Power Train Problems of Volkswagen Jetta - part 1

Volkswagen Jetta owners have reported 610 problems related to power train (under the power train category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Volkswagen Jetta based on all problems reported for the Jetta.

1 Power Train problem of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 08/18/2025

The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the vehicle stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the abs module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stopped driving the vehicle due to safety concerns. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

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2 Power Train problem of the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 05/26/2025

2 bolts came lose in engine, need timing belt replaced, caused oil leak and other problems yet to be identified. Volkswagen admitted that should never happen but will not take responsibility.

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3 Power Train problem of the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 03/24/2025

One bolt to camshaft came loose and allowed for oil to leak into the cover, covering the timing belt with oil.

4 Power Train problem of the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 03/13/2025

I was driving down the highway at 65 miles per hour when my vehicle suddenly appeared to go into neutral and I lost power in the middle lane and almost was rear-ended. I was able to move over to the side shoulder just gliding. The vehicle starts but while driving it the transmission suddenly appears to go into neutral. The symptoms are consistent with the recall 34j6 but when I look up my VIN it does not show any pending recalls.

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5 Power Train problem of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 02/28/2025

I recently bought vehicle seen there is a recall.

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6 Power Train problem of the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 02/05/2025

So all the sudden my air bag light came on and my whole steering wheel don't work. . None of the buttons nor the cruse control and air bag light is on . Not sure why this happened but I feel very unsafe with my children in the car due to there's been a lot of crazy ppl out that don't pay attention when driving .

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7 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 12/13/2024

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the compliance recall campaign number: 3m02 was completed. The contact stated that while attempting to remove the key from the ignition switch while the vehicle was in drive(d), the key came out smoothly. Additionally, the contact stated upon starting the vehicle and entering the key in the ignition switch, the electronic power control (epc) and the check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the recall failed to fix the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

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8 Power Train problem of the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 09/26/2024

Vehicle begins to shudder and slow with no response to attempts to accelerate and eventually stop completely though engine is still on. This has happened on multiple occasions and in many driving situations including on busy streets or in the middle of turning which is a huge risk for an accident! can restart with regular acceleration after a few minutes. Service indicators will come on with codes indicating transmission related issues. Have had transmission flushed without significant change with transmission replacement as next step.

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9 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 09/16/2024

Uncontrolled acceleration as I was accelerating to enter traffic on the expressway the engine lost partial power. I reduced accelerator pressure, and then the engine seemed to recover. I then reapplied pressure to the accelerator, and it seemed normal but when I put in the clutch to shift, the engine accelerated beyond redline. I completed the shift, and car began to accelerate rapidly. I tapped the accelerator, and the acceleration stopped, and then after about 3 seconds it began to accelerate again. I attempted to reduce acceleration with brakes, but it was only partially effective. The only way to effectively reduce acceleration was to take the car out of gear. (thankfully this was a manual transmission) when I shifted into neutral, engine rpms would exceed redline. The excessive rpms ultimately destroyed the engine (big bang, lots of smoke). In hindsight I would have turned the ignition off but did not think to at the time. . The safety implications are obvious. This event occurred without warning and under normal driving conditions. I suspect an engine sensor anomaly combined with computer software failure. (maybe an rpm sensor?) specific cause is unknown, and situation cannot be recreated since the engine has failed. The diesel particulate filter warning light was on, and had been on for several weeks. It did not clear using the recommended remediation in the manual. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer or other interested parties, but is available for inspection. (this is one of the vehicles recalled for “diesel-gate” purchased from vw after reprogramming).

10 Power Train problem of the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 08/30/2024

The dashboard has light on with error message: only exit vehicle in p position. Please service the vehicle. The light is on and off randomly during driving. Car is drivable even with the light on, but it will have the warning beep which is distractive for driver. There are multiple recalls from vw for other models/years with same error message. The gear shift sensor is malfunctioning in those recalls.

