Lawsuit Investigation into VW Jetta 8-Speed Transmission Problems
Last Updated on May 18, 2022
Important Information
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org no longer need to hear from people who had problems with their VW transmissions. Read on for more.
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Case Update
- May 18, 2022 – Notice Deadline Extended
- Court documents indicate that the deadline to send out notices to those covered by the settlement detailed below has been extended from May 27 to August 26. Keep an eye out on your mailbox for notice of the deal.
- January 28, 2022 – Settlement Receives Preliminary Approval, Notices to Be Sent
- The settlement detailed below has received preliminary approval. According to court documents, notices to those covered by the deal will be sent out no later than May 27. These notices will include more information on the deal and how to submit a claim.
For the latest in class action settlement news, make sure to sign up for our free newsletter. You can also check out this article to find out how lawyers know who’s covered by a class action. - November 24, 2021 – Settlement Reached, Awaits Judge’s Approval
- A proposed settlement has been reached to resolve claims that certain Volkswagen vehicles were equipped with defective transmissions and now awaits preliminary approval from the judge overseeing the litigation. If approved as is, the deal will cover current and former owners and lessees of the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta and 2018-2020 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. Settlement benefits, which vary by model, include free software updates to the transmission control module, free installation of a damper weight on the drive shaft, reimbursement for past out-of-pocket repair expenses and warranty extensions.
If the deal receives preliminary approval, notices will be mailed within 120 days to those covered by the settlement and will include information on how and when to submit a claim. These individuals will be identified and located using state title and registration records. A settlement website is also expected to be established.
Stay tuned for updates and sign up for our newsletter for the latest settlement and class action news. - September 4, 2019 – Lawsuit Filed
- On June 10, 2019, a proposed class action lawsuit was filed alleging 2019-present Volkswagen Jettas equipped with the Aisin AWF8F35 eight-speed automatic transmission are “unreliable” for everyday use and have proven to be “a safety hazard” to drivers and others on the road. Specifically, the suit claims the transmission “is defective in that it grates, scuffs, scrapes, grinds, and ultimately suffers broken seals and oil leaks, resulting in catastrophic failure.” Noted in the lawsuit are the “scores of complaints” submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that indicate the alleged defect can hinder a driver’s ability to control their vehicle and greatly increases the risk of a crash.
Months later, an amended complaint was filed seeking to cover drivers and lessees of 2018-present Tiguan vehicles as well, noting that the cars also contain the same allegedly defective transmission. - June 6, 2019 – Investigation Closed
- Thank you to everyone who contacted us regarding their VW Jettas. Attorneys working with ClassAction.org believe they have what they need to go after Volkswagen in court. You can stay tuned to this page for updates, sign up for our newsletter or view a list of open investigations and lawsuits here. The information on this page is for reference only.
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects:
- Anyone who owns or leases a 2018 or 2019 eight-speed Volkswagen Jetta.
- What’s Going On?
- Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are investigating whether a class action lawsuit can be filed against Volkswagen in light of complaints that the transmissions and torque converters are causing problems for drivers.
- What Kind of Problems?
- Leaking oil; “grating,” “grinding” or “scuffing” noises; and issues with the torque converter.
- How Could a Class Action Help?
- A lawsuit could help drivers get money back for repairs and force Volkswagen to offer a fix for the problem.
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are investigating whether a class action lawsuit can be filed over a possible defect in the 2018 and 2019 eight-speed Volkswagen Jettas.
What Started the Investigation into Volkswagen Jettas?
Attorneys began their investigation after a number of drivers came forward complaining about issues with their eight-speed transmissions and torque converters.
These problems have reportedly caused oil to leak from the cars, as well as a noise drivers have described as:
- Grinding
- Scuffing
- Scraping
- Growling
What’s Causing These Problems?
It is believed that the new eight-speed transmission used in the 2018 and 2019 VW Jetta is grinding and ultimately leaking oil. Attorneys suspect that a possible defect in the torque converter is behind the problems.
Reported Problems: Noise When Driving, Grinding, Transmission Leaks
A number of people have posted online about problems with their VW Jettas. Some of these complaints can be read below [sic throughout].
My 2019 Jetta SEL suffers the same noise problem reported by others…It sounds like a dog growling, so we call it the Growler. It happens at low revs and is extremely annoying. It's getting worse and it doesn't sound safe. The dealership shrugged their shoulders and said they could do nothing because it's down to the design of the car…For a new car to make this kind of noise is really surprising and completely unacceptable. Until VW acknowledge and address this problem, I would discourage anyone from buying a 2019 Jetta.”
— Christopher of Charleston, South Carolina, ConsumerAffairs.com
Have owned 2019 Jetta for 5 weeks. First week was fine. 2nd week I noticed an audible noise coming from the transmission. (Like a grinding noise) when driving in standard mode. It has gotten worse in the past 2 weeks. I took the car in to local VW dealer…I waited 2 more hours for service mgr to come tell me it's normal??? WTF? I'm sorry, but a brand new car does NOT make strange noises in the 20-30mph range)... Embarrassed to have purchased this car. I will be going thru VW channels to return this car and get refunded... AVOID the 2019 VW's w/ 8 speed transmissions.”
— “C” of Gainesville, Florida, ConsumerAffairs.com
Noticed grinding sounds from when I got the car, read online and thought it was normal. Apparently not; the torque converter issue is very common. Hopefully a recall is issued. My immediate issue :took it in to dealer for normal oil change at 10k miles, and they tell me it has a transmission leak, and the car is not drivable until its fixed. Things like this shouldnt be happening in a new car. . . Not cool vw. Issue a buy back!!!!!!!!”
— CarProblemZoo.com
I have noticed very regularly that there is a grinding noise coming from the torque converter when driving between 4th and 5th gears specifically in eco mode with this vehicle. I have repeated steps to reproduce the issue very time when using the shiftronic mode in the vehicle as well. This problem is not only distracting, but could also be an issue that leads to mechanical problems in the future to the transmission which leads to lowered resale value.”
— CarProblemZoo.com
How Can a Class Action Lawsuit Help?
A class action lawsuit can help drivers get back the money they spent on repairs. It could also force Volkswagen to issue a fix to the cars.
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