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE YET.CAR WAS PURCHASED DECEMBER 29TH OF 2019.
WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION, AND THE AISIN TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING, THE VEHICLE MAKES A SCRAPING OR GRINDING NOISE FROM THE POWERTRAIN (TRANSMISSION) AND IT ALSO HESITATES WHEN STOPPING AND TAKING OFF AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN.
I WAS DRIVING WHEN I WENT TO SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT RETURN. HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 400 MILES THE CAR HAD ALREADY 2600 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I WAS ASSURED THERE WERE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH IT AND THE DEALER IS TRYING TO MAKE IT THAT I HAD BURNED THE CLUTCH I.E A WEAR ISSUE AFTER DRIVING FOR TWO WEEKS. THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THIS COULD HAPPEN AFTER SUCH A SHORT TIME. I AM IN DEALINGS WITH BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED. IT WAS VERY SCARY TO HAVE A CAR GIVE OUT LIKE THAT WHILE DRIVING AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. *TR
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A CHECK UP AND TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR MAKES A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL EVERY TIME I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND I BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE WHEN I BACK OUT THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 5K MILES AND IM TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IS HAVING A PROBLEM AND WITH VW CURRENT "BRAND ISSUES" AND "LACK OF TRUST" I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. EVEN THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ARE GETTING SEVERAL CARS A DAY WITH THE SAME ISSUES AND THAT VW OF AMERICA SAYS ITS NORMAL..... NOT REALLY SURE HOW THAT IS NORMAL IF EVERYONE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.
SCRAPING NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION WHEN UP SHIFTING . ESPECIALLY NOTICED WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AT LOWER SPEEDS. TAKEN TO VW DEALERSHIP TWICE. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO NOTE THE OBVIOUS NOISE. *TR
GRINDING SOUND IN TRANSMISSION BETWEEN 35-45 MPH. WHEN THIS SOUND IS HEARD THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND IS VERY RELUCTANT TO DOWNSHIFT. IT CAN BE HEARD IN ANY DRIVING MODE BUT IS WORSE IN "NORMAL" AND ALMOST NOT DRIVABLE IN "ECO". VW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE AND SAYS IT IS NORMAL, BUT IS IS ANYTHING BUT NORMAL FOR A CAR TO BEHAVE THIS WAY.
WE BOUGHT THIS CAR A MONTH AGO WE HAVE TRANSMISSION NOISE COMING FROM THE TORQUE CONVERTER. TWICE I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH VW. I BELEIVE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AISUN 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION. THIS IS ALWAYS HAPPENING WITH 800 TO 1800 RPM. A DISCONCERTING GRINDING SCRAPING TORQUE CONVERTER WHILE DRIVING IN ECO ,DRIVE, OR SPORT ALL MODES MAKE NOISE. I WPOLD EITHER LIKE THE CAR FIXED OR REPLACED WITH NON DEFECTIVE PROBLEM.
WHEN DRIVING CAR MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND STRUGGLES WITH ACCELERATION AT AROUND 25-30 MPH.
I BOUGHT MY NEW 2019 JETTA 2 DAYS AGO. IT HAD ONLY 111 MILES ON IT. THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED IT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN 15 TO 30 MPH. IT SOUNDS LIKE GEARS GRINDING ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN THE CLUTCH ISN'T FULLY ENGAGED. I ALSO NOTICED THE RPM'S JUMPING UP ERRATICALLY WHEN I'M HEARING THE NOISE. I CONTACTED EAST COAST VOLKWSGON, THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE I SPOKE WITH WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE COMPLAINT. I AM TAKING IT IN TOMORROW MORNING TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A NEW CAR ALREADY HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE REPRESENTATIVE'S RESPONSE PROMPTED ME TO RESEARCH THIS ISSUE AND I SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON FOR THIS MODEL.
SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH OF 2020, THERE HAS BEEN A SCRAPING NOISE AS IF METALS WERE GRINDING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAPPENS WITH SLOW ACCELERATION BETWEEN 20MPH AND 35MPH. POSSIBLE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 3RD AND 5TH GEAR. THIS NOISE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER. IT WAS NEW WITH 9,000 MILES AS IT WAS BEING USED AS A LOANER CAR (WAITING TO BE SOLD.)
THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE FROM 25MPH TO UPWARDS OF 60MPH. THE DEALER HAS NOT ROAD TESTED, BUT IMMEDIATELY HANDED ME A TECH TIP FROM VW CORPORATE THAT SAYS THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. TAKING IT IN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER WARRANTY REPAIR THIS WEEKEND, BUT THIS DOES NOT ACT LIKE OR SOUND LIME NORMAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FUNCTION.
WHILE DRIVING, THERE IS A GRINDING SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION AT THE LOWER/MID RPMS
PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. THE JETTA ONLY HAS 6,812 MILES ON IT. CLUTCH COMPLETELY FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN IT IS SHIFTING ON MID TO UPPER LEVEL GEARS. THIS SENDS A VIBRATION THROUGH THE GAS PEDAL AS WELL. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION GOING FORWARD ONLY REGARDLESS OF ROAD AND DRIVING CONDITIONS.
