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2006 Volkswagen Gti

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

40 reports with mileage · 3 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

5 reports
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48,145 miles · Jun 23, 2016
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE FUEL PRESSURE PUMP AND THE CAMSHAFT WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE FUEL PRESSURE PUMP AND THE CAMSHAFT WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,145.....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10876219

80,050 miles · Dec 22, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

OWNER OF A 2006 VW GTI, THREW ENGINE CODE FOR KNOWN TSB REGARDING CAM FOLLOWER AND CAM SHAFT WEAR AT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. MECHANIC INSPECTED SITE AND DISCOVERED THAT CAM SHAFT WEAR/ DAMAGE WAS EXTREME AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, CAM SHAFT, AND CAM FOLLOWER ALL OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A …

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OWNER OF A 2006 VW GTI, THREW ENGINE CODE FOR KNOWN TSB REGARDING CAM FOLLOWER AND CAM SHAFT WEAR AT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. MECHANIC INSPECTED SITE AND DISCOVERED THAT CAM SHAFT WEAR/ DAMAGE WAS EXTREME AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, CAM SHAFT, AND CAM FOLLOWER ALL OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE SOME EXTENSION ON FACTORY WARRANTIES FROM VW OF AMERICA INSTEAD OF EXPECTING OWNERS TO PONY UP $1600-2400 IN REPAIR COSTS WHEN IT INEVITABLY FAILS. FOR NOTE OF KNOWN ISSUE, SEE VW TSB #2013147/8. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372176

84,000 miles · Feb 12, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT NOTICED A REDUCTION IN POWER ALONG WITH A SHUDDERING OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK CASE BREATHER HOSE AND A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM INTENSIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST INOPERABLE. THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT NOTICED A REDUCTION IN POWER ALONG WITH A SHUDDERING OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK CASE BREATHER HOSE AND A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM INTENSIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VACUUM HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO PERFORMED THE IGNITION COIL RECALL REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON; HOWEVER, THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT HE HAD A VALVE LASH AND FUEL PUMP MODULE REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING LONG A DISTANCE, THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE BEGAN TO BLINK ON AND OFF. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A SECOND DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR FAILURE WITH THE CAMSHAFT SYSTEM WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND A CAM FOLLOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #10308911

81,000 miles · Jan 20, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2006 VW GTI HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES BY A VW DEALER. I PURCHASED THE CAR UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT WOULD BE IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THE DEALER WAS THE ONE WHO PERFORMED ALL SERVICE. I TOOK THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP OFF TO CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER. THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER WAS COMPLETELY MISSING…

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MY 2006 VW GTI HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES BY A VW DEALER. I PURCHASED THE CAR UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT WOULD BE IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THE DEALER WAS THE ONE WHO PERFORMED ALL SERVICE. I TOOK THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP OFF TO CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER. THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER WAS COMPLETELY MISSING THE TOP, THE HPFP WAS COMPLETELY MISSING IT'S TIP AND THE CAMSHAFT HAS LARGE GOUGES IN THE METAL. THIS IS AN AWFUL DESIGN, AND SHOULD BE RECTIFIED BY VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10300486

17,250 miles · Oct 6, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND VEHICLE STILL IDLED VERY ROUGH. WHILE CALLING VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD I FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHAT LOOKED AND SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WITHIN ONE MINUTE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FI…

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VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND VEHICLE STILL IDLED VERY ROUGH. WHILE CALLING VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD I FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHAT LOOKED AND SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WITHIN ONE MINUTE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. 911 WAS CALLED AND A FIRE TRUCK CAME OUT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER IN TRAVERSE CITY, MI, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND VW OF AMERICA CONTACTED ME AND SAID IT WAS AN IGNITION COIL FIRE. THEY HAVE MADE AN OFFER TO BUY BACK THE CAR. THIS VEHICLE HAD A PREVIOUS IGNITION COIL FAILURE (FEB., 2007/10,686 MILES) RESULTING IN MELTED WIRING. THERE WERE ALSO FAILURES OF THE TURBOCHARGER, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IGNITION SWITCH PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE. SERVICE REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THE FAILURES PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE ON 10/03/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10205127

Official recalls

2

07V442000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Sep 24, 2007

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

07V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 20, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.