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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.

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

Seats complaints

25 reports
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80,000 miles · Mar 24, 2014
Seats

THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED SEPARATING...LOOKS LIKE LITTLE MICRO TEARS THAT CONTINUE TO WORSEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574443

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

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

115,000 miles · Apr 24, 2013
Seats

DRIVER'S SEAT, LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT BACK: NOTICED A DISCOLORATION & CHANGE IN THE FABRIC AT LEAST ONE YEAR AGO. MORE RECENTLY, TWO PINHOLES HAVE APPEARED IN THE AREA. WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. IN RETROSPECT, WE REALIZE THAT SEVERAL ARTICLES OF CLOTHING - PRIMARILY OUTERWEAR - WERE DAMA…

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DRIVER'S SEAT, LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT BACK: NOTICED A DISCOLORATION & CHANGE IN THE FABRIC AT LEAST ONE YEAR AGO. MORE RECENTLY, TWO PINHOLES HAVE APPEARED IN THE AREA. WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. IN RETROSPECT, WE REALIZE THAT SEVERAL ARTICLES OF CLOTHING - PRIMARILY OUTERWEAR - WERE DAMAGED BY THE EXCESS HEAT FROM THAT AREA OF THE SEAT. BECAUSE IT WAS OUTERWEAR, THAT PROBABLY ACCOUNTS FOR WHY WE NEVER FELT THE INTENSE, LOCALIZED HEAT. NO INJURIES RESULTED. BUT AFTER READING ABOUT ALMOST 200 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE JETTAS BUILT AROUND THAT TIME, SOME RESULTING IN INJURIES AND / OR FIRES, I'M SURPRISED THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509354

92,000 miles · Nov 5, 2012
SeatsInjury

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE HEATED SEAT ON , I HAD IT ON 5 WHICH IS THE MAX SETTING AND I FELT A BURNING SENSATION NEAR MY RIGHT SHOULDER AREA SO I FELT MY BACK AND THOUGHT WOW SO I TURNED IT DOWN AND AFTER PULLING IN MY GARAGE I LOOKED AND THE SEAT WAS SLIGHTLY MELTED ABOUT THE SIZE OF A GOLF BALL AND MY JACKET WAS SLI…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE HEATED SEAT ON , I HAD IT ON 5 WHICH IS THE MAX SETTING AND I FELT A BURNING SENSATION NEAR MY RIGHT SHOULDER AREA SO I FELT MY BACK AND THOUGHT WOW SO I TURNED IT DOWN AND AFTER PULLING IN MY GARAGE I LOOKED AND THE SEAT WAS SLIGHTLY MELTED ABOUT THE SIZE OF A GOLF BALL AND MY JACKET WAS SLIGHTLY MELTED I AM GOING TO CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALER TOMORROW TO SEE IF THERE'S A RECALL (BEWARE IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE I BELIEVE IF I WOULD HAVE KEPT IT ON LONG ENOUGH.) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483449

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2011
SeatsUnknown Or Other

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2006 HEADLINER FABRIC FAILURE. SEPARATION OF HEADLINER FABRIC FROM HEADLINER, CREATING A VISIBILITY OBSTRUCTION. POSSIBLY A DANGER TO THE DRIVERS VISIBILITY. CLEAR MANUFACTURES DEFECT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH DONE ONLINE. A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF OWNERS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN D…

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VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2006 HEADLINER FABRIC FAILURE. SEPARATION OF HEADLINER FABRIC FROM HEADLINER, CREATING A VISIBILITY OBSTRUCTION. POSSIBLY A DANGER TO THE DRIVERS VISIBILITY. CLEAR MANUFACTURES DEFECT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH DONE ONLINE. A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF OWNERS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN DIRECTLY. THEY HAVE YET TO INITIATE A MASS RECALL ON 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HEADLINERS, DESPITE THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY OWNERS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10429281

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…

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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

116,332 miles · Jan 24, 2011
Electrical SystemSeatsFire

MY 2006 VW JETTA 2.5 L HAS HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WARMER CATCH FIRE AND CAUSE HOLES IN MY SEAT. AS I DROPPED OFF ONE OF MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL TODAY I NOTICED A BLACK HOLE WITH GLOWING ORANGE EMBERS IN THE SEAT! I TOUCHED IT AND REALIZED MY SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE! THANK GOD MY CHILD WAS ALREADY OUT OF THE CAR AND WAS WEARIN…

