Car jerks when coasting

[1danec]

Brand new passat wagon glx 4motion that when coasting to a stop feels like the engine engages and bolts forward. is this a transmission problem or normal for passats? occasionally feels like getting bumped from behind....

[xjoeharperx]

Has the dealer checked this out??

[MrHans]

Originally Posted by 1danec

Brand new passat wagon glx 4motion that when coasting to a stop feels like the engine engages and bolts forward. is this a transmission problem or normal for passats? occasionally feels like getting bumped from behind....

cold weather? hot weather? was it warmed up? after hours in heavy traffic? is it a stick? tiptronic? did it feel like it was downshifting when the "event" happened? should be smooth, go right to your dealer and get a loaner same make and model and see if it goes on in same type vehicle and situation.

[mbz72]

Hello,

the same thing happens with my Brand new passat wagon glx 4motion Triptronic V6. It does not matter if it is cold/warm long drive short drive etc.

I have checked with the dealer and they say its OK, but I do not think so. I will have this checked out by another dealer soon, if no change occurs.

ck

[MrHans]

Originally Posted by mbz72

Hello,

the same thing happens with my Brand new passat wagon glx 4motion Triptronic V6. It does not matter if it is cold/warm long drive short drive etc.

I have checked with the dealer and they say its OK, but I do not think so. I will have this checked out by another dealer soon, if no change occurs.

ck

hmmm, if this is a reproduceable ailment, take your salesman or mechanic for a ride to show them the problem in person. If they dont give you the answer you're loooking for after that, contact higher ups via the VW Contact list. (scroll down for customer care.)

[1danec]

Originally Posted by xjoeharperx

Has the dealer checked this out??

v6 tiptronic, happens whether warmed up or not.
have not yet been to dealer but plan to go.
sounds like someone else has same problem and the dealer said it was normal.
this happens intermittently and i can't figure out what provokes it- it feels like "popping the clutch"- just a jolt forward. happens usually when coasting to a stop at around 5-15 mph, but sometimes happens when braking, also in that same speed window.
thanks for all the responses.

[BVCSR]

I am having the same problem! I have a 2004 GLX V6 with Tiptronic (whatever the hell that is). It feels exactly as if someone has hit you gently from the rear. The first time it happened I thought my brakes slipped and the car wasn't going to stop.

Took it to the dealer yesterday and was told Volkswagen is aware of the problem. It is a transmission software problem that is making the car downshift improperly. Here's the really bad news: They don't have a fix for it at this point in time. Nice, huh?!

Personally I'm speaking to a lawyer.

Good luck.

[Dan Dumont]

I have a 2004 Passat V6, 4 motion and I'm having the same problem. I have had the car to the dealer 2 times. All they say is that there is no fix for the problem at this time. They say its a software problem, that causes the transmission to search for a gear, causing the transmission to go into neutral and then slam into a gear. When slowing down, (as for a red light or to turn a corner) and then step on the gas again you get a serious jolt. The dealer says VW is working on this problem, but they also told us this problem has existed for about 3 years? My concern is the transmission will be damaged by this, and it is unacceptable for a car of this class to perform this way. I'm going to call the BBB listed in the owner manual to see if they can help me . If not I will be using the "Lemon Law" to make the dealer take the car back. Has any one gone through this process yet? If so how did it go? I have 2000 miles on the car and bought it Dec. 23, 03.

[mira8964]

I have a 2004 Passat GLX with triptronic transmission. There is no pattern to the "bump" into 1st gear. Sometimes quite hard. Dealer says it will go away at about 8,000 miles and it is normal. This really spoils and otherwise very nice automibile. My first and probably last VW if they do not offer a fix soon.

[mira8964]

Originally Posted by 1danec

v6 tiptronic, happens whether warmed up or not.
have not yet been to dealer but plan to go.
sounds like someone else has same problem and the dealer said it was normal.
this happens intermittently and i can't figure out what provokes it- it feels like "popping the clutch"- just a jolt forward. happens usually when coasting to a stop at around 5-15 mph, but sometimes happens when braking, also in that same speed window.
thanks for all the responses.

My 2004 Passat GLX acts the same way. My wife and I both tried to fiqure out what provokes the bump. We now conclude after 4,000 miles that there is no pattern. My question is how can the manufacturer release a car with this defect to the marketplace? I miss my old Accura TL.

