← New search

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

What owners actually said

580 reports
80,831 miles · Jun 17, 2010
Power Train

DRIVING HOME ON COUNTRY ROAD IN THE POURING DOWN RAIN WHEN AT ABOUT 50 MPH THE ENGINE RPM REVVED, DASH WARNING LIGHTS LIT, FLASHED AND RANG. THE PRND WAS FLASHING. LUCKILY A DRIVEWAY WAS NEARBY TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. KNEW AT THIS POINT WHAT HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE WE HAD THE VERY SAME THING HAPPEN IN OCTOBER OF 2009. MEGATRONICS…

Read full complaint

DRIVING HOME ON COUNTRY ROAD IN THE POURING DOWN RAIN WHEN AT ABOUT 50 MPH THE ENGINE RPM REVVED, DASH WARNING LIGHTS LIT, FLASHED AND RANG. THE PRND WAS FLASHING. LUCKILY A DRIVEWAY WAS NEARBY TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. KNEW AT THIS POINT WHAT HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE WE HAD THE VERY SAME THING HAPPEN IN OCTOBER OF 2009. MEGATRONICS UNIT HAD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1900. CALLED DEALERSHIP FOR APPOINTMENT ON JUNE 8TH. HAPPENED AGAIN 5 TIMES ON WAY TO DEALERSHIP. TOLD FROM DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT IT HAD A BAD STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND GATEWAY MODULE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. HAD TO TAKE CAR 70+ MILES BACK HOME. THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED ON THE WAY HOME IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. FELT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER. STOPPED AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. LEFT CAR FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE. FOUND A SECOND BAD MEGATRONICS UNIT. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FROM THE FIRST REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THE SAFETY CONCERN THAT THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AT ANY GIVEN TIME, IN ANY ROAD SITUATION YOU CAN THINK OF. YOU CANNOT ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO REACT TO THIS. YOU HAVE NO POWER TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS IS TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART AND HOPE IT WORKS. PREVIOUS ODI #10286197. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336882

70,000 miles · Jun 14, 2010
Power Train

CLUTCH FAILURE, PROBLEM DISENGAGING CLUTCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336167

60,000 miles · Jun 8, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2006 VW JETTA 2.5L VALUE EDITION MY CAR IS AT 60,000 MILES AND I HAVE CHANGED THE BRAKES 3 TIMES ALREADY. NOW THE BRAKE PAD WARNING LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT 1,000 DOLLARS IN FIXING THE BRAKES. CHECKING DIFFERENT WEB FORUMS, AND A LOT OF JETTA OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335246

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2010
Power Train

FAILURE OF DSG TRANSMISSION AND DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL ON 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334688

79,000 miles · May 24, 2010
Power Train

AT APPROXIMATELY 79K MILES MY 2006 VW JETTA TDI BEGAN TO RATTLE LOUDLY IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT IDLE AND LOW RPMS. SIGNIFICANT ENGINE SHUDDER ALSO. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL AND PRESSURE PLATE HAVE FAILED. FLYWHEEL FAILURE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND VW HAS REPLACED THIS FL…

Read full complaint

AT APPROXIMATELY 79K MILES MY 2006 VW JETTA TDI BEGAN TO RATTLE LOUDLY IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT IDLE AND LOW RPMS. SIGNIFICANT ENGINE SHUDDER ALSO. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL AND PRESSURE PLATE HAVE FAILED. FLYWHEEL FAILURE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND VW HAS REPLACED THIS FLYWHEEL WITH A MORE RELIABLE DESIGN. BELIEVE THIS DMF HAS ALREADY BEEN A SAFETY RECALL IN EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA, BUT BEING CALLED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IN THE U.S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332014

58,500 miles · May 24, 2010
Electrical SystemFuel System, Diesel

2006 JETTA TDI 58,229 MILES TODAY / PURCHASED FROM 2ND OWNER AT 53K MILES 34MPG IN TOWN / 42.5MPG HIGHWAY WIFE DRIVEN WITH LIGHT FOOT. OIL CHANGE AND FUEL FILTER REPLACED AT 53K MILES BACKGROUND: CAR WAS PURCHASED EARLY DEC 2009, WITH IN 2 WEEKS IT WAS AT THE DEALER FOR A NON START ISSUE. CAR WAS GARAGED OVER A 3 DAY WEE…

Read full complaint

2006 JETTA TDI 58,229 MILES TODAY / PURCHASED FROM 2ND OWNER AT 53K MILES 34MPG IN TOWN / 42.5MPG HIGHWAY WIFE DRIVEN WITH LIGHT FOOT. OIL CHANGE AND FUEL FILTER REPLACED AT 53K MILES BACKGROUND: CAR WAS PURCHASED EARLY DEC 2009, WITH IN 2 WEEKS IT WAS AT THE DEALER FOR A NON START ISSUE. CAR WAS GARAGED OVER A 3 DAY WEEKEND AND NOT DRIVEN AT ALL. MONDAY MY WIFE GOES TO START IT AND IT WILL NOT START, AFTER TELLING ME I TRY FOR 3 MINUTES TO GET IT STARTED AND IT FINALLY STARTS. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIND NO ISSUES, THEY BLAME COLD START AS THE CULPRIT. THIS IS A BS CALL AS THE CAR WAS AND IS ALWAYS GARAGED AT 50+ DEGREES F. ROUGHLY 3 WEEKS LATER THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENS AND THE CAR GOES BACK TO THE DEALER. TO NO AVAIL THEY STILL COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE NOR FIND A SOLUTION. THE NO START ISSUE/ HARD START ISSUE SEEMED TO PROGRESS FROM SITTING FOR 3 DAYS AND NOT STARTING TO RANDOMLY MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK NOT STARTING. THEY STILL CANNOT FIND A SOLUTION. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS A FUEL ISSUE. ON TO TODAY'S ISSUE: FIRST NOTICED 3 WEEKS AGO WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS A CAR ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH (AROUND 4K RPM), THE CAR DOWN SHIFTED AND STUTTERED RATHER THEN INCREASING SPEED. I THOUGHT IT WAS A 1 TIME ISSUE UNTIL I STARTED NOTICING IT MORE AND MORE. NOW IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND MORE PRONOUNCED STARTING AT EVEN 35MPH/3400 RPM IN 3RD GEAR. FROM 10AM TUESDAY TO 5PM FRIDAY OUR JETTA WAS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A STUTTER/POWER LOSS ISSUE. THEY DID REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER TODAY AS WELL AS TEST THE FUEL (WHICH TESTED FINE), THE EGR VALVE WAS CLEANED WITH A CARB CLEANER. THE SERVICE MANAGER DROVE THE CAR OFTEN AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE POWER LOSS / STUTTER, HOWEVER THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY CALLED THE VW TECH LINE MULTIPLE TIMES AND STILL NO FIX ONCE AGAIN. CAR DIED SEVERAL TIMES TODAY. TURNING ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STUTTERED AND THEN .5 MILES LATER IT DIED AT 45MPH IN TRAFFIC. PULLED OVER AND CRANKED FOR 3 MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331889

46,000 miles · May 18, 2010
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING A 2006 VW JETTA DIESEL, ALL POWER WAS LOST TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITH THE PRNDS DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHING. CAR HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS A FALSE NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE ROAD SIDE, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT WITH NORMAL FUNCTION OF 300 YARDS THEN PROBLEM REPEATED …

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING A 2006 VW JETTA DIESEL, ALL POWER WAS LOST TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WITH THE PRNDS DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHING. CAR HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS A FALSE NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE ROAD SIDE, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT WITH NORMAL FUNCTION OF 300 YARDS THEN PROBLEM REPEATED REQUIRING A TOW TO THE DEALER. A FAILURE OF THE MECHATRONIX UNIT IN THE DSG WAS DISCOVERED AND PART REPLACED. A SIMILAR ISSUE HAD OCCURRED AT AROUND 10, 000 MILES , WAS LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER WITH NO ISSUE FOUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331098

65,000 miles · May 17, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES WITHIN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. WHEN DRIVING, HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DUAL MASS FLY WHEEL WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECAL…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD NOISES WITHIN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. WHEN DRIVING, HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DUAL MASS FLY WHEEL WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 09V164000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: DRIVESHAFT) AS RELATED TO THE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10330818

90,000 miles · May 7, 2010
Electrical System

THERE IS A DEFECT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CAUSES MOST OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRONICS TO SHUTDOWN AND OCCASIONALLY STOPS THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. I CAN PROVIDE PICS OF THE WIRING ISSUE IF NEEDED. THE ISSUE USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING IN VERY WET CONDITIONS. AFTER THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE PROBLEM GREW WORSE AS …

Read full complaint

THERE IS A DEFECT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CAUSES MOST OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRONICS TO SHUTDOWN AND OCCASIONALLY STOPS THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. I CAN PROVIDE PICS OF THE WIRING ISSUE IF NEEDED. THE ISSUE USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING IN VERY WET CONDITIONS. AFTER THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE PROBLEM GREW WORSE AS THE WIRING WAS CHAFED MORE & MORE OVER TIME. THE JETTA TDI'S SHOULD BE RECALLED TO HAVE THE HARNESS CHECKED & REPAIRED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN A CAR CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329289

75,000 miles · May 3, 2010
Power Train

I PURCHASED THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI FROM A PRIVATE OWNER 6 MONTHS AGO. THERE WAS A SOUND APPARENT WHEN I PURCHASED IT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS TYPICAL FOR A DIESEL VEHICLE, AFTER 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DMF (DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL) WAS FAILING. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIND THAT THE D…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI FROM A PRIVATE OWNER 6 MONTHS AGO. THERE WAS A SOUND APPARENT WHEN I PURCHASED IT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS TYPICAL FOR A DIESEL VEHICLE, AFTER 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DMF (DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL) WAS FAILING. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIND THAT THE DMF MANUFACTURED BY SACHS THAT VOLKSWAGEN USES IN THEIR 2000 AND LATER MODELS HAVE A HIGH RATE FAILURE AFTER IN AS LITTLE AS 10,000 MILES. CAUSING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE FAILURE OF VARYING DEGREES. THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR CAN RANGE BETWEEN $2000.00 - $8000.00. NOT ONLY IS THE EXPENSE HIGH DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE FLYWHEEL, BUT THE RISK IS EVEN HIGHER, CAUSING HESITATION IN ACCELERATION WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC OR SUDDEN WHEEL LOCK AND LOSS OF CONTROL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT WHILE TRAVELING. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT THIS PROBLEM BE ADDRESS FOR THE SAFETY AND CONCERN OF ANY VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLE OWNER WITH THIS DEFECTIVE FLYWHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328693

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.