10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,761 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2019 Volkswagen Jetta drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2019 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments (Page 2 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #132

Jun 202020

Jetta

  • 2,000 miles

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

Transmission is making this awful grinding noise and when it makes the noise the vehicle has little power to accelerate. The dealership said this was normal. Ive never had a car make such an awful noise from the transmission causing it to lose power. This has been happening since 2000 miles it never did that prior to the 2K mile mark. The car has 6800 miles on it and it does this everytime I drive now.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #131

Nov 292020

Jetta

  • 8,000 miles
Vehicle makes an infrequent and intermittent growl at about 25 mph under mild acceleration.

- Arcadia, CA, USA

problem #130

Nov 272020

Jetta

  • 13,000 miles
Has had a grinding sound in transmission between 35-45 mph. When this sound is heard the vehicle looses power and is very reluctant to downshift, since day one. It can be heard in any driving mode but is worse in "normal" and almost not drivable in "eco". many have submitted this issue, and have receive the same response from the dealership, "it's normal" but it is anything but normal for a car to behave this way.

- Lees Summit, MO, USA

problem #129

Nov 272020

Jetta

  • 13,000 miles

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

Has had a grinding sound in transmission between 35-45 mph. When this sound is heard the vehicle looses power and is very reluctant to downshift, since day one. It can be heard in any driving mode but is worse in "normal" and almost not drivable in "eco". many have submitted this issue, and have receive the same response from the dealership, "it's normal" but it is anything but normal for a car to behave this way.

- Lees Summit, MO, USA

problem #128

Nov 112020

Jetta

  • 40,760 miles
I was getting ready to pull out of taco bell (just left drive thru window and pulling up to cross the street) when the error message "only exit vehicle in P position" & "service vehicle soon" popped up and has the orange triangle(with exclamation mark in it) lit

- Sapulpa, OK, USA

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problem #127

Apr 302020

Jetta

  • 20,000 miles
Grinding / scraping noise shifting from around 3rd to 4th gear when traveling at low speeds.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #126

Apr 152020

Jetta

  • 10,000 miles

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

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.)

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #125

Sep 112020

Jetta

  • 6,000 miles
2 second delay for transmission to downshift when passing cars. Dangerous when passing cars on 2 lane highway due to lack of power..

- Arora, CO, USA

problem #124

May 192020

Jetta

  • miles
Recently purchased a 2019 VW Jetta and having the same issues that many of the other owners are experiencing. Under low acceleration it stalls and makes a grinding, whirring sound below 20-30 mph. It makes me timid to drive it because it has almost caused people to rear end me due to the stall. It falls on its face when you need it to move. I'm concerned as the noise has gotten louder the last few months. I have not taken it to the dealership yet, but now upon reading all of the concerns, it seems to be a waste of time to take it to the dealer.

- Athens, TX, USA

problem #123

May 012020

Jetta

  • 1,500 miles
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.

- Saginaw, TX, USA

problem #122

Mar 042020

Jetta

  • miles

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

Firstly, there is some grinding noise that comes from the powertrain/ engine when the car speed increases from 24-35mph. This noise is very scary as if some metal pieces are being scraped together. When I contacted the dealer, he informed me that this normal which definitely isn't. secondly, the front passenger door rattles when listen to bass heavy music. When reported to the dealer the dealer informed me that is the way how the car door was being built. But this isn't some reason that they would give for a person buying a brand new car. Both the issues where happening since the first week after I purchased my car.

- Columbia, MD, USA

problem #121

Apr 132019

Jetta

  • 60 miles
The transmission has always ground going into reverse. The dealership told me it was normal for the Jetta's. while driving, I will put it into 1st gear and start moving, and then it will either get "stuck" into first or second gear, I can take it out of gear but cannot engage another gear. When this happens, you can smell the clutch burning. Took it into the dealership and they assured me my transmission and clutch were fine. Doesn't happen all the time, only about once a month and it happens in varying weather conditions. No two times were the conditions the same. I have not changed my driving, I am not hard on my vehicles. My 2014 fiesta St had the stock transmission and clutch until I sold it in 2019, never slipped or ground into gears, along with my 6 other manual transmission vehicles I've owned. I feel like Volkswagen just doesn't want to fix their terrible transmissions and clutches and tries to blame it on user error.

- New Albany, IN, USA

problem #120

Aug 062020

Jetta

  • 12,500 miles
The clutch is wearing out in 6,000 miles. The original clutch was replaced around 6,000 miles. The second clutch is now in need of replacement after another 6,000 miles.

- West Middlesex, PA, USA

problem #119

Jul 302020

Jetta

  • 15,960 miles
2019 Jetta S. began stalling after 6 months of ownership. Car was purchased brand new with 62 miles. Brought vehicle to dealer 09/27/2019 and they stated it was fine no issues could be found. On 05/18/2020 the car stalled again it had 15452 miles on it. It was towed to the dealer where they kept the car until 07/25/2020 to fix the problem. They stated it was fixed. On 07/30/2020 the vehicle stalled again, and this time the brakes failed and the steering wheel locked and I lost control and crashed into a center median with large boulders in it. If they were not there I would have continued into oncoming traffic. I was traveling at 45 mph when the impact occurred. The vehicle safety systems did not deploy because the cars engine was not running at the time of impact.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #118

Jul 302020

Jetta

  • 23,000 miles
Twice now on city streets accelerating from stops to either go straight or turn left the car has kind of stalled or lost power causing potential crashes with oncoming and rear vehicles.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #117

Feb 142020

Jetta

  • 150 miles
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.

- Red Lion, PA, USA

problem #116

Jan 202020

Jetta

  • 100 miles
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.

- Huber Heights, OH, USA

problem #115

Feb 212020

Jetta 4-cyl

  • 7,000 miles
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.

- Pell City, AL, USA

problem #114

Jun 212020

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 3,000 miles
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.

- Bettendorf, IA, USA

problem #113

Jun 122020

Jetta 4-cyl

  • 7,200 miles
I currently drive a 2019 VW Jetta gli 6mt. Much like other concerns reported, my vehicle has engine cutting, massive engine power loss during the summer resulting in the vehicle almost stalling, and rough idle. I completed the mandatory recall back in December per VW's recommendation that was supposed to fix exactly the concerns I have. They do not. Volkswagen admits that my vehicle has what is referred to as engine timing retardation. They have been unable to replicate the vehicle's power loss, but says that running anything less than premium in the car can cause this (even though they advertise the vehicle as being eligible for regular fuel). Volkswagen has openly admitted that they are happy to sell a vehicle with engine timing issues, borderline stalling, heat soak issues, and false advertising pertaining to the fuel the car takes. In Volkswagen's own words, 'the vehicle is operating to spec.' I will be demanding a buyback.

- Litchfield Park, AZ, USA

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