Transmission is making this awful grinding noise and when it makes the noise the vehicle has little power to accelerate. The dealership said this was normal. Ive never had a car make such an awful noise from the transmission causing it to lose power. This has been happening since 2000 miles it never did that prior to the 2k mile mark. The car has 6800 miles on it and it does this everytime I…
2019 Volkswagen Jetta powertrain problems
moderate 159 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
159
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 159 powertrain complaints filed for the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 159 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 18 model years of Volkswagen Jetta in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen jetta. While driving 25 MPH or higher, the contact heard a loud buzzing and grinding sound coming from the transmission. The contact took the vehicle to sunrise Volkswagen (931 sunrise hwy, lynbrook, ny 11563, (516) 596-5970) to have the transmission checked, but an appointment could not be made until january 18, 2019. The manufacturer stated that they would…
On dec 14, 2019 I purchased a new 2019 vw jetta sel from a vw dealership. The car had only 7 miles on it. The day after I purchased it, I noticed a consistent grinding, growling or rubbing noise when traveling at lower speeds. The car seems slow, like it's not shifting properly. It happens all day long, every time I drive it. I took it into the dealership where I bought it & I was told this…
2019 jetta s. 8spd auto. Grinding noise from 4-6th gear. 15-25 MPH. Lack of power and not feeling comfortable driving the car under heavy acceleration or load.
I recently started a lease for a 2019 jetta se. I started to notice a strange sound like scrapping and grinding as the car accelerated and particularly around the 20-30 MPH mark. It is almost like a shallow howling and seemingly from the transmission. Please also note that I brought the car new about 25 miles on it and the noise started almost instantly. The vw dealership I went to gave no good…
Random short grinding sound around 25-35mph in 5th gear or in reverse when at low RPM (1,200). Sounds like it is coming from the transmission area/torque converter. Vehicle in motion going straight or turning when this occurs.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 159 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 60 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 5,800 and 13,000 miles, with the median around 9,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,800; a quarter make it past 13,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Volkswagen/Jetta.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.