11 Power Train problem of the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 08/15/2024

I drove over a commercial-grade water hose unraveled in the middle of the lane. It had metal couplings on it and my oil pan was damaged due to the low riding body of the vw to the road. The vehicle was drivable for 5 minutes afterward & the low engine pressure light turned on, but I was in a dangerous area with traffic during rush hour in the evening. It was congested with multiple avenues of transportation via buses, scooters, and pedestrian crosswalks. I started to lose power steering and the gas pedal would not accelerate the car, but the brakes still worked. I was able to coast the car to a stop & nearby a midas car shop. Midas replaced the damaged oil pan and did not have any other damage reported. Midas informed me that my vehicle would not start, but failed to mention that the safety of my vehicle was compromised with rolled down windows. I inspected my car on 8. 20. 24, the battery was still working & powered the lights but the window power and engine would not operate. On 8. 22. 24 I paid for the work & noticed the windows were now rolled up & midas said an employee used the power from the battery to override the window system but the car still would not start and needed to go to a dealership to access the engine codes for this hybrid vehicle. Towed the vehicle to vw, who said that midas was not accurate in their description, as there were no access codes needed for the vehicle & it should have started once the oil pan was replaced. The vw diagnostic results showed a “bad” battery and the transmission failed/ stopped engaging and needed a replacement of the transmission along with the battery which would total $11k! the vw agent recommended that I contact other car repair companies to rebuild it for a more affordable solution. Midas and vw were the only car repair companies to evaluate my car and it is currently at vw where it can be inspected if needed. The safety recall code: 34j6, of 2015 vw Jetta hybrids somehow exclude some vins until owners had issues.

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12 Power Train problem of the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 07/12/2024

I recently purchased a vehicle on July 11th, and on July 12th, I noticed a significant issue with the transmission. Specifically, the vehicle began grinding when I attempted to engage reverse gear. Concerned for safety, I promptly contacted the dealership. Initially, they advised that the proper procedure was to shift from first gear to reverse, attributing the issue to a known Volkswagen transmission characteristic. Upon further inspection at the dealership, they acknowledged the problem as a documented issue with Volkswagen transmissions, providing a "tech tip" confirming its severity. This issue poses a serious safety risk due to the delay in shifting from first to reverse, potentially impeding quick maneuvering in emergencies, thereby compromising driver and passenger safety. The problem was replicated multiple times during dealership visits, with no warning lights or indications prior to the grinding in reverse.

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13 Power Train problem of the 2024 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 06/10/2024

This experience was with a rental vehicle - and I sent an email to the NHTSA address with additional details. Later, I saw this form. I am pasting the information here: request #1527353 2024 vw Jetta rental vehicle - unintended acceleration / braking the vehicle was rented from fox rent-a-car in las vegas, nv for my short trip to California and back.

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14 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 06/01/2024

Unknown.

15 Power Train problem of the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 05/06/2024

The transmission failed due to mechatronics failure without warning.

16 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 05/06/2024

I bought a 2013 vw Jetta hybrid in 2015 from a vw dealer with ~15,000 miles on it. Question #1: in December 2017, the power train system/transmission failed and my car lost power and I was unable to drive it. Now, in may 2024, the transmission is failing again and vw had stated that it needs to be replaced for a second time, and they quoted me roughly $10,000 for the repair. Question #2: vw issued a safety recall that mentions "hairline cracks in the transmission gearbox which can cause a decrease in oil pressure" which, in turn, "can cause the clutch to fail to engage, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of crash. " (in the last month, vw has denied any recalls associated with my VIN. However, I attached a document issued from usaa that states that my VIN could be associated with 8 different safety-related recalls. The first on the list of these recalls is related to vehicles with the same year, make, and model as mine that are equipped with a dq200 7-speed dsg automatic transmission. The NHTSA id for this recall is 19v866000. ) question #3: in 2017, the first time I had a power train system issue, the car was towed to the nearest vw dealer, and I had the transmission replaced there. (documentation of repair attached. ) in 2024, I received a full diagnostic that includes the transmission needing to be replaced for a second time. Question #4: the vehicle/issue has been inspected by a certified vw dealer. Question #5: I took my car to the same dealer that replaced the transmission in 2017. In may of 2024, I took my car to vw right after 5 warning lights appeared on my dashboard all at once (steering system, airbag, traction control, abs, and tire pressure; photo attached) the service department at the vw dealer conducted a full diagnostic and said that I need to replace the transmission for a second time.

17 Power Train problem of the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 05/03/2024

Timing chain went bad. Car only has 70k miles on it. Auto shop said there should be a recall because so many of this model car have this issue. It’s a very expensive repair. My son is still making payments on the car and now has to pay $3400 to replace the timing belt. He was told that if he kept driving it the motor would be damaged. He loves the car but this is very disappointing of vw.

