2005 Volkswagen Jetta

THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IT AS WELL, SO THAT VW WILL EVENTUALLY BE FORCED TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS MALFUNCTION. WHEN I START MY CAR AFTER IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AND HOUR OR MORE, I PLACE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PUT IT EITHER INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, AND IF I AM ON ANY HILL, VERY SMALL OR LARGE, WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, THE CAR WILL ROLL DOWNHILL. THE FIRST FEW TIMES THIS HAPPENED, I ALMOST ROLLED THE CAR OVER A CURB AND DOWN A LARGE EMBANKMENT. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CAR IS TO APPLY THE BRAKE AGAIN, AND THEN RELEASE THE BRAKE AND QUICKLY APPLY THE GAS. WHEN THAT IS DONE, THE CAR VERY ABRUPTLY JUMPS INTO GEAR.

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2005 VW JETTA TDI (1.9 LITER DIESEL ENGINE) IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THIS VEHICLE HAD A HEATING ELEMENT THAT WAS BAD AND EVENTUALLY FIXED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY IN NOVEMBER OF 2004. SINCE APPROX. DECEMBER OF 2004 WE HAVE EXPERIENCED INCREASED PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH DISENGAGING FROM THE FLYWHEEL WHILE SHIFTING UP OR DOWN AND WHILE PASSING CARS. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THE CAR (SINCE 2001) HAS A DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BY VW THAT IS AT ROOT OF PROBLEM. THE TWO LAYERED FLYWHEEL IS BECOMING OVER HEATED AND WARPING THE CLUTCH DISC ABNORMALLY IN CERTAIN SPOTS. SOME MECHANICS AND ENGINEERS HAVE SPECUALATED IMPROPER DESIGN, AND OTHERS SAID TRANSMISSION BOLTS AROUND FLYWHEEL WERE PROBABLY OVERTIGHTENED AT MANUFACTURER. EITHER WAY, OUR CLUTCH IS DISENGAGING BY ITSELF FROM THE FLYWHEEL AFTER WE DRIVE CAR FOR 60 OR 70 MILES AT ONE TIME (AND CAR IS HEATED UP). THE CLUTCH DISENGAGES AFTER SHIFING UP OR DOWN AND SOMETIMES WHILE PASSING, CAUSING PROBLEMS NEGOTIATING SPEEDS. THIS MEANS LACK OF CONTROL FROM THE DRIVER WHICH EQUALS SAFETY HAZARD FOR MOST. OUR CAR STARTED THIS AT 11,500 MILES, BUT DEALER IS REFUSING WARRANTY WORK BECAUSE HIS SERVICE ADVISOR FAILED TO NOTE THE PROBLEM WE REQUESTED TO HAVE CHECKED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER IS ALSO DENYING IT IS A CLUTCH/FLYWHEEL PROBLEM SINCE HE CAN NOT DUPLICATE IT IN FIFTEEN MINUTES, BUT HAS REFUSED TO LOOK ANY FURTHER. MOST RESEARCH I HAVE DONE SHOWS THOUSANDS OF VW JETTA CUSTOMERS WITH SAME PROBLEM BETWEEN 11K AND 20K MILEAGE (FROM 2001 TO 2005 MODELS).

IN THE MORNINGS THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, YOU HAVE TO LET OFF ON THE BRAKE AND REVERSE THE ENGINE A BIT, THEN THE CAR JUMPS INTO REVERSE, SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTLY LURCHES BACKWARD. DEALERS RESPONSE: BACK YOUR CAR INTO YOUR GARAGE OR PARKING SPACE AT NIGHT SO YOU DON'T NEED TO USE REVERSE IN THE MORNING. *AK

THIS PROBABLY IS THE SAME AS THE EXISTING COMPLAINT NUMBER 10079735 FOR VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 04. 1. IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN IT IS COLD. IF IT IS COLD, THE PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE. 2. WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKE, WE MOVE THE SHIFT FROM PARK TO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE (IT'S THE SAME). THEN NORMALLY, TORQUE IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH DRIVESHAFT THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, JETTA DOES NOT FUNCTION AS SUCH. 3. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY CAN ENGAGES WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE ALMOST COMPLETELY. UP TO THE POSITION, IT IS THE SAME AS NEUTRAL. THAT INTRODUCES SUDDEN AND ABRUPT START OF THE CAR.*AK