2002 Volkswagen Jetta: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Nov 7, 2011 · Transmission · 119,000 miles · FL

Automatic transmission when cold will hesitate or not catch at all when putting into drive. Putting the car into 1st, then moving it to drive will usually work. Shudders when coming to stop after heating up at times. Mechanic says it needs a transmission rebuild at $3000. Failure of transmission control module and cascading to the master control module caused the transmission not to leave the park position, that tow and repair was $300 about 30 days ago. There are hundreds of complaints on the internet about this transmission failing repeatedly, a faulty design. We need a recall from volkswagen to fix this design failure.

Filed Sep 27, 2007 · Seats · 98,250 miles · VT

While driving home from work, I heard a very large "crack" sound and felt my seat shudder. The sound and impact made me think that something had struck the car under my seat. However, when I returned home, I discovered that a spring attached to my seat had dislodge. Further inspection revealed that one of the places where the spring connected had broken off - apparently metal fatigue. This struck me odd because while cleaning my car earlier in the summer, I had noticed that a spring was loose under the passenger side front seat and also found the nub of where it attached. I have kept both pieces and the springs. I think there is a structural defect with the part. I am not a very heavy person - 180 lbs - so I doubt I put that much stress on the seat. I think this is a potentially dangerous issue and that is why I am reporting it. When the system failed I swerved while driving on the highway as the sound was incredibly unnerving. I also now wonder about the seats structural integrity if it were involved in a collision.

Filed Feb 3, 2003 · Electrical · 14,300 miles · MD

I own a vw jetta 1.8t. It has just over 14,000 miles on it. When I was driving on the freeway to work, the car started shuddering violently and then the malfunction indicator lamp came on. I was amost run down by a truck behind me, as the car began to lose power quickly. Vw refused to reveal any information and the dealer took three days to attend to the car and refused to provide a loaner car. This would have been ok in other circumstances, except that the problem was due to a faulty ignition coil and I felt extremely cheated to find out that vw and their dealers were aware of these problems in 1.8t models all along, but have refused to recall these cars or provide any assistance to their consumers. Vw will not replace all the ignition coils, just the ones that failed. Now I am very worried that I will be run over the next time another ignition coil happens to fail while I am driving down the highway. Shouldnt vw be made responsible for their faults and more importantly for trying to decieve their customers?

Filed Jan 28, 2003 · Engine · 29,000 miles · MD

I have experienced 3 separate incidents in the last 4 months where an engine coilpack in my 2002 vw jetta 1.8l turbo failed while I was driving the car. In each case, I have experienced a sudden, dramatic loss of power and the car begins to shudder. The last time this happened (1/25/2003), I was driving in traffic at ~45 MPH and was nearly hit by another car due to my sudden engine trouble. Vw continues to replace the coilpacks but acknowledges that they are prone to failing suddenly and without warning. The last time one failed, it was replaced with the newly designed coilpack which wasn't supposed to be failure-prone. I asked that each of the individual coilpacks (4 total) be replaced due to the fact that the older ones were susceptible to failure but was told that vw would only replace them as they failed. This time, the newly designed coilpack failed, as well as one of the other, older ones. I am awaiting 2 replacement coilpacks; however, they are the same design as the 2 which just failed. Frankly, I am afraid to drive my car at highway speeds, as there is absolutely no guarantee that the same problem won't happen again without warning.

Filed Dec 9, 2002 · Electrical · OH

I started vehicle, proceeded to drive, but vehicle shuddered and lost power. Also there was a slight foul smell. Malfunction indicator light came on. Was told car unsafe to drive by dealership, as ignition coils failed. They said only two damaged at this time and will not replace other two unless problem occurs again. There are other reported incidents on similar vehicles. I am afraid to drive vehicle if this causes the vehicle to be unsafe why are they not replacing all 4. This could also cause me to be stranded somewhere as I drive long distances on occasion. Dt