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2006 Volkswagen Jetta

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Jetta years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

508 reports with mileage · 72 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 245 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 112 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports6 fire reports14 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

54 reports
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30,000 miles · Nov 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT ONLY AFTER CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ON A TWO YEAR OLD CAR. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE EXHAUST CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT FAILED THE DAY AFTER I PICKED IT UP. I TOOK IT BACK, THEY REPLACED IT AND…

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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT ONLY AFTER CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ON A TWO YEAR OLD CAR. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE EXHAUST CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT FAILED THE DAY AFTER I PICKED IT UP. I TOOK IT BACK, THEY REPLACED IT AND IT FAILED AGAIN. I AM NOW ON MY FOURTH ONE. VW SAYS THEY KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM, BUT STILL MADE ME PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248216

51,000 miles · Jul 24, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I COMPLAINED TO THE VW DEALER ABOUT MY A/C IN MY JETTA GLI. THEY TOLD ME THEIR WAS NOTHING WRONG TWICE. NOW MY AC DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE. WHEN I COMPLAINED MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235601

39,000 miles · Jul 3, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

MY CAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL AFTER LAST CHANGE AT BERT SMITH VOLKSWAGEN IN ST. PETERSBURG FLORIDA. CHECKED UNDERNEATH CAR AND FOUND TRANSMISSION CASING AND FLYWHEEL HOUSING CRACKED. TOOK PICTURES BUT ACCORDING TO BERT SMITH VOLKSWAGEN THIS IS JUST DIRT AND GREASE STAINS, THEY CANNOT SHOW ME ANOTHER CAR WITH THE SAME "STAINS". …

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MY CAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL AFTER LAST CHANGE AT BERT SMITH VOLKSWAGEN IN ST. PETERSBURG FLORIDA. CHECKED UNDERNEATH CAR AND FOUND TRANSMISSION CASING AND FLYWHEEL HOUSING CRACKED. TOOK PICTURES BUT ACCORDING TO BERT SMITH VOLKSWAGEN THIS IS JUST DIRT AND GREASE STAINS, THEY CANNOT SHOW ME ANOTHER CAR WITH THE SAME "STAINS". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233159

85,486 miles · May 9, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, DieselPower Train

ENGINE FAILURE ON MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN DIESEL JETTA. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL FUEL INJECTOR OVER FUELED THE CYLINDERS AND CAUSED THE PULL RODS TO BEND AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE, COSTS ARE $7,500 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. CAR IS ONLY 2 AND HALF YEARS OLD WITH 85,0000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227184

7,890 miles · Sep 28, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I HAVE A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. INITIALLY I WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE, AS SOON AS I WAS GETTING READY TO STOP DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, WHEN THE SHIFTER HIT FIRST, THE CAR BUCKED, DIED AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I ALSO NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SYNC AND ALLOW ME INTO THEM. I PUL…

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I HAVE A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. INITIALLY I WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE, AS SOON AS I WAS GETTING READY TO STOP DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, WHEN THE SHIFTER HIT FIRST, THE CAR BUCKED, DIED AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I ALSO NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SYNC AND ALLOW ME INTO THEM. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHEN I REALESED MY FOOT FROM THE CLUTCH, THE PEDAL DID NOT COME BACK UP. I SHUT DOWN THE CAR, CRAWLED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE, I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR FOR LEAKS AND ANYTHING THAT MAY INDICATE A MAJOR FAILURE. WHEN I PULLED THE CLUTCH BACK UP MANUALLY, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO BACK DOWN BUT HALF WAY. I PUSHED HARD ENOUGH TO GET THE CLUTCH INTERLOCK SWITCH TO DISENGAGE, AND TRIED TO START THE CAR. WHEN THE STARTER ENGAGED, THE ENGINE DRAGGED WITH SOMETHING ELSE. I ABANDONED THE CAR TO GET TO A PHONE. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY GAVE ME A PHONE NUMBER TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME TO TOW THE CAR TO THE NEAREST VW CERTFIED REPAIR SHOP. EVENTUALLY I CONVINCED THEM TO TOW THE CAR, AND WHEN I MET HIM AT THE CAR, I NOTICED A LEAK OF EITHER HYDRAULIC, GEAR, OR DIESEL FLUID. WHEN I GOT ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO A POOR DESING IN THE FLYWHEEL. VW TENDS TO REFUSE TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH CLAIMING THAT IT WAS PREMATURE WEAR DUE TO POOR DRIVING HABITS. THE FLYWHEEL TENDS TO CRACK OR EVEN SHATTER CAUSING NOT ONLY CLUTCH ISSUES BUT ALSO TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE ISSUES. THIS ISSUE CAN LEAD TO WRECKS FIRES AND ALSO EVEN STRANDED PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING HELP. VOLKSWAGEN HAS RECALLED THE FLYWHEEL IN EUROPE BUT REFUSES TO DO SO IN AMERICA. INFORMATION ON THE ISSUE CAN BE FOUND HERE HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=137014&PAGE=1 THIS IS A 60 PAGE FORUM THAT EQUALS ABOUT 500 PAGES PRINTED OUT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY TO THIS ISSUE. THE RECALL INFO CAN BE FOUND HERE HTTP://UK-MKIVS.NET/FORUMS/2/562166/SHOWTHREAD.ASPX

NHTSA ODI #10204426

22,000 miles · Aug 30, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN A CRASH ON MY BEHALF. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 75 MPH THE CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY (AVERAGES ONCE PER EVERY 1500 MILES) HESITATE THEN RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS. THE DURATION OF THIS EVENT IS APPROXIMATELY 1 - 2 SECONDS. THE EFFECT OF THIS BEING THAT THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTS TO…