[mapbabe]

I too have the same car with the same problem. I find that it does it more often when the transmission fluid has heated up, say after driving 10 miles and when the weather is warmer. I went to VW to test drive my car with the repair manager and of course it wouldn't do it as it's an intermittent problem. I also found 4 other cars with this problem on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration web page. One person said that they replaced the transmission control module and it fixed it and another said they replaced that and the accelerator pedal computer chip and it made the problem worse. This is my second new Passat in a year as my first was a lemon. It took 5 months of fighting with VW to get a new one and now this one has this problem, which is different than all the previous problems. No more VW's for me.

[mira8964]

Originally Posted by mapbabe

I too have the same car with the same problem. I find that it does it more often when the transmission fluid has heated up, say after driving 10 miles and when the weather is warmer. I went to VW to test drive my car with the repair manager and of course it wouldn't do it as it's an intermittent problem. I also found 4 other cars with this problem on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration web page. One person said that they replaced the transmission control module and it fixed it and another said they replaced that and the accelerator pedal computer chip and it made the problem worse. This is my second new Passat in a year as my first was a lemon. It took 5 months of fighting with VW to get a new one and now this one has this problem, which is different than all the previous problems. No more VW's for me.

mapbabe - I feel very strongly that I was missled by VW and the Dealership with my 2004 Passat GLX purchase. I have e-mailed VW and written VW. I would love a fix, but it does not sound hopefull. I'm going do what it takes force VW into a re-purchase under our state laws. By the way, I think the shifting is better with cold t-fluid as you dessribed. My dealer says 8,500 miles and the problem will go away. Take care.

[mapbabe]

Check out this web page... there are plenty more of us out there.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothrea...&cmd=addnotify

There are more folks talking about this on the same site under "Mystery Transmission Clunk"

Frankly it sounds like a case for a class action law suit. Something has to be done. Any thoughts?

[mira8964]

Originally Posted by mapbabe

Check out this web page... there are plenty more of us out there.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothrea...&cmd=addnotify

There are more folks talking about this on the same site under "Mystery Transmission Clunk"

Frankly it sounds like a case for a class action law suit. Something has to be done. Any thoughts?

I checked out the web page. Seems like the most folks think its the 4-motion causing the problem. Its not. My 2004 GLX is not all wheel drive but is experiencing the same "bumping" problem when braking to a stop.

Check out www.petitiononline.com/acura/petition.html as an idea to push VW into solving the problem. Maybe someone out there has the knowledge to set up a similar petition for VW Transmission problems.
My 2001 Acura TL Trany blew @ 28,000 miles. Thats why we bought the 2004 Passat.

I contacted VW of America Yesterday. I placed my complaint and asked for a second opinion from another dealer. (My first dealer says the bumping/lurching is normal and should go away). I am meeting with the 2nd dealer service manager today.

[mira8964]

Originally Posted by mira8964

I checked out the web page. Seems like the most folks think its the 4-motion causing the problem. Its not. My 2004 GLX is not all wheel drive but is experiencing the same "bumping" problem when braking to a stop.

Check out www.petitiononline.com/acura/petition.html as an idea to push VW into solving the problem. Maybe someone out there has the knowledge to set up a similar petition for VW Transmission problems.
My 2001 Acura TL Trany blew @ 28,000 miles. Thats why we bought the 2004 Passat.

I contacted VW of America Yesterday. I placed my complaint and asked for a second opinion from another dealer. (My first dealer says the bumping/lurching is normal and should go away). I am meeting with the 2nd dealer service manager today.

Update 5/1/04
I am picking up our 2004 Passat GLX from the dealership this morning. The dealership reluctantly replaced the Transmission Control Module (TCM). This a temporrary fix (bandaid) for lack of a better term. My dealer said to expect the bumping to return in about 2,000 miles. VW does not have a permanent fix at this time. Dealer said he hoped the fix would be in before the bumping starts again.

The permanent tip/fix software release date is a grey area for the dealership. VW will not commit to a firm date, only stated (through my dealer rep) that they are well aware of the problem and are finalizing the permanent fix.

For all VW tiptronic owners with this bumping/lurching problem when coasting to a stop > Pressure your dealerhip for a firm date on the sofware fix. We need our cars fixed now!