# 2003 VW Passat Wagon Transmission

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-passat-wagon-transmission/26672>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** transmissions\
**Created:** [February 19, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-passat-wagon-transmission/26672 "2009-02-19T16:40:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jlkettlewell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@jlkettlewell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jlkettlewell)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-passat-wagon-transmission/26672/1 "2009-02-19T16:40:17Z")

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A couple of months ago I noticed that my transmission (2.8 L regular) seemed to be slipping (76,000 miles on the car). There was a lack of power in 5th gear between 1200 and 2000 rpm (esp. between 30 and 45 mph during gradual acceleration). The tach needle bounces about 1/8" in the same range. I took the car to VW and they said it looks like a bad torque converter and quoted $2000 to replace. Got a 2nd opinion from a local transmission shop. The mechanic said it was odd for the torque converter to go out and that the transmission valve body could have a problem. I had the torque converter replaced for $1740. After a couple of weeks of driving the same symptoms are starting. I’m looking at having to replace the transmission. Do you know if this is a big problem with the VW engines? Any recalls?