2002 Volkswagen Jetta: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 26, 2018 · Electrical, Transmission · 230,000 miles · TN

While the vehicle is in motion, it "jerks" or makes a shaking movement. While the vehicle is in motion, the "door ajar" light stays on although all doors have been opened and closed. While stationary, the vehicle brake light is not working. While stationary and in motion, the vehicle's check engine light stays on. The rear middle passenger seatbelt is not useable. The driver's door remains unlocked after pressing the "lock doors" button.

Filed Jul 18, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 120,000 miles · FL

The car takes 15 minutes to heat up to 190, otherwise the car won't drive forward in proper gear without jerking. It drives like it is a stick shift instead of an automatic changing gear on it's own. The car stops without me pressing the brakes and sometimes just turns off unexpectedly. It smells like gasoline in the car. The cd player, clock and vehicle electrical malfunctions on and off. The engine light stays on. Autonation performed a multi point inspection and says the car needs a timing belt, coolant flange and after run pump, and rollers.

Filed Jul 11, 2012 · Transmission · 140,000 miles · GA

After starting the car and letting it warm up. I drove out of my driveway to the stop sign. Made a right turn and then a quick left. After turning the car could not go into gear,the rpms kept racing up. But the gear would not engage. Pulled into a store parking lot and drove around in circles at this low speed. Until finally the car jumped into gear and I took off. Car was diagnosed as having a bad mother board to the cars computer. It drove fine for a few days then at a stop light it jumped off again. (car was warm because I had driven a distance). Today I had the transmission flushed and changed. No improvement again. Usually the car will drive straight after it's real warm. But if I make a sharp turn the car jerks and revs up the rpms just as if it was cold. The vw folks kept misdiagnosing and giving me the wrong parts (these must be the same people that made the transmission. They've been a nightmare for assistance very unknowledgeable. I have been buying volkswagens since 1974. I have never had such a crappy piece of a car(also my first time owning a car with a automatic transmission and my last). It drives beautifully (when it's working) but has all plastic crap for parts.(while still under warranty I had most of that replaced). But to find that the transmission is faulty I demand a recall on this 2002 vw jetta 1.8t. I promise I'll never buy another vw or will I let any one I know or contact through social media purchase a vw. I can actually say we have been ripped off by vw with their low standards for a car. These cars used to last forever what a way to rip off the public form for money! Just like toyota had a recall volkswagen you need to recall this unrepairable car no and save your advertisement fees, because bad news travel faster..

Filed Dec 4, 2011 · Transmission · 139,110 miles · GA

My 2002 vw jetta glx (automatic) has severe transmission problems. When accelerating, it hesitates and then pops into gear jerking the car. This is very alarming and dangerous, especially when I am on the road with other vehicles around me. I almost had several accidents due to trying to pull out in traffic but the transmission is so unreliable and slips thereby causing me to stall in oncoming traffic. Then, today the car would not go into reverse or neutral at all. I've seen so many transmission complaints about this year's model and it is so unfair for the consumer to be responsible for this expensive repair.

Filed Nov 19, 2011 · Acceleration, Transmission · 130,000 miles · CA

While driving the car at 35mph the tachometer will increase and decease at 2000rpm's and car will slightly increase and then decrease in speed. There is a jerking between 3rd and 4th gear. Also there is a slight delay of movement from park to reverse. Both are safety hazards while on streets with traffic.

Filed Oct 7, 2011 · Transmission · 105,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle began to decelerate and jerk forward. The check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostics. The technician stated that there could have been a computer or transmission failure. The technician then advised that the transmission would have to be taken apart to locate the source of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

Filed Sep 23, 2011 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that the transmission would jerk as soon as the vehicle was started. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred four times and he had to replace the transmission once prior to the most recent failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offered any assistance since the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 120,000.

Filed Jan 5, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · 110,000 miles · CA

First issue, the engine is burning oil. I've noticed that my car engine started burning oil when it had about 50,000 miles on it. It took me almost two years to prove to the vw dealership mechanics that the engine is burning oil. At 73,000 miles the vw dealership mechanics rebuilt the engine. My oil consumption normalized. Now, at around 115,000 miles, I've noticed that the engine started burning oil again. 1,800 miles after an oil change, jiffy lube mechanic had to add 2.5qt of oil. Shouldn't the engine last at least 100,000 miles after rebuild? It seems that this engine only lasts 45,000 miles. This feels like a major defect and vw has to recall the engine. Second issue, my car is only 8 years old but it's on its third transmission. I had to replace transmission at 32,000 miles and again at 73,000 miles. I'm at 115,000 and I'm getting very worried because I'm starting to feel little jerks. This looks to be a 40,000 miles transmission. How can vw do this to consumers? It would seem reasonable to me if this transmission gets recalled. I'm not even mentioning many other malfunctions. One of which includes getting flooded during rainy season. I can't believe my car, 2002 vw jetta 2.0l gls was allowed to be on the market.

Filed Dec 29, 2010 · Transmission · 140,000 miles · NC

According to carfax report, maintenance has been regular. I maintained car appropriately. All of sudden major sporadic shifting issues began occurring around 140,000k with 3rd gear causing the car to jerk and lose power each time it attempts 3rd gear. This has occurred with me at numerous stop lights in city causing traffic behind me to slam on brakes to avoid a collision.

Filed Nov 21, 2010 · Engine · CA

Was driving while it was raining when all of a sudden my car started jerking and wouldn't let me go faster than 15mph. The asr and check engine lights went on. I was lucky enough to be driving at 6am with no one on the streets. I have had problems with this happenings in the past but I read online you just turn off the car and restart it. I tried it this morning and the lights were still on. This was at 6 am it is now 9:49 pm and still no luck. I also heard it might be due to engine coils but I had mine replaced less than a month ago.

Filed Dec 12, 2009 · Engine, Transmission · 69,000 miles · MD

Our volkswagen jetta developed transmission issues just after the warranty period ran out. The transmission jerks at low speeds, when you hit the accelerator. Mechanics have said there is no saying when this will conk out. The water pump also conked out recently. Replacing the tranny is about $6000. Replacing the water pump cost us around $900. I hear dealerships charge a lot more for this service. The volkswagen jetta is too expensive a car, for it to have such poor quality. Hope someone can help make them pay for ripping customers off in this way. This outrageous.

Filed Sep 5, 2009 · Transmission · 86,004 miles · NY

2000 to 2002 volkswagen tiptronic owners not provided correct information regarding the transmission servicing scheduling. Volkswagen states that the transmission is a "sealed" unit and therefore service is not need unless leaks are visible. Knowing this, I did not try to do transmission service on my car when it reached about 86,000 miles. - gears slip from 1st to 2nd at cold starts and jerks at 3rd gear. I have to warm the vehicle in 10 minutes to go back to normal operating mode. - today I was taking my wife and my 1-year old daughter to lake george ny from queens ny for a holiday weekend. The car suddenly slipped from 5th to 4th gear while we are driving 65 MPH. However, I did not find the problem until I noticed that our speed almost feels the same eventhough I depress the pedal a little lower. I placed it on manual mode and the car shifted fine. We pulled over at the rest area and found out that there is a transmission fluid leak. We could have had an accident if the gear would have slipped to 2nd; almost like slamming the breaks while doing 65 MPH. - tomorrow, I will have vw repair shop diagnose the problem. Most likely is the transmission control unit or the transmission solenoids. - similar issues in dsg transmission was reported at "good morning america" on august 28 2009. - please see similar tiptronic owner's complaints on this forum: vwvortex.com. This is a public web forum and no personal information is provided.