18 Power Train problem of the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 04/14/2024

Vehicle shuts down while driving. All electrical turns off, dashboard goes dark code reads starter system faulty, ignition switched off, please service vehicle.

19 Power Train problem of the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 03/15/2024

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle in a handicap parking space, the vehicle failed to stop despite the contact's foot firmly depressed on the brake pedal. As the vehicle continued to move forward with the contact's foot depressed to the floorboard, the vehicle drove over the parking barrier, knocked over the handicap post and entered onto the sidewalk. The vehicle eventually decelerated and the contact managed to shift the vehicle into reverse(r) and regain control of the vehicle. The contact was uncertain if any warning lights appeared on the instrument panel during the failure. Despite the property damage and emotional destress suffered by both the contact and the passenger, no injuries were reported and no immediate medical attention was needed. A police report was not filed and the air bags did not deploy as a result of the failure. The incident was reported to the store manager. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back home without incident. The manufacturer nor a dealer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or serviced. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

20 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 03/11/2024

Vehicle on several occasions lost power while driving causing me to coast to the side of the road. After stopping and placing car in park, tried to restart vehicle and started up with no lights on dashboard as to this issue. Took car to vw dealer and was told they would complete the recall work to fix the powertrain issues of gearbox fluid leaking causing corrosion and leaks into transmission. Received call from dealership who stated transmission was totally damaged and replacement was $11,000. 00. I went to the dealership to discuss and was told they had no specific information as to the codes received when they ran the diagnostic. They also stated they did not fix the recall and had no reason for not fixing recall other than the cost to replace the transmission was not worth it based on value of car. I strongly believe that the recall issue is the reason for any damage to the transmission as they are directly related. I have researched on-line and there are a lot of individuals with the same issue and the same responses from vw not wanting to acknowledge the recall issue and the direct relation to any transmission issues. I have driven this car and there has been issues with the automatic transmission shifting gears. I believe the cost (parts and labor) to repair the actual recall issue is the driving decision to tell customers that the transmission is bad. One post actual had a customer trade in his Jetta at the vw dealer for a vw passat and was only given $150. 00 trade-in allowance. Later the individual searched their car by VIN and found the car was for sale. Vw should be required to completely fix the recall and related transmission issues and/or purchase back these vehicles at a negotiated price. I am the original owner of this car and it only has 127,000 miles. This is only about 10,000 miles per year. Please look into similar reports of these issues by others. Vw also stopped production of this car knowing the defects that would occur or were occurring.

21 Power Train problem of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 03/03/2024

A bolt holding my cv joint backed out causing the bracket between two of the bolts to come lose. The bracket then swung as I drove a created a hole in my transmission. This caused me to lose transmission fluid and damage my transmission. My car has only been serviced at vw certified dealers so I am very disappointed with this issue.

22 Power Train problem of the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 02/22/2024

This is now the second time this has happened on my brand new 2023 Jetta se. The vehicle only has 1831 miles on it. The fault happens when the car is being driven after approx. 15 minutes. Epc light, check engine light, and yellow warning light illuminate. Also sounds like a misfire when limping off the road. Codes read at dealer are p0304, p0363, p1d74, and p1d75. All of these codes relate to cylinder 4 misfire. Car is driven only at highway speeds, since it is a commuter car. This happened on 2/16/2024 and 2/22/2024. I attached pdfs of the service invoice from the first instance. I also attached a pdf of a NHTSA file containing a list of vw vehicles that are having the same issue, with the same engine.

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23 Power Train problem of the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 02/15/2024

My son, carl, bought a 2019 Jetta on August 21st, 2023 from westside vw in st. Louis park, mn. It was marked as a certified vehicle. On February 15th, 2024 the clutch started slipping. Later that day it gave out completely, and had to be towed to westside. After service looked, they said that the clutch was burned out, and that this is a “wear and tear” item like tires so that he was on the hook for the entire cost of repairs, $3,433. 16. When we pushed harder, they indicated that the clutch had actually been replaced just before carl bought the car, when it had 43,111 miles. It failed at 52,829 miles. He has been driving manual transmission vehicles for around 15 years. I first handed down a 2000 passat 5-speed that I bought new, and he drove that until it fell apart with around 150,000 miles and the original transmission. Later he bought a 2015 Toyota corolla with a manual transmission, and drove that for over 80,000 miles until it was totaled in 2023. The point is that he is an experienced driver of manual transmissions. Westside claimed that he caused the clutch to wear out in less than six months and 9,718 miles. Clearly there is a problem with the vehicle if it needs two completely-new clutches in that period of time and low mileage. We are very disappointed and dissatisfied with both Volkswagen quality and westside vw for not standing by their product. Carl is terrified that, despite his most cautious driving, the clutch will again fail in six months or so.

