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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

Power Train complaints

245 reports
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80,831 miles · Jun 17, 2010
Power Train

DRIVING HOME ON COUNTRY ROAD IN THE POURING DOWN RAIN WHEN AT ABOUT 50 MPH THE ENGINE RPM REVVED, DASH WARNING LIGHTS LIT, FLASHED AND RANG. THE PRND WAS FLASHING. LUCKILY A DRIVEWAY WAS NEARBY TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. KNEW AT THIS POINT WHAT HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE WE HAD THE VERY SAME THING HAPPEN IN OCTOBER OF 2009. MEGATRONICS…

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DRIVING HOME ON COUNTRY ROAD IN THE POURING DOWN RAIN WHEN AT ABOUT 50 MPH THE ENGINE RPM REVVED, DASH WARNING LIGHTS LIT, FLASHED AND RANG. THE PRND WAS FLASHING. LUCKILY A DRIVEWAY WAS NEARBY TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. KNEW AT THIS POINT WHAT HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE WE HAD THE VERY SAME THING HAPPEN IN OCTOBER OF 2009. MEGATRONICS UNIT HAD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1900. CALLED DEALERSHIP FOR APPOINTMENT ON JUNE 8TH. HAPPENED AGAIN 5 TIMES ON WAY TO DEALERSHIP. TOLD FROM DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT IT HAD A BAD STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND GATEWAY MODULE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. HAD TO TAKE CAR 70+ MILES BACK HOME. THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED ON THE WAY HOME IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. FELT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER. STOPPED AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. LEFT CAR FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE. FOUND A SECOND BAD MEGATRONICS UNIT. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FROM THE FIRST REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THE SAFETY CONCERN THAT THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AT ANY GIVEN TIME, IN ANY ROAD SITUATION YOU CAN THINK OF. YOU CANNOT ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO REACT TO THIS. YOU HAVE NO POWER TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS IS TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART AND HOPE IT WORKS. PREVIOUS ODI #10286197. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336882

70,000 miles · Jun 14, 2010
Power Train

CLUTCH FAILURE, PROBLEM DISENGAGING CLUTCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336167

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2010
Power Train

FAILURE OF DSG TRANSMISSION AND DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL ON 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334688

79,000 miles · May 24, 2010
Power Train

AT APPROXIMATELY 79K MILES MY 2006 VW JETTA TDI BEGAN TO RATTLE LOUDLY IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT IDLE AND LOW RPMS. SIGNIFICANT ENGINE SHUDDER ALSO. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL AND PRESSURE PLATE HAVE FAILED. FLYWHEEL FAILURE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND VW HAS REPLACED THIS FL…

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AT APPROXIMATELY 79K MILES MY 2006 VW JETTA TDI BEGAN TO RATTLE LOUDLY IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT IDLE AND LOW RPMS. SIGNIFICANT ENGINE SHUDDER ALSO. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL AND PRESSURE PLATE HAVE FAILED. FLYWHEEL FAILURE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND VW HAS REPLACED THIS FLYWHEEL WITH A MORE RELIABLE DESIGN. BELIEVE THIS DMF HAS ALREADY BEEN A SAFETY RECALL IN EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA, BUT BEING CALLED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IN THE U.S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332014

46,000 miles · May 18, 2010
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING A 2006 VW JETTA DIESEL, ALL POWER WAS LOST TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITH THE PRNDS DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHING. CAR HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS A FALSE NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE ROAD SIDE, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT WITH NORMAL FUNCTION OF 300 YARDS THEN PROBLEM REPEATED …

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WHILE DRIVING A 2006 VW JETTA DIESEL, ALL POWER WAS LOST TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITH THE PRNDS DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHING. CAR HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS A FALSE NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE ROAD SIDE, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT WITH NORMAL FUNCTION OF 300 YARDS THEN PROBLEM REPEATED REQUIRING A TOW TO THE DEALER. A FAILURE OF THE MECHATRONIX UNIT IN THE DSG WAS DISCOVERED AND PART REPLACED. A SIMILAR ISSUE HAD OCCURRED AT AROUND 10, 000 MILES , WAS LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER WITH NO ISSUE FOUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331098

65,000 miles · May 17, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES WITHIN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. WHEN DRIVING, HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DUAL MASS FLY WHEEL WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECAL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES WITHIN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. WHEN DRIVING, HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DUAL MASS FLY WHEEL WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 09V164000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: DRIVESHAFT) AS RELATED TO THE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10330818

