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 reports
110,000 miles · Jan 16, 2012
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE TRAVELING IN RAIN AT 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO, THE BRAKE AND ABS/ESP WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WHERE THREE CHIMES. A SECOND LATER ALL WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED 6 TIMES THAT DAY, AND HAS HAPPENED AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS SINCE AT LEAST 7 TIMES. THERE IS NO CORRELATI…
Read full complaint
WHILE TRAVELING IN RAIN AT 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO, THE BRAKE AND ABS/ESP WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WHERE THREE CHIMES. A SECOND LATER ALL WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED 6 TIMES THAT DAY, AND HAS HAPPENED AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS SINCE AT LEAST 7 TIMES. THERE IS NO CORRELATION ANYMORE BETWEEN WET AND DRY CONDITIONS, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ENGAGED, I DO NOT HAVE TO BE TRAVELING AT A CONSTANT SPEED. THERE ARE NO TROUBLE CODES STORED IN THE VEHICLES COMPUTER, AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO HELP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10443991
78,000 miles · Jan 7, 2012
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT WILL NOT LONGER RETRACT INTO TENSIONING DEVICE!!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10442810
80,000 miles · Jan 6, 2012
Power Train
I STARTED TO NOTICE A RATTLING NOISE PRIOR TO A DMF FLYWHEEL FAILURE. THE FAILURE CAUSED TO VEHICLE TO COME TO AN UNCONTROLLED OUT OF CONTROL STOP AT A 68 MPH SPEED. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY VW AMERICA AND HAS BEEN A UNDER A RECALL ORDER IN THE UK. VW HAS A REPAIR KIT FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A 1,600.00 INSTILLATION COST A…
Read full complaint
I STARTED TO NOTICE A RATTLING NOISE PRIOR TO A DMF FLYWHEEL FAILURE. THE FAILURE CAUSED TO VEHICLE TO COME TO AN UNCONTROLLED OUT OF CONTROL STOP AT A 68 MPH SPEED. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY VW AMERICA AND HAS BEEN A UNDER A RECALL ORDER IN THE UK. VW HAS A REPAIR KIT FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A 1,600.00 INSTILLATION COST AND HAS FAILED TO CONTACT OWNERS AND ALERT THEM TO THE LIFE THREATENING RESULT OF THIS KNOWN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. ALSO, A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WILL RESULT IS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT (+8,000.00) AND POSSIBLY THE INJURY OR DEATH OF THE OCCUPANTS DUE TO AN UNCONTROLLED SLIDE AND DRIFT AND HIGH SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10442610
66,783 miles · Jan 4, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,783. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10442424
60,000 miles · Dec 21, 2011
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TRUNK WOULD NOT REMAIN LOCKED AND WOULD PERIODICALLY FLY OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MIL…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TRUNK WOULD NOT REMAIN LOCKED AND WOULD PERIODICALLY FLY OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA ODI #10440858
24,406 miles · Dec 19, 2011
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
BOUGHT NEW VW JETTA SEDAN ON 08/17/06. ON 05/13/10 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF CAR DECELERATING WHILE DRIVING I.E. DROPPING IN SECONDS FROM 60 MILES TO 20 MILES. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER ANSWER "UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM" UNTIL WARRANTY OF FOUR YEARS EXPIRED. THE PROBLEM…
Read full complaint
BOUGHT NEW VW JETTA SEDAN ON 08/17/06. ON 05/13/10 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF CAR DECELERATING WHILE DRIVING I.E. DROPPING IN SECONDS FROM 60 MILES TO 20 MILES. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER ANSWER "UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM" UNTIL WARRANTY OF FOUR YEARS EXPIRED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES EVEN AFTER THE CARBON ACCUMULATED ON THE THROTTLE WAS CLEANED AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. DUE TO UNSAFE TO DRIVE, REQUESTED FOR THE DEALER TO BUY THE CAR BACK AS A LEMON. THE DEALER REFUSES BECAUSE THE FOUR YR WARRANTY IS OVER. OTHER PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE DURING THIS PERIOD: AIR BAGS LIGHTS GOING OFF, AIR BAG COVER FALLING OFF, TRUNK OPENING ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING, RAIN WATER LEAKING INSIDE THE LINING OF THE CAR, SCREWS COMING OFF A DOOR PANEL, DOORS FALLING OFF THE HINGES, EMERGENCY SWITCH FALLING INSIDE PANEL, FUEL CAP NOT LOCKING, RECALLS. DEALER RECOMMENDING TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN FOR 2,340.
NHTSA ODI #10440788
106,000 miles · Dec 17, 2011
Power TrainCrash
WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 45MPH AT 5:40PM ON 12/15/11 MY '06 JETTA TDI SUDDENLY STOPPED DRIVING. IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE CAR HAD SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAPPENED ON HWY 83 IN DELAFIELD. HWY 83 IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST HIGHWAYS IN WISCONSIN. WE WERE UNABLE TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC AND WERE STRANDED IN THE LEFT OF THE 2 LANES.…
Read full complaint
WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 45MPH AT 5:40PM ON 12/15/11 MY '06 JETTA TDI SUDDENLY STOPPED DRIVING. IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE CAR HAD SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAPPENED ON HWY 83 IN DELAFIELD. HWY 83 IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST HIGHWAYS IN WISCONSIN. WE WERE UNABLE TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC AND WERE STRANDED IN THE LEFT OF THE 2 LANES. OUR HAZARDS WERE TURNED ON AS TRAFFIC STARTED TO PULL AROUND US WE WERE CALLING AAA FOR A TOW. WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF THE STALL WE CAUSED A 5 CAR PILE UP. OF THE 5 CARS, 2 WERE TOTALED. 2 OTHER HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. ONE HAD MINOR. WE SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE AS WE WERE NOT HIT. CAR WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY FOUND THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL TO HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. $4,500 - $5,000 ESTIMATED REPAIR FROM THAT SHOP. $5000 "MINIMUM" FROM HALL IMPORTS OF BROOKFIELD. HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE'S LIVES WILL YOU ALLOW TO BE JEOPARDIZED BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM? I AM HORRIFIED THAT I CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OF THIS SIZE! VW STOPPED MAKING TDI'S AFTER 2006...WHY? DID THEY REALIZE THERE WAS A PROBLEM? ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION? I AM GOING TO RESEARCH CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS TO SEE IF THIS GROUP OF VW OWNERS HAS A CASE AGAINST VW. AND WHAT IS THE NHTSA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE THIS FURTHER THAN JUST ACCEPTING COMPLAINTS? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10440260
105,000 miles · Dec 7, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BETWEEN 3 AND 4 GEAR AND BETWEEN 4 AND 5 GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10438904
49,433 miles · Dec 5, 2011
Power Train
VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING AFTER STOPPING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. ENGINE STARTS BUT CAR WILL NOT MOVE . SHIFT POSITION INDICATOR FLASHING. VEHICLES TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN GARAGE. NEEDS MECHATRONICS TRANSMISSION MODULE REPLACED . ALMOST $2300 REPAIR . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10438688
66,000 miles · Dec 2, 2011
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2006 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration