NHTSA Complaint #10108173 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I TOOK MY 2002 JETTA WAGON 1.8T AUTO/TIPTRONIC (45,000 MI) TO AN INDEPENDENT VW SERVICE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TO CHECK A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAS SEEN A PROBLEM BEFORE INVOLVING PAINT CONTAMINATION IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. BASICALLY, THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN WHERE THE FLUID SITS IS PAINTED, AND THE HEAT OF THE FLUID CAUSES THE PAINT TO FLAKE OFF AND CONTAMINATE THE FLUID. THIS MECHANIC RECOMMENDED TO HAVE THE TRANNY REPLACED AT A VW DEALER. SO, I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED VW DEALER AND THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THE PAINT CONTAMINATION PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED THE TRANNY OIL PAN, A SELONIOD VALVE (N281) AND FLUSHED THE TRANNY FLUID AS RECOMMENDED BY VW OF AMERICA. I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE NEW PAN WAS ALSO PAINTED AND HE COULD NOT ANSWER IF THE PAINT SPEC HAD CHANGED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA TO STATE MY CONCERN AND TO REQUEST A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. 9 MONTHS LATER (64,000 MI) MY CAR DOWN SHIFTS TO 4 GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65MI/HR. THE GEAR IS STUCK IN 4TH GEAR EVEN WHEN I COME TO A STOP. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER WHO HAVE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY VALVE BODY CIRCUIT (N92 VALVE BODY COVER). THE DEALER NOW RECOMMENDS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND SINCE I'M 4,000 MILES BEYOND MY WARRANTY I WILL HAVE THE COVER THE COST. THE DEALER SUGGESTS THAT I SHOULD CALL VW OF AMERICA AND REFERENCE THE CASE FROM THE LAST TIME I CALLED IN APRIL. VWA STATED THEY NEEDED TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE AND THEY WOULD CALL BACK. AFTER HEARING NOTHING FOR TWO DAYS, I CALLED VWA BACK AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD BACK IN APRIL AND THE BEST THEY COULD DO WAS OFFER HALF THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I SHOULD PAY HALF THE COST WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER REMEDIED CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY.*AK