Automatic transmission has extreme hesitation when accelerating from slow speed such as merging with traffic. Dealer says this is normal and finds no fault with the power train. When accelerating the car will vitally stall with zero forward movement, then it will finally engage and lunge the car forward very abruptly. Have had three very close calls and this will result in accidents in the future.

- Rhome, TX, USA

The contact rented a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the gear shifter independently shifted from park into reverse while driving. The vehicle then began to reverse uncontrollably and crashed into a small patio but the vehicle did not stop. The contact then jumped from the driver side window and sustained injury. A relative then jumped into the vehicle while still in motion to maintain control of the vehicle. The relative was able to stop the vehicle while on a residential patio. The contact was hospitalized and a police report was filed. The contact did not notify the dealer. The manufacturer was awaiting a response from the contact regarding the crash. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 4,000.

- Loma Linda, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta sportswagen. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph from a complete stop the transmission exhibited a delayed response and began slipping into a higher gear with hesitation. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200. Updated 07/21/11 the consumer stated when taking off from a stop, it felt as thought he vehicle shifted to a higher gear. The consumer had difficulty getting the vehicle to accelerate. The dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. Updated 08/18/11

- Port Hadock, WA, USA

2011 Volkswagen Jetta tdi stalls in traffic. It will start after stall but it will not move in any gear. Auto transmission. The car stalled for the first time at only 175 miles. The car was taken to the dealer and fixed? car stalled the second time in traffic at 230 miles. It's now back at the dealer and they do not know what is wrong with it.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

While driving the car with the dsg transmission in manual shift (tiptronic) mode, the car is supposed to downshift automatically as the car slows down. I have had 2 instances when the car would slow down, the transmission would downshift (as it should) to 4th gear and the instrument cluster multi-function display indicates 4th gear but when I accelerate to get the car moving again, the car feels like it is stuck in neutral, I.e., the engine revs but the momentum does not increase. Solution: I have found that manually pushing the shifter lever down to shift into 3rd gear engages 3rd gear and gets the car going again.

- Lake Jackson, TX, USA

While accelerating normally from a stop sign in sport mode (sport mode for responsiveness, not a drag race), the car jerked while shifting from first to second gear. It was a half second hesitation but noticeably lost power and recovered but noticeable enough for me to report it.

- Charlotte, NC, USA