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MY 2006 VW JETTA 2.5 L HAS HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WARMER CATCH FIRE AND CAUSE HOLES IN MY SEAT. AS I DROPPED OFF ONE OF MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL TODAY I NOTICED A BLACK HOLE WITH GLOWING ORANGE EMBERS IN THE SEAT! I TOUCHED IT AND REALIZED MY SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE! THANK GOD MY CHILD WAS ALREADY OUT OF THE CAR AND WAS WEARING A HEAVY COAT AND WASN'T BURNED BY IT. DEFINITELY A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND I'M LUCKY NO ONE WAS INJURED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378411

87,000 miles · Nov 26, 2010
Seats

RECENTLY MY BELOVED 2006 JETTA 2.5'S POWER DRIVER SIDE SEAT HAS BEEN MOVING ON ITS OWN WHILE I AM ACTIVELY DRIVING!! I WAS ON MY WAY HOME THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING WHEN MY SEAT STARTED TO SHIFT ON ITS OWN.. I WAS DRIVING IN NJ ON THE PARKWAY TRAVELING 75 MPH.. MY SEAT MOVED FORWARD WHICH PUT PRESSURE ON MY FOOT ON THE GAS THA…

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RECENTLY MY BELOVED 2006 JETTA 2.5'S POWER DRIVER SIDE SEAT HAS BEEN MOVING ON ITS OWN WHILE I AM ACTIVELY DRIVING!! I WAS ON MY WAY HOME THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING WHEN MY SEAT STARTED TO SHIFT ON ITS OWN.. I WAS DRIVING IN NJ ON THE PARKWAY TRAVELING 75 MPH.. MY SEAT MOVED FORWARD WHICH PUT PRESSURE ON MY FOOT ON THE GAS THAN MOVED BACKWARDS ATLEAST 6 INCHES .. LEAVING ME BOTH UNAWARE I WAS TRAVELING 90MPH!! AND UNABLE TO BRAKE.. BECAUSE I COULDN'T REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL.. WHILE I WAS TRYING TO FIX MY SEAT AND PANICKING .. I LOOKED IN MY MIRROR AND REALIZED I WAS BEING PULLED OVER BY A STATE TROOPER. I ADVISED HIM OF THE SITUATION AND HE DIDN'T WANNA HEAR IT.. I PLAN TO FIGHT THIS TICKET IN COURT BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT* MY FAULT.. HOWEVER I AM GRATEFUL I WASN'T INVOLVED IN SOMETHING MORE SEVERE LIKE AN ACCIDENT.. THE CAR IS BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND I STRONGLY ADVISE ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE TO COMPLAIN TO VW BECAUSE THIS IS A DEFF!!!!! SAFETY HAZARD AND WILL KILL SOMEONE.. AND I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I ALSO HAD MY 6 YR OLD SON IN THE CAR.. THIS IS A PROBLEM! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367882

50,000 miles · Oct 26, 2010
SeatsFireInjury

I WAS SITTING IN MY (DRIVERS) SEAT AND NOTICED A FAINT BURNING SMELL FOLLOWED BY PAIN (BURNING) IN MY RIGHT SIDE. I GOT HOME AND FOUND A BURN HOLE IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT. SOMETHING BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNT MY CLOTHES AND GAVE ME A SMALL BLISTER. NEITHER OF US SMOKE. AFTER A FEW TIMES I BELIEVE IT IS THE SEAT HEATER.…

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I WAS SITTING IN MY (DRIVERS) SEAT AND NOTICED A FAINT BURNING SMELL FOLLOWED BY PAIN (BURNING) IN MY RIGHT SIDE. I GOT HOME AND FOUND A BURN HOLE IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT. SOMETHING BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNT MY CLOTHES AND GAVE ME A SMALL BLISTER. NEITHER OF US SMOKE. AFTER A FEW TIMES I BELIEVE IT IS THE SEAT HEATER. IF IT'S OFF IT DOESN'T BURN YOU. A MECHANIC TOLD US THIS IS COMMON AND TO FOLLOWUP ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362452

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.