2008 Volkswagen Jetta: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Oct 17, 2016 · Transmission · 10 miles · PA

At a stop, when accelerating, the car may jerk or hesitate. Hard shifting from 2 to 1 can cause the person behind to rear end or the car next to you to hit you when you suddenly stop moving.

Filed Mar 5, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 5,700 miles · GA · crash

While entering a parking lot, parking space, after stopping completely, the car would not move when accelerator was lightly depressed, there was a 1 to 3 second delay, and then the car lunged forward crashing into the opposing parked vehicle, damaging the fronts of both vehicles. This hesitation was noted once before at about 3800 miles while entering a highway from a stop. Again, the hesitation was followed by a sudden lunge. Selling vw dealer said it sounded like a dsg trans problem, bring back fpr evaluation after its repaired. This unexpected surge problem is the direct cause of the accident. There should be a safety recall. Note: while this vw jetta is 7 yrs old, it is not driven often as can be seen by less than 500-800 miles per year.

Filed Jan 1, 2015 · Fuel system · 51,000 miles · PA

Emmisions light on- never received any recall notices for vw 2008 jetta gli/ emmision light on/igniation to start hesitation please tell me all recalls on vw 2008 jetta gli. Can I take my car to my local mechanic for recalls? Thank you

Filed Jul 10, 2013 · Engine · 93,000 miles · MI

The cam follower failed resulting in severe engine hesitation upon acceleration making the car unsafe to operate. The metal the part it is made from is not strong enough. This causes it to wear through and break, which in turn causes severe damage to the camshaft and fuel pump. As a result, all three parts must be replaced at great expense. Volkswagen has chosen to cover this repair on some but not all vehicles with the identical problem. They state that they are choosing which vehicles to cover based on VIN # alone and not all vehicles with the identical problem. The failed part extends beyond their VIN # metric. They have acknowledged the problem and have chosen to cover the repair on some, but not all vehicles affected. This is unfair to those consumers stuck with a bill, while others with the identical problem have it covered.

Filed Aug 17, 2009 · Transmission · 25,000 miles · AZ

I have had my 08 vw jetta wolfsburg with dsg transmission for a little over a year and have driven it 25000 miles. The transmission has never really been perfect but I put the various clunks, hesitations and hard shifts down to the transmission technology rather than a potential failure. However, as time has gone by I have noticed an increased tendency for the car to surge when attempting to slowly reverse. This causes repeated sudden accelerations much greater than anticipated with the small amount in throttle input. Given that I need to negotiate my child's daycare facility parking lot twice a day this situation has become a real safety concern for me. A similar problem occurs when very slowly starting forward from a complete stop. This situation is not quite as serious a concern for me but is at least very annoying. Primarily I am concerned about the ability to safely reverse my vehicle and maintain control of my speed in doing so.

Filed Jul 10, 2009 · Transmission · NY

When the vehicle was purchased new it drove perfectly no hesitation no problems what so ever. Over the past few months while backing out of a parking space I will put the car in reverse press the accelerator and the car will hesitate and then lurch backwards. This is a serious safety issue that occurs 1 out of every 25 times. Since it does not happen all of the time I really have know idea how my vehicle will react while backing. Also more recently occurring is while doing highway speeds and trying to pass a vehicle I will accelerate the vehicle and the transmission will slip into a neutral state. I will have to coast to the shoulder and re-start the vehicle. I have taken the vehicle to the dealer they had verified my complaints and ordered a new valve body (mechtronics unit) and advised me not to drive the car since it could be unsafe. Unfortunately, the part is on back order for 4-6 weeks and the only alternate transportation they could provide free of charge was a compact car. I decided to keep my vehicle until the part comes in hoping I will not have any serious problems. This is a major safety issue and a recall of this part is needed.