NHTSA Complaint #10946203 — 2015 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

THE PROBLEM IS THE CLUTCH FAILURE IN THE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION.. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE CLUTCH HAS FAILED, PREVENTING THE CAR GOING INTO GEAR. IT LEFT US STRANDED. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SLIGHT BURNING ODOR. WE FEEL THIS LEAVES US IN DANGER AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WE HESITATE TO DRIVE IT ON ANY LONG TRIP. VW WARRANTS THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. THE WARRANTY STATES THAT CLUTCH REPLACEMENT DUE TO WEAR IS EXCLUDED FROM THE WARRANTY. HOWEVER, I EXPLAINED TO ALL THAT WE HAVE HAD 6 AUTOS WITH STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 60 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH FAIL ON US. THE CLUTCH IS A VERY TOUGH COMPONENT OF ANY CAR. VW HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE US FOR THIS LAST FAILURE AFTER MANY REQUESTS. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE CLUTCH FAILURE MUST BE DUE TO SOME MECHANICAL FACTOR BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING. WE RECEIVED PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST FAILURE, BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I ASKED FOR AND HAVE RETAINED THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS IN CASE THEY ARE NEEDED.