← New search

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

What owners actually said

580 reports
60,000 miles · Sep 15, 2011
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO EXTEND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10425641

60,600 miles · Sep 15, 2011
Seat Belts

DRIVER FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED, RE-TRACTOR LOCKED, AND THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT OR RETRACT. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425612

139,000 miles · Sep 15, 2011
Electrical SystemSeatsFire

MY WIFE WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO WORK, WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR OF OUR JETTA, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS FRONT SEAT. SHE BENT DOWN TO SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM BUT ALL SHE SAW WAS A RED GLOW COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THIS THING MUST HAVE SET AND SMOLDER ALL NIGHT BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T UNLOCK THE CAR THAT…

Read full complaint

MY WIFE WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO WORK, WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR OF OUR JETTA, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS FRONT SEAT. SHE BENT DOWN TO SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM BUT ALL SHE SAW WAS A RED GLOW COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THIS THING MUST HAVE SET AND SMOLDER ALL NIGHT BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T UNLOCK THE CAR THAT MORNING BECAUSE SHE HAD LEFT THE CAR UNLOCKED DO TO WHERE WE LIVE NO ONE IS AROUND FOR MILES. INSPECTOR SAID THAT IT WAS FAULT OF (VW) THE SEAT, BUT IT WILL COST TO MUCH TO SUE VW. WE ALMOST LOST OUR HOME, GARAGE AND OUR LIVES. WE HAD THE SEAT RECALL REPAIRED BUT I THINK THE REPAIR WAS NEVER MADE, THE VIDEO IS ON YOUTUBE UNDER "JETTA FIRE". ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS WHY DIDN'T A FUSE BLOW BEFORE THE CAR BURNT TO THE GROUND. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425520

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2011
Power Train

MY CARS TRANSMISSION DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR INPUT- THE CAR SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN NEUTRAL BUT THE INDICATOR WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION - THIS HAPPENED WHILE AT SPEED AND I HAD TO MANEUVER OUT OF TRAFFIC TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD - I WAS ALMOST HIT AS I COULD NOT ACCELERATE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE …

Read full complaint

MY CARS TRANSMISSION DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR INPUT- THE CAR SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN NEUTRAL BUT THE INDICATOR WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION - THIS HAPPENED WHILE AT SPEED AND I HAD TO MANEUVER OUT OF TRAFFIC TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD - I WAS ALMOST HIT AS I COULD NOT ACCELERATE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED AWAY FOR REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423876

65,000 miles · Sep 2, 2011
Power Train

VEHICLE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE, PUSHED CLUTCH FOOT PEDAL CLEAR TO FLOOR, WOULD NOT SPRING BACK. ON A BUSY ROAD, ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423103

36,000 miles · Aug 31, 2011
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL FAILED THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED UNDRIVEABLE. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WER…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL FAILED THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED UNDRIVEABLE. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ODI #10422757

81,000 miles · Aug 30, 2011
Power Train

THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL HAS FAILED ON MY CAR. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED IT COULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE TO SEIZE THUS LOCKING THE FRONT WHEELS AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/SERIOUS VEHICLE DAMAGE. THERE IS WIDESPREAD INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET DOCUMENTING THE FAILURES, SOME OF WHICH HAVE DESTR…

Read full complaint

THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL HAS FAILED ON MY CAR. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED IT COULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE TO SEIZE THUS LOCKING THE FRONT WHEELS AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/SERIOUS VEHICLE DAMAGE. THERE IS WIDESPREAD INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET DOCUMENTING THE FAILURES, SOME OF WHICH HAVE DESTROYED THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE IN THE PROCESS. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL . I AM FORCED TO REPLACE THIS PART MYSELF SINCE VW WILL NOT COVER THIS PART DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY NOW HAVE AN UPGRADED REPLACEMENT PART AS THEY KNOW THE ORIGINAL IS DEFECTIVE. CST TO REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP $2000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422555

30,000 miles · Aug 29, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE SOUND COULD BE HEARD AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE SOUND COULD BE HEARD AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 09/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEW TRANSMISSION ARRIVED IN TWO WEEKS AND WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/05/11

NHTSA ODI #10422361

55,000 miles · Aug 8, 2011
Fuel System, Diesel

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE OF IT THAT WERE CLOGGING THE FUEL INJECTOR. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE OF IT THAT WERE CLOGGING THE FUEL INJECTOR. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS, BUT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STALLING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10418015

63,000 miles · Aug 8, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CLUTCH SUDDENLY FAILED AND DEPRESSED STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CLUTCH SUDDENLY FAILED AND DEPRESSED STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 63,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10417972

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.