24 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 02/06/2024

The car has 39k miles on it and needs a new transmission. When at stop lights it cycles back and forth from the engine to electric. Sometimes the vehicle jolts forward for some reason unbeknownst to me. Close call running into the vehicle ahead of me. Then other times it is so sluggish and hardly wants to take off from a stop. It makes a clunking noise at slower speeds. It was diagnosed and has a hairline crack within the transmission electronic gearbox which is causing an internal transmission oil leak and a decrease in oil pressure. I did some research and my car is diagnosed with the same “exact” issue in a recall yet my VIN says it’s not affected. It’s very well affected. This issue needs addressed before a tragic accident occurs. No well cared for vehicle after 39k miles should need a new transmission. I don’t have the documentation at the moment. My vehicle is still sitting at the shop. I will upload documents upon receiving them.

25 Power Train problem of the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 01/27/2024

Power train/transmission clutch to fail to engage, loss of drive power in low speed and while drive in highways.

26 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 01/17/2024

This is a common problem with the 2013 vw hybrid Jetta. The dealership charged me $300 and told me I needed to just replace my transmission because the mechtronic unit has cracks in it. No mention of a recall. Here is a description of my issue (found online), to the letter: hairline cracks can develop within the transmission electronic gearbox (mechatronic unit), causing an internal transmission oil leak and a decrease in oil pressure. This can cause the clutch to fail to engage, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

27 Power Train problem of the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 01/15/2024

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving on the highway at approximately 50 mph, the rmps revved however the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact merged to the side of the road and noticed transmission fluid was leaking. The vehicle was restarted however failed to increase in speed. The vehicle was towed to the residence where an independent mechanic diagnosed that the vehicle was leaking transmission fluid from between the transmission and the engine. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number:13v568000 (power train) as a probable cause for failure. The approximate mileage at the time of failure was 190,000.

28 Power Train problem of the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 01/01/2024

The follow failed module faults have repeatedly failed: u010400 lost communication with cruise control module, u112100 databus missing message & u112300 databus error value received, c110bf0 adaptive cruise control sensor, c111207 haldex clutch pump mechanical malfunction, p030400 cyl 4 misfire, ***p085000 park/neutral switch input circuit open or short***, u105400 information electronics control module 1 no communication. I’ve had it repaired once by vw. Been at dealership multiple times for all of these issues. Currently, they are not helpful. My car does not recognize park, it thinks it’s in neutral.

29 Power Train problem of the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 12/15/2023

The car has been jerking when you’re driving and sometimes it jerks forward as you’re parking it while it’s in the parked position. Then I’m driving home from work , it’s raining heavy. I get to the valaro store by my house; I put $40. 00 worth of gas in the car after work drove home parked the car the next morning it would not turn over , would not ignite at all I took it to the shop. They said the computer was fried from the rain leaking through the windshield or under the windshield. They said it’s a major problem with this model car. The mechanic said the computer could not be fixed. He sent it to the Volkswagen repair shop it can’t be fixed and to replace it cost thousands of dollars !!! I can provide an estimate of the problems and possible repairs if needed . The mechanic stated it is not worth the cost to fix the car. I did notice that there is a powertrain recall and my mechanic is also stating that the transmission is the jerking problem we’re having. . I really think these should be recalled however I needed to submit my issues and see what you final decision would be on both situations, the powertrain transmission problem and the computer burnout problem thank you so much and hope you’re having a great day.

