02 Jetta 1.8 turbo: leaking transmission cooler?
 

Took my car to the VW dealership (75K miled) and turns out tranny fluid and radiator fluid are mixing together. NOT GOOD! They claimed it needed new hoses, tranny, and radiator tank. Estimate $5900. No explanation as to the cause of the problem or if the $5900 would actually solve whatever caused to co-mingling to occur.

Took to my local garage for a second opinion.

They conccur the fluids are mixing but determined the problem to be a leak in the transmission cooler. He claims this is a component that rests atop the transmission and would not be at all effected by any characteristic of how the car was driven. In other words the component was faulty to begin with. My mechanic suggetsed I write a complaint to VW corporate and to the Consumer Protection Agency in Wisconsin with the intent of getting a good will tranny replacement.

Question:

Has anyone else heard of this fault in the tranny cooler? What are people's thought's on a good will service repair; do I have a leg to stand on?

RE: 02 Jetta 1.8 turbo: leaking transmission cooler?
 

no ive not heard of it but i would say just for safty to check the casing and make sure its not cracked.
I drive a standard model 2000 gls and my tranny casing busted on me driving down the road.
you can get a whole tranny used with low miles for a really good deal.

you might check ebay and even local junkyards.
your best bet is ebay.
i got mine for $500 all together with 55k on it

RE: 02 Jetta 1.8 turbo: leaking transmission cooler?
 

I've only heard of tranny and coolant mixing once or twice....rare I suppose. I'd talk to someone to see if this could be a recall item.