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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.

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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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12,469 miles · Sep 18, 2006
Power Train

2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI WITH 12,469 MILES HAD COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE. CENTER OF THE CLUTCH WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT. VOLKSWAGEN REPLACED AS WE WERE ONLY 469 MILES OVER WARRANTY BUT UPON INVESTIGATION THERE SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE CLUTCH WHICH VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10168489

42,000 miles · Jul 29, 2006
Power Train

THE CLUTCH ON MY HUSBANDS 2006 JETTA TDI IS GOING OUT. IT ONLY HAS 44, 000 MILES ON IT. HE HAS OWNED SIX MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS IN THE PAST, NEVER HAVING TO REPLACE A CLUTCH IN LESS THAN 110,000 AND EVEN THEN IT WAS NOT THE CLUTCH WORN OUT BUT THE THROW OUT BEARING FELL APART. WE HAVE DONE SEVERAL SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET ON V…

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THE CLUTCH ON MY HUSBANDS 2006 JETTA TDI IS GOING OUT. IT ONLY HAS 44, 000 MILES ON IT. HE HAS OWNED SIX MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS IN THE PAST, NEVER HAVING TO REPLACE A CLUTCH IN LESS THAN 110,000 AND EVEN THEN IT WAS NOT THE CLUTCH WORN OUT BUT THE THROW OUT BEARING FELL APART. WE HAVE DONE SEVERAL SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET ON VW TDI CLUTCHES. ONE THING WE FOUND OUT IS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2005.5 AND EARLY 2006. VW OF EUROPE HAS ISSUED RECALLS ON THE 2006 PASSAT TDI ONLY SOLD OVERSEAS. I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME CLUTCH WAS USED IN THE EARLY 2006 JETTAS. AUDI HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THERE A3 WITH THE TDI ENGINE THAT WAS PRODUCED FROM JUNE OF 2003 TILL THE END OF 2004. ON 6/24/2005 THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTS THAT VW IS RECALLING 44,000 OF ITS TOURAN VANS WORLDWIDE TO FIX A CLUTCH PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON WWW.UK-MKIV.NET WHERE THE GOLF AND JETTA ARE REFERRED TO AS MKV OR THE 5TH EDITION AND ON WWW.AUDI-SPORT.NET FOR THE AUDI A3 TDI AND ON WWW.TDICLUB.COM AND HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM. ALSO THERE IS A REUTERS NEWS REPORT DATED JUNE 29, 2006 THAT STATES THE PASSAT RECALL AND MAKES MENTION OF EARLIER RECALLS FOR THE GOLF, GOLF PLUS, JETTA AND TOURAN. VW SELLS FAR MORE TDI DIESEL CARS IN EUROPE SO IT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEN TO ISSUE A RECALL THERE. ALL OF THE CARS THAT HAVE PROBLEMS HAVE THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL AND MOST ARE TDI DIESEL CARS. VOLKSWAGEN IS BLAMING THE OWNERS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF THE TDI VEHICLES IN THE USA AND HAS NO 2007 TDI DIESEL CARS DUE TO EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS. WHEN MANY ARE EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION DRIVERS THAT HAVE NOT HAD CLUTCH PROBLEMS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. WHILE THE FOREIGN CARS ARE NOT EXACTLY THE SAME MOST SHARE MANY COMMON PARTS FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURERS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10163870

43,252 miles · Jul 28, 2006
Power Train

THE CLUTCH ON MY 2006 VW JETTA TDI HAS STARTED TO FAIL. THE CAR HAS 43,000 HIGHWAY MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE CLUTCH FAILING ON 2006'S DUE TO NOT BEING BUILT HEAVY ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE ADDITIONAL TORQUE OF THE NEW TDI ENGINE. LUJAK'S VW IN DAVENPORT, IA TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1300 TO $2500 AND …

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THE CLUTCH ON MY 2006 VW JETTA TDI HAS STARTED TO FAIL. THE CAR HAS 43,000 HIGHWAY MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE CLUTCH FAILING ON 2006'S DUE TO NOT BEING BUILT HEAVY ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE ADDITIONAL TORQUE OF THE NEW TDI ENGINE. LUJAK'S VW IN DAVENPORT, IA TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1300 TO $2500 AND THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING VW WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS PROBLEM AFTER 12,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10163828

1,477 miles · Apr 1, 2006
Power Train

AFER 1477 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2006 TDI JETTA FAILED. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 1 WEEK AND THE DEALER TELLS ME IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE PARTS COME IN. I CALLED VW AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD DISCUSS ARBITRATION AFTER THE CAR WAS FIXED. THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK. THAT'S VW QUALITY AND SERVICE FO…

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AFER 1477 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2006 TDI JETTA FAILED. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 1 WEEK AND THE DEALER TELLS ME IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE PARTS COME IN. I CALLED VW AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD DISCUSS ARBITRATION AFTER THE CAR WAS FIXED. THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK. THAT'S VW QUALITY AND SERVICE FOR A $27K CAR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10154337

12,120 miles · Feb 17, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50MPH AND APPROACHING A YIELD, THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED. THE CLUTCH STUCK TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE ALL TRANSMISSION FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50MPH AND APPROACHING A YIELD, THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED. THE CLUTCH STUCK TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE ALL TRANSMISSION FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL DETERMINED THE FLYWHEEL HAD BROKEN CAUSING THE CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE TO BREAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA ODI #10150522

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.