After reaching 150k miles on my 2005 Golf TDI in spring of 2014, the transmission began experiencing shifting problems along with a lack of power in the engine. The vehicle would shake while accelerating until reaching higher speeds. It would take approximately 5-15 minutes for the transmission to shift out of 1st gear and then would shift with no problems until stopping or shutting down and would have to repeat the process all over again.

I took my vehicle to a VW dealership in Texas, where several components were replaced and the car ran okay until summer and fall of this year, 2015. Regardless of outside temperature and engine temp, it now takes an aggravating 30 minutes for the transmission to shift out of 1st gear and when finally in higher gears, will drop back down to 1st when vehicle is decelerating.

I've had several close calls with other vehicles on highways.

This is in no way safe, efficient or reliable as guaranteed by VW in 2005 during purchase.

Will not buy a VW again.

I have the TDI diesel model with the 5 speed DSG transmission with manual shift mode. For reasons still unknown, even on a level road with the cruise on and set, the transmission will downshift shift from 5th gear to 4th for a few seconds then shift back to 5th. This happens at highway speeds (60+) so it's not like it's a borderline shift point which when shifting to 5th can occur anytime after 40mph. There is no strain or load on the engine which should cause this. The VW dealer said "we don't really know what's causing it, so keep driving it and let us know if it get's worse." Not the answer I was expecting. I also took it to a local national transmission chain and they would not look at it recommending it be taken to the VW dealer. This problem only seems to happen when it's over 75 degrees out. I still use the cruise on the highway but have to put in in manual mode to stop the downshifting. I suspect there is something wrong with the cruise control not the transmission since the problem never happens when cruise is not engaged. Wish I could find someone who knows whats going on with this.