2003 Volkswagen Jetta: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Oct 12, 2011 · Electrical, Transmission · 170,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen jetta wagon. The contact stated that the speedometer failed to provide an accurate speed traveled. The contact also stated that when the cruise control switch was activated, it would cause the vehicle to surge forward abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they confirmed that the sensor in the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 170,000 and the current mileage was 211,000. Updated 12/14/11 the consumer stated the transmission was exhibiting an intermittent hesitation. Updated 12/20/11.

Filed Jan 12, 2011 · Brakes · 110,000 miles · CA · crash · 2 injuries

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen jetta. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact noticed that the vehicle was hesitating. While attempting to pull over and applying pressure to the brakes, the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle hit a boulder and flipped over. The contact sustained several bruises. A passenger sustained a fractured wrist and ankle, seat belt rash, and bruising. The vehicle was destroyed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified. The current and failure mileages were approximately 110,000. A police report was filed.

Filed Dec 17, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · 39,046 miles · WA

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen jetta. On two separate occasions, while driving approximately 30 MPH with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. The contact drove home and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that the coil inside the cylinder failed and had to be replaced for the second time in one month. The current mileage was 39,890 and failure mileage was 39,046. Updated 03/14/08. *lj the coil pack was replaced

Filed Aug 3, 2006 · Electrical · 67,500 miles · NY

A week before this incident speedometer quit. Non vw repair shop replaced speed sensor, this did not fix speedometer problem so they sent me to ny vw dealer who replaced crank sensor. Could not even drive car out of their lot after the repair as car was stalling and hesitating. They then said I needed to replace needle lift sensor. I begged them at that point to look for a wiring problem or electrical system problem because I couldn't believe that 3 sensors could all go at once without a system cause. I was told to "trust them" and that they had checked with vw and vw said that was all they could do. "the diagnostic computer said that is all that is wrong" . After week in repair shop vw dealer told me car was "all fixed". 3 days and 300 miles later on I-83 south of harrisburg car began jerking and lurching out of control, then stalled. I was near exit 32 and was able to get off safely, fortunately. Had to be towed to vw dealer. Now vw dealer in pa tells me car had "coolant migration" which was source of all problems, they think dealer in ny should have caught it. Vw is backing ny dealer that they fixed car correctly despite other dealers comment and my near miss with being crashed into by other drivers on I-83. I fail to see how coolant migration happened in 3 days and 300 miles. Pa vw dealer says ny dealer should not have missed the coolant migration, and should not have replaced the expensive sensors before repairing the coolant migration problem. I certainly agree since I traveled less than 300 miles and I was just lucky that I was so close to an exit and was able to keep restarting the car and coast off I-83. Had I been further away from an exit or in heavier traffic I could easily have been run into by another driver as the car lurched and jerked and stalled. I also fail to understand why vw is not responsible. Obviously this problem started while the car was still in warranty -pa dealer said engine was "very corroded" and the wiring was "full of coolant".

Filed Aug 23, 2004 · Transmission · 17,000 miles · ME

The transmission in my 2003 vw jetta has not worked right since the 1st week after I bought the car. It shifts inappropriatley and hesitates when pulling into on oncoming traffic. I have been nearly hit by cars and trucks on several occasions. When going up a hill the car seems to downshift or skip a gear, this is an automatic transmission. Going 75 miles an hour recently the car seemed to down shift and I thought the car was going to spin around in the road. I was on the trans canada highway. Very scary. When using the cruise control the car accelerates extremley fast. The car has been for transmission repair 6 or more times. Volkswagon is aware.

Filed Apr 1, 2004 · Transmission · AL

When pressing on the accelerator pedal vehicle hesitated. Consumer contacted dealership. However, dealership was unable to resolve the problem. *ak consumer's wife spoke to someone at volkswagen of america and said it was an inherent problem of the vehicle. Also, dealer said that they can't fix the problem because the transmission is computerized and communicates with the engine.

Filed Dec 24, 2003 · Electrical, Tires · 8,067 miles · DE

Vehicle experienced hesitation, keyless key battery does not work, epc light illuminated due to lost of power, jack fell while car was on it, and problems shifting the car out of park.*mr when the epc light illuminated for the second time, the dealer replaced the engine control module. The vehicle experienced two flat due to the tires being overinflated.

Filed Dec 2, 2003 · Transmission · 8,067 miles · DE

On december 14th of 2002 I purchased a 2003 vw jetta from smith vw on kirkwood highway delaware. Although they handled all my transactions and vehicle delivery poorly, I chose to overlook in thinking I will not be dealing with them again. *ak since then, I have had the following problems with my car: in two separate incidents I had a flat tire. In one case the jack fell over while the car was on it due to high wind. These incidents took place in the winter when we had heavy snow. Later I discovered that my tires were overinflated. I did not touch them since I bought my car and have been for an oil change a month prior at vw. I stopped going to smith vw and started using garnet vw after this. On the night of august 6th at 9:30pm I got into my car and I could not switch out of park. This was a scary situation because some frick was standing at my window asking me for money. He finally left, but I was stranded waiting for a tow truck. Roadside will tow your car, but they do not drive you home. In mid august my keyless key battery did not work. I was in va at the time. On august 25th during rush hour my epc light came on resulting in sudden loss in vehicle power. Luckily I was in an area that I could pull over. Vw found nothing wrong with the car. On september 8th during rush hour again my epc light came on resulting in sudden loss in power. This time vw replaced the engine control module. At this time I also filed a formal complaint to vw corporation and also spoke to gm at garnet vw. On november 22nd I took my car in because of hesitation while increasing speed from 20 MPH to 40 MPH. A vw technician took a ride with me and agreed of the problem. I am schedule for service in december. This is delayed mainly due to my work schedule, but I have been experiencing this problem since my last visit. I will be sending you a follow up note with more information later this week.