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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

Electrical System complaints

112 reports
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100,000 miles · Mar 24, 2014
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10574440

118,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

DRIVER'S REAR DOOR LOCK STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE BUTTONS ON IT, AND ON THE MAIN CONTROL, AND ON THE REMOTE. IT INTERMITTENTLY WORKED UNTIL MARCH AND IS NOW DEAD. THE CAR CANNOT BE LOCKED AND THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569191

116,000 miles · Jan 28, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

PURCHASED THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IN AUGUST 2014 WITH 116,000 MILES. ONE MONTH LATER THE HORN WAS NOT WORKING. UPON DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH, DISCOVERED AN INORDINATE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT THESE HORNS BECOME INOPERABLE EVEN WITH FEWER MILES. THE PROBLEM COMES WHEN PRESSING THE HORN PAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, IT DOES NOT…

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PURCHASED THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IN AUGUST 2014 WITH 116,000 MILES. ONE MONTH LATER THE HORN WAS NOT WORKING. UPON DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH, DISCOVERED AN INORDINATE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT THESE HORNS BECOME INOPERABLE EVEN WITH FEWER MILES. THE PROBLEM COMES WHEN PRESSING THE HORN PAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, IT DOES NOT MAKE CONTACT TO SOUND THE HORN. THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY IS LOCATED HERE AS WELL SO I DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE TO TRY TO REPLACE IT MYSELF. THE QUOTE TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED WAS $900.00. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PART IMMEDIATELY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561926

103,000 miles · Jan 27, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats

OUR 2006 JETTA TDI HAD AN AIRBAG FAULT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND THEY TESTED THE AIR CODE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTOR MODULE WENT BAD DUE TO A ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE CIRCUIT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO SAY IF THE AIRBAGS WERE GOING TO WORK ON NOT IN THE CASE OF A CRASH.…

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OUR 2006 JETTA TDI HAD AN AIRBAG FAULT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND THEY TESTED THE AIR CODE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTOR MODULE WENT BAD DUE TO A ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE CIRCUIT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO SAY IF THE AIRBAGS WERE GOING TO WORK ON NOT IN THE CASE OF A CRASH. VOLKSWAGEN IS REFUSING TO TAKE ANY OWNERSHIP OF KEEPING THEIR VEHICLE SAFE AND COVERING THE COST OF THE PART. I CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN USA AND THEY GAVE THE REASON THEY WILL NOT COVER THE PART BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS BEING NEGLECTFUL TO THEIR CLAIM ON PROVIDING A SAFE VEHICLE. NOW THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS GOING OUT, WE ARE HAVING MORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561607

136,000 miles · Jan 22, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

AFTER USING THE FOB TO LOCK THE DOORS WE NOTICED THE REAR DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. IF THE CAR IS JUST SITTING THE REAR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN TO CHILDREN OR WOULD BE THIEVES. WE ALSO NOTICED THE REAR DOORS WOULD SHOW THEY WERE LOCKED ONCE WE WERE MOVING, BUT WERE ACTUALLY UNLOCKED ALLOWING THE REAR PASSENGER TO…

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AFTER USING THE FOB TO LOCK THE DOORS WE NOTICED THE REAR DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. IF THE CAR IS JUST SITTING THE REAR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN TO CHILDREN OR WOULD BE THIEVES. WE ALSO NOTICED THE REAR DOORS WOULD SHOW THEY WERE LOCKED ONCE WE WERE MOVING, BUT WERE ACTUALLY UNLOCKED ALLOWING THE REAR PASSENGER TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE! VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ASAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561093

118,395 miles · Jan 18, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

BEEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS CLAIMING IN FOX VALLEY IL ROCKFORD IL GLENVIEW IL THAT EITHER MY MECHUNIT IS BAD/FAULTY OR DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL IS BAD/FAULTY. WAS DRIVING WHERE EITHER MY CAR WOULD SHIFT VERY ROUGH AS IF SOMEONE WHO IS VERY INEXPERIENCED WOULD LET GO OF THE CLUTCH LATE AND SHIFT HARD/ROUGH INTO 1-2-3 WITH CLICKING N…

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BEEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS CLAIMING IN FOX VALLEY IL ROCKFORD IL GLENVIEW IL THAT EITHER MY MECHUNIT IS BAD/FAULTY OR DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL IS BAD/FAULTY. WAS DRIVING WHERE EITHER MY CAR WOULD SHIFT VERY ROUGH AS IF SOMEONE WHO IS VERY INEXPERIENCED WOULD LET GO OF THE CLUTCH LATE AND SHIFT HARD/ROUGH INTO 1-2-3 WITH CLICKING NOISES. CAR JUST RECENTLY SHIFTED FROM 2 TO NEUTRAL AND SCARED THE CRAPOUT OF ME. THE CAR HAS EXTREME VIBRATION AND UNCONTROLLED SHIFT PATTERNS. WAS TURNING ONTO MY STREET AND CAR WENT FROM 3-2 TO NEUTRAL WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND WENT INTO A SNOW BANK ON SIDE OF ROAD. WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE VOLKSWAGEN CONTACT ME TO EITHER REPLACE OR FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS OWNERS OF A 2006 VW TDI OR ANY AUTOMATIC WITH DSG MECHUNIT BEWARE AND PLEASE BE CAREFUL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560486

117,100 miles · Jan 7, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

TRAVELING ALONG AT 55 MPH AND THE GEAR DISPLAY STARTED FLASHING/BLINKING AS THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. BATTERY IS FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558801

86,000 miles · Jan 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSeatsFire

WHILE DRIVING HOME WITH MY WIFE, SHE STATED THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE HEATED SEATS WERE ON AS IT WAS A COLD MORNING. THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THAT THE BACK REST OF THE SEAT HAD A SMOLDERING MARK AS WELL AS SOME SORT OF SMOKE DAMAGE AS IF THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT. WE LATER LOOKED ON HER…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME WITH MY WIFE, SHE STATED THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE HEATED SEATS WERE ON AS IT WAS A COLD MORNING. THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THAT THE BACK REST OF THE SEAT HAD A SMOLDERING MARK AS WELL AS SOME SORT OF SMOKE DAMAGE AS IF THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT. WE LATER LOOKED ON HER JACKET AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS TRANSFER OF THE "LEATHER" TO HER JACKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558469

101,000 miles · Dec 16, 2013
Electrical SystemPower TrainStructure

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 VW JETTA TDI SEDAN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN A PRIVATE SALE IN 2009. BY 2011 I WAS HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL FAILED JUST AFTER I HAD MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE TIMING BELT SERVICE (APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 106,000). I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED (AT MY EXPENSE…

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I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 VW JETTA TDI SEDAN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN A PRIVATE SALE IN 2009. BY 2011 I WAS HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL FAILED JUST AFTER I HAD MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE TIMING BELT SERVICE (APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 106,000). I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED (AT MY EXPENSE) TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE THE 130 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA HAS NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. APPARENTLY SOMEONE HAS TO DIE TO GET THEIR ATTENTION. APPROXIMATE COST OF REPAIRS: $1,800. 2ND BIG PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL. WIRING HARNESS IN THE DRIVER DOOR FAILED SOON AFTER I PURCHASED IT. IT STARTED WITH THE DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH NOT WORKING. THEN THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON QUIT WORKING. THEN THE INTERIOR/EXTERIOR SAFETY LIGHTS. I HAVE HEARD THAT IT WILL PROGRESS TO THE TRUNK LID, THE OTHER WINDOWS, THE FUEL DOOR, ECT. ONCE AGAIN AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO A POOR DESIGN. ONCE AGAIN VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA HAS REFUSED TO OFFER ASSISTANCE - THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME JUST UNDER $500 IN PARTS AND LABOR. WHY WOULD A HARNESS COST $205!!! THIRD PROBLEM IS COSMETIC ISSUES. THE PAINT IS FLAKING OFF ESPECIALLY NEAR THE SEAMS AND AT THE WHEEL WHEELS. RUST FORMED WHERE THE PAINT BUBBLED UP AT TWO OF THE FOUR WHEEL WHEELS. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR PAINT PROBLEMS IN THE GENERATION BEFORE THIS VEHICLE AND A 10-12 YEAR CORROSION WARRANTY THAT VW REFUSES TO HONOR. ADDITIONALLY, PROBLEMS WITH POOR MANUFACTURING PRACTICES AND MATERIALS ABOUND IN THIS VEHICLE. THE HEADLINER PULLS AWAY FROM THE PILLARS AT THE SEAMS IN THE REAR DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. IT WILL SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF AND BECOME A HANGING VISIBILITY HAZARD. THE PLASTIC DASH PIECES DON'T FIT TOGETHER - SHRINKING AND PULLING AWAY AT THE SEAMS. STEREO BUTTONS (AS WELL AS DOOR SWITCHES) BUBBLE AND FLAKE OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556286

158,000 miles · Sep 27, 2013
Electrical System

I HAVE RUN INTO NUMEROUS ISSUES ON MY CAR THAT HAVE CAUSED ME TO TROUBLESHOOT AND SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE PULLED BACK THE ABRASION PROTECTION ON THE WIRING AND FOUND THAT THE INSULATION COMMON TO THE WIRES IS CRACK OR WORN OFF EXPOSING THE CENTER CONDUCTOR OF THE WIRES. MANY TIMES THERE ARE NUMEROUS WIRES W…

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I HAVE RUN INTO NUMEROUS ISSUES ON MY CAR THAT HAVE CAUSED ME TO TROUBLESHOOT AND SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE PULLED BACK THE ABRASION PROTECTION ON THE WIRING AND FOUND THAT THE INSULATION COMMON TO THE WIRES IS CRACK OR WORN OFF EXPOSING THE CENTER CONDUCTOR OF THE WIRES. MANY TIMES THERE ARE NUMEROUS WIRES WITHIN A HARNESS THAT ARE WORN THROUGH. SO FAR I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY THAT ARE SHORTED OUT BUT MANY ARE VERY CLOSE AND AT HIGH RISK OF CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/FIRE. I AM AN AIRCRAFT ELECTRICIAN/INSPECTOR AND HAVE FOUND THE ABRASION PROTECTION TO BE HORRIBLE INADEQUATE. THERE ARE 2 HARNESSES THAT GO TO THE TURBO THAT HAVE A HARD PLASTIC ABRASION COVER BUT NOTHING SHIELDING THE WIRE FROM THIS COVER. ON BOTH OF THESE HARNESSES I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC HAD WORN A SERIES OF RIDGES DOWN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF WIRE THEY COVERED AND EXPOSED THE CONDUCTOR IN MULTIPLE PLACES. MY RIGHT HAND MIRROR TURN SIGNAL WAS NOT WORKING SO I PULLED IT OUT AND TESTED THE BULB AND FOUND THAT IT WAS GOOD. WHEN I PULLED THE RUBBER BOOT THAT COVERS THE WIRES IN THE DOOR JAM I FOUND A POWER WIRE IN THERE THAT THE INSULATION HAD CRACKED AND PULLED APART EXPOSING .150" OF CENTER CONDUCTOR IN MULTIPLE PLACES. IT SEEMS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE WIRING IS EITHER POOR QUALITY OR JUST NOT PROTECTED CAUSING THE INSULATION TO FAIL AND BECOME A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD FOR POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL SHORTS OR FIRES. I HAVE HEARD THESE CARS ARE PRONE TO ELECTRICAL CAUSED FIRES AND STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO AVOID MORE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS THAT COULD COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR SINCE MAY OF 2013 AND HAVE ALREADY REPAIRED 4 WIRING HARNESSES THROUGHOUT THE CAR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A CAR THAT IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10545698

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.