IllustrationAIRBAG LIGHT IS LITE. REPAIR GARAGE INDICATES PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT TENSIONER IGNITOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
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
Air Bags complaints
65 reportsTHE PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON , I PAID $1,110.00 , TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IN LESS THAN A WEEK THE DRIVER SIDE DID THE SAME THING. I NEED HELP, PLEASE.
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. HAD REPAIRED. THEN DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES THAT INCLUDED THE HEADLIGHTS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, THE DOOR SENSORS ERRONEOUSLY INDICATING THE DOORS WERE OPENED (WHICH ALSO CAUSED AN AUDIBLE WARNING CHIME TO ACTIVATE), AND THE FLOOR LIGHTS ILLUMINAT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES THAT INCLUDED THE HEADLIGHTS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, THE DOOR SENSORS ERRONEOUSLY INDICATING THE DOORS WERE OPENED (WHICH ALSO CAUSED AN AUDIBLE WARNING CHIME TO ACTIVATE), AND THE FLOOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPERATE, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE, AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTING WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF VEHICLE START. LOUD CLUNK NOISE THRU 4 GEARS. CAR IN GARAGE. OST 50-75 DEGREES. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WITH WIRING EXTENSION COMPLETED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PARKING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL TANK LEAKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PARKING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL TANK LEAKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
AIR BAG SENSORS - DEFECTIVE. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE SENSORS IN THIS VEHICLE TWICE IN THE LAST 2 YEARS.
ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO ,I TOOK MY JETTA TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN REGARD TO FRONT AIRBAGS RECALL. THE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. THEY REPAIRED IT, BUT AFTER A YEAR THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN I CALL THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE CAR BEFORE THEY CAN DETERMINE IF IT IS DEFECTIVE OR …
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ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO ,I TOOK MY JETTA TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN REGARD TO FRONT AIRBAGS RECALL. THE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. THEY REPAIRED IT, BUT AFTER A YEAR THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN I CALL THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE CAR BEFORE THEY CAN DETERMINE IF IT IS DEFECTIVE OR NOT. IT SEEMS TO ME THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. ALSO MY HORN WANT OFF, ONE DAY, AND THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT , WAS TO PULL THE FUSE OUT. WHEN I PUT THE FUSE BACK , THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FUSE. . MY YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON , ESPECIALLY WHEN I USE MY A/C AND THERE IS A VERY STRANGE SMELL IN THE CAR. I ONLY HAVE 55000 MILES ON THIS CAR. AND TO TOP IT ALL, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, I GOT A ICON LIGHTING UP IN REGARD TO MY COOLANT. THE LITTLE BLACK TUBE THAT CONNECTS TO THE RESERVOIR HAD SLIPPED OFF AND ALL THE ANTIFREEZE FELL OUT OF IT ONTO THE ENGINE. OWNING A VOLKSWAGEN IS A REAL NIGHTMARE, HAD HONDA BEFORE, PUT OVER 130000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM.WILL DEFINITELY NEVER BUY VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN AND WILL NOT RECOMMEND IT. TO ANYONE
TDI ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CHAFED INSIDE THE WIRE LOOM CAUSE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. INCLUDING ABS, STEERING MODULE, AIRBAG, ENGINE SPEED SENSOR, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND STABILITY CONTROL. VERY DIFFICULT AND COSTLY TO DIAGNOSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE MODIFIED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER CHARGED $125.00 FOR THE REPAIR AND STATED THAT A NEW…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE MODIFIED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER CHARGED $125.00 FOR THE REPAIR AND STATED THAT A NEW AIR BAG MAY BE NEEDED AT THE COST OF APPROXIMATELY $750.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,300.
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.