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THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN A CRASH ON MY BEHALF. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 75 MPH THE CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY (AVERAGES ONCE PER EVERY 1500 MILES) HESITATE THEN RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS. THE DURATION OF THIS EVENT IS APPROXIMATELY 1 - 2 SECONDS. THE EFFECT OF THIS BEING THAT THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTS TO DECELERATE THEN SUDDENLY RESUME NORMAL BEHAVIOUR. THERE ARE NO INIDICATOR LIGHTS OR EVENTS LOGGED IN THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. I HAVE OFFERED TO DRIVE AROUND WITH A COMPUTER RUNNING VAGCOM (A VW DIAGNOSTICS APP) IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE IT IN ORDER TO CATCH THE ISSUE, YET VW AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO DO SO. THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURED AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THE PREVIOUS 4 MONTHS, ONCE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT NEARLY RESULTED IN HER RUNNING INTO THE HIGHWAY DIVIDER. THE DATE NOTED BELOW IS THE FIRST INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10201293

22,000 miles · Jun 28, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

AFTER ABOUT 22,000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER, AND THE CLUTCH STARTED MAKING NOISES AND VIBRATIONS UPON ENGAGING/DISENGAGING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, SO THE LOSS OF POWER WAS REALLY DANGEROUS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHOLE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10194922

26,000 miles · Jun 20, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I WAS DRIVING ON I-80, I MOVED TO THE OFF RAMP , AND WHEN I PUSHED THE CLUTCH, IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE 2006 JETTA TDI WITH 26 000 MILES NOW NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL, $1700 REPAIR BILL. THE NEW CLUTCHA ND FLYWHEEL WERE NOT THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED BY VOLKWAG…

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I WAS DRIVING ON I-80, I MOVED TO THE OFF RAMP , AND WHEN I PUSHED THE CLUTCH, IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE 2006 JETTA TDI WITH 26 000 MILES NOW NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL, $1700 REPAIR BILL. THE NEW CLUTCHA ND FLYWHEEL WERE NOT THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED BY VOLKWAGEN, WHY? MAYBE THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE. OR VOLKSWAGEN DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ADDED TORQUE OF THE NEW PD ENGINE. VERY ANNOYING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10193789

14,000 miles · Feb 13, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHEN STARTING IN DRIVE, AT A STOP LIGHT, CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS IT WOULD NORMALLY WOULD, BUT JUST CREEPS FORWARD FROM 3 TO 10 SECONDS, THEN IT BEGINS TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10182479

3,700 miles · Oct 11, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingSeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic

I LEASED MY 2006 JETTA 2.0 IN JANUARY 2006. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS STALLED ON ME 4 TIMES AND I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FAILED STARTS. THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START WHEN I USE THE MAIN KEY AND THE VALET KEY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME PRETTY CONSISTENT NOW THAT I HAVE PUT MORE MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I AM NOW AT 20K AND ITS BEEN A HEADACHE AL…

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I LEASED MY 2006 JETTA 2.0 IN JANUARY 2006. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS STALLED ON ME 4 TIMES AND I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FAILED STARTS. THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START WHEN I USE THE MAIN KEY AND THE VALET KEY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME PRETTY CONSISTENT NOW THAT I HAVE PUT MORE MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I AM NOW AT 20K AND ITS BEEN A HEADACHE ALL THE WAY. I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL THAT WHEN THE CAR STALLED ON ME ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THEY CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. SUPPOSEDLY, THE CAR STARTS WITHOUT A PROBLEM WHEN IT IS IN THEIR SERVICE BAY. IN ADDITION, WHEN I FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE, MY BACK SEAT LATCHES WERE BROKEN CAUSING THE BACK SEAT TO LUNGE FORWARD DURING HARD STOPS AND TURNS. THIS MADE MY JETTA A TWO PASSENGER VEHICLE! ALSO, THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND SWITCHES WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE FRONT SUSPENSION OR THE BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE OR THEY HAVE A LOOSE FEEL, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PUT MY FINGER ON IT YET. IM TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AGAIN TOMORROW! MY STEERING COLUMN MAKE A FAINT SQUEAKING NOISE DURING TURNS, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT PROBLEMS IS. IN THE MORNING AFTER I CAN GET THE CAR STARTED THE ENGINE IS LOUD FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES. THE DEALER FIXED THE LATCH PROBLEMS BUT THE OTHER PROBLEMS GO UNFIXED AND REMAIN A HUGE MYSTERY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10170469

Official recalls

4

10V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Dec 10, 2010

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE NEW BEETLE AND THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FASTENING CLAMP ON A HYDRAULIC HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT MAY BE LOCATED IN AN IMPROPER POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE CHAFING AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR, OR INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE FASTENING CLAMP AND ADJUST THE RELATED FASTENING CLAMP INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

09V164000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

May 19, 2009

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 25,594 MY 2006-2009 JETTA 5TH GENERATION EQUIPPED WITH 2.01 ENGINE. THE FASTENING SCREW CONTACT SURFACES ON THE DRIVESHAFT COVER PLATE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. SOME SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY AND COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHES FROM THE GEARBOX.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DETACHED DRIVESHAFT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE THE GEARBOX HOUSING. A DAMAGE GEARBOX HOUSING COULD LEAK GEARBOX OIL ONTO THE STREET AND CREATE A RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS AND REPLACE THE SCREWS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

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.

07V284000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Jun 25, 2007

CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L GASOLINE ENGINES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST THE UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CHAFING HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A FUEL LEAK OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR AND WILL ALSO INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-893-5298.

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.