1996 Volkswagen Jetta Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 6%of 31 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1996 Volkswagen Jetta, 6% of the 31 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On sept 2, 2005 and sept. 6, 2005, under two circumstances involving quick acceleration with moderate load (two adults and one kid. About 50 lb load in trunk), the engine kept high revving after the gas paddle had been fully released, thus pulling forward hard unintentionally; it kept so doing for seconds, even after braking was applied for the first few seconds, and pumped. It recovered back to normal responsiveness after hard braking for at least five seconds in the first incident and about three second in the second. …”
NHTSA complaint #10136143, filed 2005-09, 78,000 miles“I have now had to replace the transmission in my one owner automatic Jetta, three times. My last transmission was replaced 35,000 miles ago, and I now need to spend 1,700 dollars to replace it.”
NHTSA complaint #10013846, filed 2003-04Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 25% |
| 2024 | 7 | 15% |
| 2023 | 2 | 5% |
| 2021 | 2 | 3% |
| 2020 | 7 | 13% |
| 2019 | 163 | 30% |
| 2018 | 5 | 16% |
| 2017 | 15 | 9% |
| 2016 | 22 | 14% |
| 2015 | 23 | 12% |
| 2014 | 74 | 19% |
| 2013 | 141 | 27% |
| 2012 | 46 | 9% |
| 2011 | 54 | 9% |
| 2010 | 111 | 13% |
| 2009 | 141 | 16% |
| 2008 | 53 | 28% |
| 2007 | 33 | 16% |
| 2006 | 245 | 42% |
| 2005 | 84 | 34% |
| 2004 | 35 | 15% |
| 2003 | 54 | 12% |
| 2002 | 103 | 15% |
| 2001 | 62 | 9% |
| 2000 | 37 | 8% |
| 1999 | 30 | 9% |
| 1998 | 14 | 7% |
| 1997 | 8 | 15% |
| 1996 | 2 | 6% |
| 1995 | 22 | 10% |
| 1994 | 8 | 7% |
| 1993 | 1 | 6% |
| 1992 | 1 | 3% |
| 1991 | 2 | 6% |
| 1990 | 1 | 5% |
| 1986 | 1 | 7% |
| 1985 | 4 | 31% |
Other parts of the 1996 Volkswagen Jetta
13 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsWheels
2 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Volkswagen Jetta
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology