IllustrationDRIVER SEAT BELT SENSOR FAILING AT 55,000 MILES. CAR IS ONLY 2.5 YEARS OLD. VW WON'T FIX UNDER WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED AT 50,000 MILES. I HAVE HEARD VW HAS MANY PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT SENSORS. *TR
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
What owners actually said
580 reportsAT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI WITH DSG TRANSMISSION SURGES FORWARD UPON STARTING. THIS SURGE HAPPENS IF THE CAR IS IN PARK (P) OR NEUTRAL (N). THE SURGE IS NOTICEABLE EVEN WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET AND STANDARD BRAKING SYSTEM APPLIED. THIS SURGE DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START …
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AT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI WITH DSG TRANSMISSION SURGES FORWARD UPON STARTING. THIS SURGE HAPPENS IF THE CAR IS IN PARK (P) OR NEUTRAL (N). THE SURGE IS NOTICEABLE EVEN WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET AND STANDARD BRAKING SYSTEM APPLIED. THIS SURGE DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START NORMALLY (E.G. STALLS THE ENGINE). THE SURGE HAPPENS ONLY ONCE DURING A COLD START. AFTERWARD, THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS NORMALLY. *TR
AT 15F DEGREES OR LOWER TEMPERATURES THE VOLKSWAGEN DSG TRANSMISSION WILL IMPEDE THE DIESEL ENGINES ABILITY TO START, LEAVING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. VWAG AND VWOA HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SYSTEM DEFECT PROVIDING NO SOLUTION. VWOA CONTINUES TO SELL THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. *TR
ENGINE FAILURE ON MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN DIESEL JETTA. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL FUEL INJECTOR OVER FUELED THE CYLINDERS AND CAUSED THE PULL RODS TO BEND AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE, COSTS ARE $7,500 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. CAR IS ONLY 2 AND HALF YEARS OLD WITH 85,0000 MILES. *TR
LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, REGARDING HIS CONCERNS WITH THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE 5-SPEED VEHICLES WERE MADE WITH A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH PLATE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE…
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LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, REGARDING HIS CONCERNS WITH THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE 5-SPEED VEHICLES WERE MADE WITH A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH PLATE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE HAD THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE DEALER STATED IF THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART, THE CONSUMER WOULD BE CHARGED $500 IN LABOR FEES FOR REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI - VW REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY OF A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH/FLYWHEEL ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURANCE APPARENTLY. I LEARNED OF THIS WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO DO SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN IS HONORING THE WARRANTIES IN EUROPE WITH THE SAME ISSUE BUT IGNORING ITS QUALITY / SAFETY ISSUE HERE IN …
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VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI - VW REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY OF A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH/FLYWHEEL ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURANCE APPARENTLY. I LEARNED OF THIS WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO DO SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN IS HONORING THE WARRANTIES IN EUROPE WITH THE SAME ISSUE BUT IGNORING ITS QUALITY / SAFETY ISSUE HERE IN THE US. THE DEFECTIVE CLUTCH / FLYWHEEL ISSUE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND OR DEATH WHEN THE FLYWHEEL DISENTIGRATES. *TR
PREMATURE FAILURE OF CLUTCH. *TR
MY 2006 VW JETTA TDI CLUTCH WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. I PULLED IT BACK UP AND IT WOULD NOT GO BACK DOWN. CLUTCH WAS NEVER SPONGY BEFOREHAND AND JUST WENT OUT WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT …
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MY 2006 VW JETTA TDI CLUTCH WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. I PULLED IT BACK UP AND IT WOULD NOT GO BACK DOWN. CLUTCH WAS NEVER SPONGY BEFOREHAND AND JUST WENT OUT WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (CAR HAS APPROX 40,000 MILES). AFTER DOING RESEARCH AND FINDING OUT OTHERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM I WILL BE COMPLAINING TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT COVERED. I AM A STUDENT AND MY HUSBAND IS IN THE ARMY WE DON'T HAVE $2000 TO PAY FOR SUCH A REPAIR, THAT WAS NOT CAUSED BY "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". *TR
THE ORIGINAL ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING FOR CHRISTMAS (DEC 26, 2006). IN A BRAND NEW CAR WITH "UP GRADED" CONTINENTAL TIRES GOING ABOUT 60 MPH THE TIRES DISINTEGRATED, THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT HIGHWAY WALL. IT WAS A CLEAR TIRE MALFUNCTIONED AND AFTER SENDING TIRE TO CONTINENTAL NORTH AMERICA IN CHARLOTT…
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THE ORIGINAL ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING FOR CHRISTMAS (DEC 26, 2006). IN A BRAND NEW CAR WITH "UP GRADED" CONTINENTAL TIRES GOING ABOUT 60 MPH THE TIRES DISINTEGRATED, THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT HIGHWAY WALL. IT WAS A CLEAR TIRE MALFUNCTIONED AND AFTER SENDING TIRE TO CONTINENTAL NORTH AMERICA IN CHARLOTTE, NC THEY SAID THAT THEIR "INSPECTORS" FOUND NO FAULT. WE ASKED THEM TO RECONSIDER AND ENDED UP GETTING A $1,500 GOODWILL OFFER FROM THEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE HAD A RENTAL CAR FOR 8 WEEKS WHILE OUT CAR WITH $6,000 IN DAMAGES WAS FIXED. JUST THIS WEEK AS WE WERE ABOUT TO COUNTER OFFER AND GET AT LEAST OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES, SINCE ITS GOING INTO THE 2ND YEAR, ANOTHER "UPGRADED TIRE" SHREDDED. THIS TIME WITH OUR 4 MONTH OLD SON IN IT. THE ONLY THING EXTRA THEY ADDED TO THE CLAIM WAS TO PAY FOR NEW TIRES FOR US. THEY HAVE NOT BARGAINED IN GOOD FAITH AND THEY ARE USING THEIR CORPORATE POWER TO DEFLECT THE LIABILITY OF PRODUCING INFERIOR PRODUCTS. OF THE ORIGINAL SET OF 4 "UPGRADED" TIRES, 3 HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH 2 COMPLETELY SHREDDING THROUGH THE MIDDLE. *TR
REAR BRAKES WEAR UNEVENLY (DRIVER SIDE REAR PADS HAVE WORN AT AN INCREDIBLE RATE) REAR BRAKES ALSO LOCK UP EASILY WHILE BRAKING ON LOOSE PAVEMENT OR GRAVEL. *TR
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.