NHTSA Complaint #10132181 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

WHEN STARTING ENGINE THEN GOING FROM PARK AND SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THERE IS A LONG DELAY TO ENGAGE THE GEAR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IF THE VEHICLE IS ON ANY INCLINE, AS IT WILL ROLL AS IF IN NEUTRAL BEFORE ENGAGING THE DESIRED GEAR, ALMOST LIKE USING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER YOU HAVE NO CONTROL SINCE YOU TOOK YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ONTO THE ACCELERATOR TO PROCEED AND THEN IT STARTS ROLLING. THIS IS NOT SAFE, NOR ACCEPTABLE! WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER (FLADEBOE, IRVINE, CA) THEY VERBALLY SAID IT'S MADE THAT WAY - IT'S NORMAL. THEN TODAY AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER STATES THAT THE " VEHICLE OPERATES TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS". ARE THE QUOTED "SPECIFICATIONS" CONSISTENT WITH U.S. SAFETY STANDARDS OR FLAWED? OUR VEHICLE IS UNDER THE NEW CAR WARRANTY AND WE HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I OWN A VW 2001 PASSAT AND IT DOES NOT HAVE THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - THIS APPEARS TO BE A JETTA TRANSMISSION DEFECT AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AT MANUFACTURER'S SOLE COST. WE FEAR THAT WE WILL HIT OTHER VEHICLES, PROPERTY OR PEOPLE - UNFORTUNATELY WE FEEL IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME WITH THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. *NM