IllustrationTURNED THE KEY ON AND THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYS ON I'VE TRIED TO RESET IT BUT IT WILL NOT RESET. I HAVE READ ON MANY FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FURTHER CAUSE IT IS HAPPENING IN A LOT OF VEHICLES. *JS
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Jetta years →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
890–25K
6925–50K
10850–75K
9875–100K
95100–150K
49150K+
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
What owners actually said
580 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE "MECHAERON". THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DECLINED TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO FIX THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE "MECHAERON". THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DECLINED TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO FIX THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.
THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED SEPARATING...LOOKS LIKE LITTLE MICRO TEARS THAT CONTINUE TO WORSEN. *TR
THE HEADLINER BEGAN SEPARATING ABOVE THE REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT. I LIVE ALONE AND NO ONE EVER EVEN RIDES IN THE BACK SEAT. CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT INSTALLING A WHOLE NEW HEADLINER. *TR
DRIVER'S REAR DOOR LOCK STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE BUTTONS ON IT, AND ON THE MAIN CONTROL, AND ON THE REMOTE. IT INTERMITTENTLY WORKED FOR A MONTH OR SO AND IS NOW DEAD. THE CAR CANNOT BE LOCKED AND THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION AT THAT TIME. AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. SRS CODE NOT ABLE TO BE CLEARED FROM MEMORY. *TR
CAM WEAR FOUND ON 6/8/11, 195761 MILES. CAM SHAFT WEAR SEEN DURING TIMING BELT CHANGE. REPLACED CAM SHAFT, FOLLOWERS, AND BEARINGS. FACTORY RECOMMENDED OIL AND OIL CHANGE INTERVALS WERE USED. CAM SHAFT WAS ALSO REPLACED ON 11/03/09 AT 123086 MILES AFTER THE FOLLOWING INCIDENT: KNOCKING HEARD FROM ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON HIG…
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CAM WEAR FOUND ON 6/8/11, 195761 MILES. CAM SHAFT WEAR SEEN DURING TIMING BELT CHANGE. REPLACED CAM SHAFT, FOLLOWERS, AND BEARINGS. FACTORY RECOMMENDED OIL AND OIL CHANGE INTERVALS WERE USED. CAM SHAFT WAS ALSO REPLACED ON 11/03/09 AT 123086 MILES AFTER THE FOLLOWING INCIDENT: KNOCKING HEARD FROM ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY NEAR DESTINATION, APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES FROM HOME. VEHICLE ARRIVED AT DESTINATION, BUT WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC. CAMSHAFT WEAR AND FOLLOWER BORE FOUND TO BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND WAS REPLACED USING OEM PARTS. VEHICLE WAS USING FACTORY RECOMMENDED OIL AT REGULAR INTERVALS. *TR
AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION AT THAT TIME. AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. SRS CODE NOT ABLE TO BE CLEARED FROM MEMORY. *TR
KNOCKING HEARD FROM ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY NEAR DESTINATION, APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES FROM HOME. VEHICLE ARRIVED AT DESTINATION, BUT WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC. CAMSHAFT WEAR AND FOLLOWER BORE FOUND TO BE DAMAGED AND WAS REPLACED USING OEM PARTS. VEHICLE WAS USING FACTORY RECOMMENDED OIL AT REGULAR IN…
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KNOCKING HEARD FROM ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY NEAR DESTINATION, APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES FROM HOME. VEHICLE ARRIVED AT DESTINATION, BUT WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC. CAMSHAFT WEAR AND FOLLOWER BORE FOUND TO BE DAMAGED AND WAS REPLACED USING OEM PARTS. VEHICLE WAS USING FACTORY RECOMMENDED OIL AT REGULAR INTERVALS. CAM WEAR FOUND AGAIN ON 6/8/11, 195761 MILES. CAM SHAFT WEAR SEEN DURING TIMING BELT CHANGE. REPLACED CAM SHAFT, FOLLOWERS, AND BEARINGS. ONCE AGAIN, FACTORY RECOMMENDED OIL AND OIL CHANGE INTERVALS WERE USED. *TR
CAM SHAFT AND LIFTER INFERIOR QUALITY!!WHAT HAS HAPPENED ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS OF TDI'S THAT I HAVE TALKED TO IS THAT THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS HAVE FAILED. THEY WERE BUILT INFERIOR AND BREAKDOWN. THIS CAUSES A LOT OF CONFUSION WITH MECHANICS TRYING FOR ENDLESS HOURS TO FIGURE OUT WHY ITS SMOKING. WITH A LOT OF RESEARCH I FOU…
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CAM SHAFT AND LIFTER INFERIOR QUALITY!!WHAT HAS HAPPENED ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS OF TDI'S THAT I HAVE TALKED TO IS THAT THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS HAVE FAILED. THEY WERE BUILT INFERIOR AND BREAKDOWN. THIS CAUSES A LOT OF CONFUSION WITH MECHANICS TRYING FOR ENDLESS HOURS TO FIGURE OUT WHY ITS SMOKING. WITH A LOT OF RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS ARE INFERIOR AND BREAKDOWN. WHY DOES VOLKSWAGEN DO THAT TO PEOPLE, IT COST ME SO MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS REPLACING TURBO, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR TO REBUILDING THE ENGINE FOR GOD SAKE TO FIND THAT IT IS THE CAM AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. *TR
Official recalls
410V621000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.