7.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,930
Average Mileage:
39,100 miles
Total Complaints:
9 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (4 reports)
  2. Replace transmission (2 reports)
  3. dealer is replacing valve body; says this fix it (1 reports)
  4. replace transmission control module (1 reports)
  5. valve body replaced a second time (1 reports)
2003 Volkswagen Jetta transmission problems

transmission problem

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2003 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments

problem #9

Oct 182006

Jetta GLS 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Initially brought car in for warrenty coverage. Was informed that some adjustments were made, however problem was not corrected.

- Michael W., Hurley, NY, US

problem #8

Jan 032012

Jetta 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,720 miles

shifts hard between 2nd and third gear and puts up transmission code 1166

- Craig T., Marmora, Ontario, canada

problem #7

Sep 112006

Jetta GLS 1.8t

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

I purchased a Brand new 2003 Jetta on Oct. 2002.

The car has been at the dealership several times in Lasalle Canada. First it would stall out for no reason at all. Than wouldn't shift right... hard when going to drive (its an automatic tritronic 1.8T).2 to 3 gear it would jerk ...it started slow and got really Bad...Volkswagen WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE PROBLEM....the maintenance contract expired. The dealership changed owners...so was out of luck to get help from VW.

I could get you hundreds of complaints on this problem in the internet ...think I will start a FACEBOOK blog maybe...will see!!!

So, after reaching 111000 miles and on April 10-2011 replaced the transmission at my cost $2800.00. Easter Transmission in montreal were very helpful more than Volkswagen.

- jetta2003, Lasalle, Quebec, Canada

problem #6

Dec 212004

(reported on)

Jetta LX

  • 5,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Jetta will go into service again today for the third time for transmission trouble. The valve body was replaced approx. four weeks ago. It was shifting smoother for awhile but the problem has become much worse in the last couple days.

- Virginia C., Columbia Station, OH, US

problem #5

Dec 302004

(reported on)

Jetta LX

  • 6,000 miles

This is the second time that the dealer has replaced the valve body. After first replacement, car started shifting roughly after ~ 1k miles. Dealer said valve body was defective, valves were sticking. New valve body installed. So far runs okay.

- Virginia C., Columbia Station, OH, US

problem #4

Jul 182006

(reported on)

Jetta

  • 71,000 miles

I bought the start of the line 2003 model, and 60,000 miles later the car was shifting hard out of second gear, shaking, and giving me whiplash every time. My warranty had just expired and I did not purchase an extended. So, I took the car to Aamco for a repair and 4 weeks later it is still in the shop! Vw said there was nothing they could do for me because of the warranty, so I am paying for everything out of pocket and had to find the cheapest fix. Sorry to say that I have had this car for 3 years and such "serious" problems have occured. VW will have to preform a miracle for me to buy another.

- Susie R., Chicago, IL, US

problem #3

Jan 032007

(reported on)

Jetta GLS 2.0

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I HAVE A 2003 VW JETTA THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 40K IN FEB 06, IN JUNE 06 I STARTED HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS ROUGH SHIFTING, ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT IF THE LIGHT DID NOT STAY ON THAT THE NEW TRANS SENSORS HAD TO ADJUST TO MY DRIVING, I CONTINUED TO CALL SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME ISSUE, IN DEC 06 WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE PASSING A VEHICLE MY CAR LOST POWER AND JERKED SO HARD IT SCARED ME TO DEATH. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO WAIT 2 WEEKS TO GET THE CAR IN. THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME IT WAD THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THAT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS PART IS THE BRAIN TO THE TRANSMISSION, IT TELLS IT WHEN TO SHIFT. I CALLED AND ASKED IF THIS PART HAD BEEN CHECKED WHEN THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION, AND WAS TOLD NO. MY FIRST ISSUE IS VW PUT A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION IN AND I WAS TOLD NO MATTER HOW MANY MILES YOU HAVE ON THE CAR IF THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT THEY ONLY PUT REMANUFACTURED TRANS IN? MY SECOND ISSUE IS THAT TO ME ONE PART HAS TO HAVE THE OTHER IN ORDER TO PERFORM, SO WHY WOULD THEY BOTH NOT BE CHECKED AND REPLACED? ALSO THE WARRANTY ON THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION IS ONLY GOOD FOR 1 YEAR!!!!!! IN MY REASEARCH I FOUND MANY PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2003 JETTAS, AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES TO BEGIN WITH ALTHOUGH NO RECALL WAS DONE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THE COST OF THE PART IS $623.00, THE LABOR $250.00. ALTHOUGH I LOVE MY JETTA, I AM NOW LOOKING AT HONDAS!!!!!!!

- srhaly, Birmingham, AL, US

problem #2

Dec 272006

(reported on)

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,000 miles

My car has an automatic transmission and shifts roughly. It will sometimes make a hard clunking noise or the whole car will sort of shake. The noise sounds bad. I notice it does it when the engine is cold.

- Kelly Ann K., Houston, TX, US

problem #1

Nov 122004

(reported on)

Jetta LX

  • 1,500 miles

The automatic transmission shifts very roughly. Bought this car new in summer of 2004. This is 3rd service call back to VW, second for this problem. Will see if valve body replacement fixes the problem.

- Virginia C., Columbia Station, OH, US

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