ON DEC 14, 2019 I PURCHASED A NEW 2019 VW JETTA SEL FROM A VW DEALERSHIP. THE CAR HAD ONLY 7 MILES ON IT. THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED IT, I NOTICED A CONSISTENT GRINDING, GROWLING OR RUBBING NOISE WHEN TRAVELING AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE CAR SEEMS SLOW, LIKE IT'S NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT HAPPENS ALL DAY LONG, EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT & I WAS TOLD THIS IS A NORMAL SOUND. IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY. BRAND NEW CAR! THEN I GOT ON THE INTERNET TODAY ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH 2019 VW JETTAS - MAYBE THE TRANSMISSION OR THE TORQUE CONVERTER.
2019 JETTA S. 8SPD AUTO. GRINDING NOISE FROM 4-6TH GEAR. 15-25 MPH. LACK OF POWER AND NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION OR LOAD.
RANDOM SHORT GRINDING SOUND AROUND 25-35MPH IN 5TH GEAR OR IN REVERSE WHEN AT LOW RPM (1,200). SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA/TORQUE CONVERTER. VEHICLE IN MOTION GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING WHEN THIS OCCURS.
I OWN A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. SINCE PURCHASE ON 9/10/18, THE CAR HAS HAD A VIBRATION. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS PERHAPS A SHIELD ON THE MUFFLER BUT AFTER 3 DOCUMENTED TRIPS TO THE VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 10/17/18, 5/29/19, AND 9/18/19 COMPLAINING ABOUT THE VIBRATION, I AM TOLD IT IS FROM THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I HAVE A CASE # [XXX] WHERE I RAISED THE ISSUE WITH CUSTOMER CARE. VOLKSWAGENS' RESPONSE IS THAT IT IS A NORMAL NOISE. THAT IS AN UNSATISFACTORY RESPONSE. IT GOES ALONG WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN CULTURE OF DENIAL AS IN THE RECENT DIESEL ISSUE. THERE IS A PROBLEM; IT IS NOT NORMAL AS VW PROFESSES AND I WANT IT FIXED. THIS VIBRATION OCCURS AT 27 MPH VERY BRIEFLY AND CONTINUES AT A REDUCED NOISE LEVEL ANY TIME THE ENGINE IS UNDER LOAD ABOVE 27 MPH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THERE IS IS GRINDING/RATTLING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION AROUND 30 MPH. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP HAS SAID IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION BUT IT DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL OR SAFE.
THE CAR MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 25-40 MPH AND IT CHANGES GEAR. IT DOES IT IN THE CITY OR HIGHWAY.
2019 JETTA SE PURCHASE DATE 9/28/19, LOUD RATTLE/VIBRATION/ SHUDDER UNDERCAR DRIVERS SIDE, ALWAYS THERE ON LIGHT LOAD ACCELERATION 1600-1800 RPM. CAR SHUDDERS UNDER LOAD 30-40 MPH, ACCELERATION DIMINISHED TO LIMP APPROX 5 SECONDS, ENGINE KEEPS RUNNING, NO STALL BUT FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS READY TO STALL. INQUIRED WITH DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, HAS NEVER HEARD OF THESE CONCERNS. CAR FEELS UNSAFE WITH POTENTIAL TO STALL ON ACCELERATION, DRIVELINE HAS LOUD RUMBLE AND SHUDDER, WORSENING DAILY, TODAYS MILEAGE 590. CONDITIONS ARE WHEN RUNNING AND UNDER LIGHT LOAD AND HIGHWAY MERGING ACCELERATION. CAR DOES NOT MERGE WELL DUE TO REDUCED POWER THAT FEELS PROPORTIONAL AND DUE TO UNDER CAR SHUDDER.
BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH 300 MILES. FROM THE DAY I PICKED IT UP WITH 37 MILES, IT GRINDS EVERY TIME IT ACCLERATES INTO 3RD GEAR AUTOMATIC TRANS. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED, SERVICE MGR STATED THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. ALSO STATED HIS HANDS ARE TIED ON WHAT HE CAN DO BECAUSE VW HAS CALLED THIS "NORMAL." HE ALSO SAID HE IS LIMITED IN WHAT HE CAN DO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BECAUSE "WE DIDN'T MAKE THE CAR." THIS DOES NOT SOUND "NORMAL" TO ME. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY VEHICLE WILL INCUR LONG-TERM DAMAGE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY RISK. IT ALSO REPRESENTS A POTENTIAL FINANCIAL RISK FOR MYSELF AND OTHER UNKNOWING BUYERS. THE REP. WHO SOLD ME THE CAR SAID HE WAS UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT THE SERVICE REP. WAS CLEARLY AWARE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE TRAIL OF DISCLOSURE WAS NOT EXTENDED BEYOND THE SERVICE DESK TO SALES AND, IN TURN, TO BUYERS LIKE MYSELF.
GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AT 1200 -1400 RPM. HAPPENS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND THROUGH 4TH GEAR.
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Quick Summary
The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta has 108 Power Train complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.