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30 Power Train problem of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 12/02/2023

I remember having my keys in my hand and my car was slowly reversing out the driveway. I panicked, I was stomping on my brakes for a while jerking back and it took me about 2 minutes to finally get the key back in and try to put in park again. I went to a shop the following weekend because all the jerking and jabbing to get my key back in seems to have caused my ignition switch to misfire or whatever the word he (mechanic) used, so now I cannot take my key out like a regular person, I have to flick my key a certain way out anytime I want to turn my car off. (even mechanics have a hard time taking it out. I was also given a qr code to scan and was brought the this exact recall of the situation with my car. I now have my engine light on and oreilly gave me the fault code for my map sensor. I’m not sure if the two are related but this was following the incident.

31 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 11/30/2023

Dsg unit with hairline crack and fluid leakage just like known recall for this vehicle but mine isn’t covered for some reason.

32 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 11/11/2023

There is an open recall on 2013 Volkswagen Jetta hybrid for known electrical and power train issues. My car was purchased last year and kept up on in maintenance . I have had it in the shop multiple times for checks due to the lights on my dashboard all going off. Nothing was found until recently the hybrid and engine light turned on out of no where and the cause was the clutch failing which is one of the known recalls. My VIN isn’t listed under this recall and I have been in contact with Volkswagen and they are refusing to help even thought it’s a known issue with this years make and model. The car is unsafe to drive and could likely result in an accident due to the behavior of the car from these issues. The car will randomly buck when driving and when coming to a complete stop and trying to accelerate it will buck as well. I did add the open recalls on this car that are alike to my issues. There are also 4 other open recalls on this years make and model. I don’t have an exact date when the issues start I could look through my paper work but I put down 11/11 as they have been happening for awhile now.

33 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 10/15/2023

I would assume the issue had something to do with the power train. 2 days after I had bought the car my wife and I were on our way to the gym and we had just came to a complete stop. Upon entering the highway the car would no longer accelerate no matter how much pressure was put on the accelerator pedal. The engine light also came on. Luckily there were no cars behind me and I was able to pull over with the car moving on its own. This is really dangerous. This has happened to me multiple times. I have taken it back to the dealership I had bought the car from and they have a private mechanic that solely works for the company. He has scanned for any codes and has told me no codes are populating so he’s not sure why the engine light is still on. It was taken to a vw dealership and the vehicle will no longer start. There was an electrical issue at some point and now might be a transmission issue along with other things.

34 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 10/04/2023

July 2021, (roughly 80,000 miles) vehicle had sudden loss of drive power to motor while driving approximately 30mph and related warning lights came on, leading to recall repair in July 2021. Transmission electronic gearbox (mechatronic unit) and transmission accumulator housing replaced by vw dealer. Car exhibited some shuddering at low speeds and occasional lurching forward from a stop after recall repair - dealer said this is normal behavior and to ignore. Transmission has total failure on October 4, 2023 (roughly 100,000 miles), only 20,000 miles after recall. Vehicle owner experienced the same sudden loss of drive power while driving in a parking lot with the same indicator lights as in July 2021. Car was towed to same dealer. Dealer states transmission problem is not related to recalled parts, but vehicle owner suspects replaced parts from the recall may have also been faulty, as there is not a permanent fix for the recall issue, just replacement of parts. Dealer estimate is $8,500 for a new transmission and $2,500 for labor, more than the total value of the car.

35 Power Train problem of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta

Failure Date: 09/14/2023

The Jetta hybrid relies on a control unit, called the "mechatronic unit" to decouple the gasoline engine from the transmission. This, in turn, transfers propulsion to the electric motor, inside the transmission housing. The "mechatronic" is a highly specialized component, the "brains" of the Jetta's hybrid powertrain, and, therefore, can only be found in the Jetta hybrid. -market sales data says that a scant 8,515 Jetta hybrids were manufactured across model years 2013 - 2016. -an open NHTSA safety recall, 34j6, has been applied to a cross section of the total 8,515 Jetta hybrids produced. -per recall 34j6, exactly 2,149 Jetta hybrids have been included by VIN# in this recall. -safety recall 34j6 specifically addresses the "mechatronic accumulator housing". -recall description: hairline cracks may develop in the accumulator housing of the transmission (mechatronic unit), leaking and leading to insufficient transmission oil pressure. If this happens, the transmission warning light will illuminate in the instrument panel. If the warning light is ignored and the vehicle is driven, the clutch may not engage. There could be a sudden loss of power to the wheels, potentially leading to a vehicle crash.



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