75,000 miles · May 3, 2010
Power Train

I PURCHASED THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI FROM A PRIVATE OWNER 6 MONTHS AGO. THERE WAS A SOUND APPARENT WHEN I PURCHASED IT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS TYPICAL FOR A DIESEL VEHICLE, AFTER 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DMF (DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL) WAS FAILING. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIND THAT THE D…

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I PURCHASED THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI FROM A PRIVATE OWNER 6 MONTHS AGO. THERE WAS A SOUND APPARENT WHEN I PURCHASED IT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS TYPICAL FOR A DIESEL VEHICLE, AFTER 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DMF (DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL) WAS FAILING. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIND THAT THE DMF MANUFACTURED BY SACHS THAT VOLKSWAGEN USES IN THEIR 2000 AND LATER MODELS HAVE A HIGH RATE FAILURE AFTER IN AS LITTLE AS 10,000 MILES. CAUSING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE FAILURE OF VARYING DEGREES. THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR CAN RANGE BETWEEN $2000.00 - $8000.00. NOT ONLY IS THE EXPENSE HIGH DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE FLYWHEEL, BUT THE RISK IS EVEN HIGHER, CAUSING HESITATION IN ACCELERATION WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC OR SUDDEN WHEEL LOCK AND LOSS OF CONTROL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT WHILE TRAVELING. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT THIS PROBLEM BE ADDRESS FOR THE SAFETY AND CONCERN OF ANY VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLE OWNER WITH THIS DEFECTIVE FLYWHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328693

104,000 miles · Apr 30, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000. T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000.

NHTSA ODI #10328237

58,000 miles · Apr 21, 2010
Power Train

2.0T ENGINE WITH DSG TRIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. I'VE NOTICED, THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR (GIVE OR TAKE) AND IT HAPPENS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURS USUALLY DURING A STOP LIGHT/STOP SIGN OR STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. AS YOU HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO START MOVING…

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2.0T ENGINE WITH DSG TRIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. I'VE NOTICED, THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR (GIVE OR TAKE) AND IT HAPPENS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURS USUALLY DURING A STOP LIGHT/STOP SIGN OR STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. AS YOU HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO START MOVING (IN OTHER WORDS NO PEDAL BEING PRESSED) THE CAR TENDS SHIFT/JERK BEFORE YOU PRESS THE ACCELERATOR. IN MANY OCCASIONS, YOU NEED TO SLAM THE BRAKES SO THE CAR DOESN'T LAUNCH ITSELF TO HIT A CAR/TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF YOU. THIS "ACCELERATION/LAUNCH/TRANS JERK" LAST ABOUT 1-3 SECONDS AT THAT POINT YOU HEAR SOME "METAL CLUNK OR SOME TYPE OF METAL HITTING NOISE". IN ONE INSTANCE, THE CAR'S SHIFT INDICATOR WENT BLANK AND THE CAR DIDN'T RESPOND IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. PULLED TO THE SIDE, AND CAR WAS NORMAL AGAIN. THERE IS SERIOUS ACCIDENT POTENTIAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. I SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION FROM OTHER OWNERS (FROM SEEING COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE) INCLUDING A NEIGHBOR 2006 JETTA WITH DSG TRANSMISSION & FRIEND WHO HAS A 2007 GTI WITH A 2.0T ENGINE & DSG TRANS-BOTH HAVE SAME PROBLEM. I REALLY HOPE SOMEONE DOES AND FINALLY LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND HELP US CONSUMERS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BEFORE SOMEONE BECOMES HURT. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER, HOWEVER, THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326903

72,500 miles · Apr 6, 2010
Power Train

AT 72K OUR 2006 VW JETTA TDI BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD INTERMITTENT RATTLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER SAYS THE FLYWHEEL FAILED IT IS A DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL THAT I SEE SOMETIMES FRAGMENTS, DAMAGING THE HOUSING OR EVEN THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAD NO FRAGMENTING BUT CONSIDER FLYWHEEL FAILURE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. VW DEALER …

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AT 72K OUR 2006 VW JETTA TDI BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD INTERMITTENT RATTLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER SAYS THE FLYWHEEL FAILED IT IS A DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL THAT I SEE SOMETIMES FRAGMENTS, DAMAGING THE HOUSING OR EVEN THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAD NO FRAGMENTING BUT CONSIDER FLYWHEEL FAILURE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. VW DEALER WANTS TO INSTALL A NEW DMF! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324115

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.