2011 Volkswagen Jetta: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed May 31, 2019 · OH

I'll turn my car off and wait for the RPM's to go below 1,000 sometimes I'll shift into reverse and my car will kick and then the engine light turns on. I have gone to get the error checked by multiple computers; the same error reads as torch converter circuit malfunction. As I put the car into drive it jumps again sometimes sounding like a spring is doing something weird. When I drive the car the engine revs and does not shift gears. The car moves but is stuck in first gear. I can't go above 59 MPH nor do I want to rev my engine at 4500 rpms. I got my jetta at 66,000 miles and it been doing ever since. My car is currently at 95,000 miles and the problem happens intermittently.

Filed Oct 14, 2015 · Fuel system · 56,500 miles · SC

Car with approximately 56,500 miles. About 50 miles after fueling with diesel fuel from a sunoco station, glow plug light started blinking, check engine light on and car entered a "limp mode". Was attempting to accelerate onto a highway from an on ramp. Would not allow me to go over 25 miles per hour. Brought to nearest vw dealership. Was told the high pressure fuel pump had essentially disintegrated and there are metal shards throughout the entire fuel system, which will need to be replaced. Fuel sample sent to vw for testing. Awaiting to hear from dealer whether or not this will be covered under warranty.

Filed Jan 8, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 69,000 miles · MA

Brought to dealer for a dpf light. Dealer diagnosed with a clogged particulate filter replaced under warranty. Picked up car drove about 5 miles and the glow plug light came on turned around and headed back to dealer car went into limp mode (on i93 rush hour traffic) shut car off in vw parking lot and tech could not get it to start again. Received a call next day with the hpfp failure news and the fragment went through the entire system. Dealer tested fuel and confirmed no gas in the 3/4 of a tank that is in the car currently.

Filed Nov 28, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 54 miles · NV

This car stalls out as it slows down. It does not change to a lower gear in time when decelerating and stalls out. It will not stall out every time I slow down. I never know when it will stall. It's very random and I have stalled out in the middle of intersections and any situation slowing down. I brought this car back to the deal twice and they could not find anything wrong with it. I pleaded with them that the car is dangerous but they sent me packing. I am writing this because I do not want them to resell this car to someone, the car stalls out and they get injured. For four year, I have had to drive this car using either the manual shift, or put it into neutral when slowing down. I am returning the car today. Please don't let them resell this car. Also, sometimes the car will not shift into 6th gear. The driver side window will not stay up. I will roll it up and it will automatically room down like something is obstructing it.

Filed Jul 9, 2013 · Fuel system · 26,000 miles · CA

While driving on the freeway, the glow plug light began to flash and a "service engine now" indicator lit. At this time, the car entered limp mode and power was greatly reduced. I decided to drive straight to the dealer to drop it off. Over the next few minutes the car produced less and less power (a feeling akin to running out of gas, but there was still 1/2 tank of diesel in the car) until it died and would not restart. No other warnings, no other drivability cues, just a dead car on the freeway unable to be started or moved. This could have been extremely dangerous/possibly fatal had I not been lucky enough to force my way to the shoulder before the car completely gave out. So to sum up - one owner (purchased new) diesel jetta; car maintained by dealer at appropriate intervals. Fueled at pretty much the same three stations for much of its life, never had a non-diesel pump anywhere near it; driving perfectly one minute, five minutes later, a dead car. It has been towed to the dealer today, from the symptoms it sounds like the notorious high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) has catastrophically failed.

Filed Mar 13, 2012 · Transmission · 1,700 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 volkswagen jetta tdi. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the transmission did not shift properly. As a result, the vehicle hesitated and decelerated almost to a complete stop. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure and stated that the vehicle was operating under normal conditions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who referred he contact back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 1,700 and the current mileage was 8,700. Updated 04/11/12*lj consumer stated there were 3 incidents of hesitation with the vehicle while driving on roads with speed limits of 55 MPH. Consumer also stated vehicle hesitated almost to a complete stop while slowing down. Consumer took to vw dealer on 12/19/11 and dealer informed consumer transmission shifted normally. On 12/30/12 the dealer updated software .consumer searched online for technical service bulletins and found information about the delay on acceleration on consumers vehicle. Updated 6/7/12

Filed Nov 26, 2011 · Fuel system · 3,500 miles · FL

Reference: the federal safety agency action number: ea11003 - please add us to ongoing investigation our 2011 volkswagen jetta sportwagen tdi only 4 months old with 3500 miles - failed on the highway while trying to accelerate around a dangerous situation. The a blinking glow plug light came on and the car went into limp mode (no power) on the highway at high speeds. (fwiw - a baby + pregnant wife driving). Able to reproduce afterwards - pressing a hard throttle/accelerating would disable the vehicle into limp mode. Report came back the entire fuel system - hpfp needed to be replaced. A brand new vehicle should not have a failure like this from just filling up the tank the previous day. We have kept all receipts, logged miles and had the state dept shut down the station and pull a full lab report on the fuel. Everything check out ok by the state standards.

Filed Sep 22, 2011 · Engine, Fuel system · 27,000 miles · LA

During short drive home, the glow plug light started flashing, the car then went into limp mode. When I got home, 2 miles later, the car died and would not start. I hauled the car to the vw dealer and they said my hpfp failed. Vw is going to fix it under warranty, I produced the last 4 fuel fill ups showing no gas had been put in the car. This was a 2011 jetta tdi, manufacture date unknown, but car was purchased in january.

Filed Apr 11, 2011 · Transmission · 970 miles · TX

While driving the car with the dsg transmission in manual shift (tiptronic) mode, the car is supposed to downshift automatically as the car slows down. I have had 2 instances when the car would slow down, the transmission would downshift (as it should) to 4th gear and the instrument cluster multi-function display indicates 4th gear but when I accelerate to get the car moving again, the car feels like it is stuck in neutral, I.e., the engine revs but the momentum does not increase. Solution: I have found that manually pushing the shifter lever down to shift into 3rd gear engages 3rd gear and gets the car going again.