IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE REARVIEW MIRROR OVERADJUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO PRODUCE A LARGE, RED GLARE ON THE REAR WINDOW. THE FAILURE CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24.
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. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS AT 10 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CLUTCH HAS FAILED AND THE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND FAI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS AT 10 MPH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CLUTCH HAS FAILED AND THE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,900.
DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL LEAKING FROM CENTER HUB CLUTCH FAILURE. *TR
WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND YOU ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD CLEANING SYSTEM, THE WIPERS WILL WIPE THREE TO FOUR TIMES AND THEN WAIT ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND THEN WIPE ONE FINAL TIME. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE AS THE SPLASH BACK IS MINIMAL. HOWEVER, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHERE THERE IS AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF W…
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WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND YOU ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD CLEANING SYSTEM, THE WIPERS WILL WIPE THREE TO FOUR TIMES AND THEN WAIT ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND THEN WIPE ONE FINAL TIME. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE AS THE SPLASH BACK IS MINIMAL. HOWEVER, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHERE THERE IS AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF WATER AND CHEMICALS ON THE ROAD, THE TINY AMOUNTS OF SPLASH BACK THAT GETS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD ARE SMEARED WHEN THE FINAL SWIPE OCCURS AND OBSTRUCTS YOUR VIEW. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE CHECKED AND STOPPED, BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS A "FEATURE" OF THE VW VEHICLES AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
MY SPEEDOMETER IS READING FAST (WHEN I AM GOING 75 IT READS 80) WHEN COMPARED TO RADAR AND GPS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO MY DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE UNIT WAS OK, BUT THAT UP TO A 10% TOLERANCE IS ALLOWED BY FEDERAL REGULATIONS. *TR
ONLY 48,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE CLUTCH/FLYWHEEL ARE SHOT. ACCORDING TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANS SHOP THIS IS THE SECOND TIME ITS BEEN REBUILT WITH VW PARTS. *JB
FAULTY CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL. FLYWHEEL BLEW APART AND DESTROYED CLUTCH. THE INCIDENT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD HAVE POSSIBLY KILLED MY ENTIRE FAMILY. *JB
FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. CLUTCH PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR AND ENGINE SEIZED UP. CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE ENGINE AND WAS SEIZED UP. DRIVER WAS OPERATING VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. IF FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT LIKELY WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN HIGH-SPEED WRECK. *TR
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY IN BOTH MY 2006 VW JETTA'S HAD TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE OF INCORRECT ASSEMBLY AT PLANT. ONE IS RUNNING WELL, THE OTHER ONE IS STILL NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. *TR
CLUTCH IN MY 2006 JETTA TDI (MANUFACTURED 02/06) WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. I LOST ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS AND VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS THE CLUTCH BUT FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED THESE CARS (MANUFACTURED BEFORE 03/06) HAVE A FAULTY DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL THAT…
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CLUTCH IN MY 2006 JETTA TDI (MANUFACTURED 02/06) WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. I LOST ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS AND VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS THE CLUTCH BUT FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED THESE CARS (MANUFACTURED BEFORE 03/06) HAVE A FAULTY DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL THAT COMES APART AND THEN TEARS UP THE CLUTCH. *JB
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.