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2006 Volkswagen Rabbit

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 11 of 13 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
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24,129 miles · Jul 22, 2009
Power Train

I HAD SUSPECTED THAT MY DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL ON MY MANUAL 2006 RABBIT W/ 24K WAS BEGINNING TO FAIL BECAUSE I HEARD/FELT SOMETHING SHAKING AROUND IN THE BELL HOUSING OF THE VEHICLE 1 OUT 10 TIMES THAT I WOULD DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN 1ST GEAR. THE SHAKE HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT IN THE PAST YEAR IT HAD GOTTEN P…

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I HAD SUSPECTED THAT MY DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL ON MY MANUAL 2006 RABBIT W/ 24K WAS BEGINNING TO FAIL BECAUSE I HEARD/FELT SOMETHING SHAKING AROUND IN THE BELL HOUSING OF THE VEHICLE 1 OUT 10 TIMES THAT I WOULD DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN 1ST GEAR. THE SHAKE HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT IN THE PAST YEAR IT HAD GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. SO I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN MY CAR BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY. THE GEAR WOULD ENGAGE RIGHT WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IT WOULD NOT GO INTO 2ND GEAR. THE CAR WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE AT IDLE AND MAKE A TICK OVER NOISE WITH ENGINE REVS UP. AS MY SHIFTS GOT WORSE AND WORSE I DECIDED TO TAKE THE NEXT EXIT AND FIND A SAFE SPOT TO STOP THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED IN THE REST OF THE WAY. THE DEALER DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION AND FOUND MY DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL WAS STINKING AND IT HAD ALSO SHREDDED THE CENTER BUSHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLYWHEEL. BOTH THE CLUTCH DISC AND PRESSURE SHOWED NO DAMAGE AND THE VWOA REPLACED MY DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD SHOWN NO SIGNS OF ABUSE LIKE HEAT SPOTS OR CLUTCH DUST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277955

6,000 miles · Dec 29, 2008
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND THE CONSUMER STEPS ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD ABOUT TEN FEET AND THEN DIES NO RESPONSE FROM THE ACCELERATOR. IN THE SAME POSITION AS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE CAR STAYS IN HESITATION MODE FOR A PERIOD…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND THE CONSUMER STEPS ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD ABOUT TEN FEET AND THEN DIES NO RESPONSE FROM THE ACCELERATOR. IN THE SAME POSITION AS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE CAR STAYS IN HESITATION MODE FOR A PERIOD OF 2-5 SECONDS, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATOR RAPIDLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 02-18-09 UPDATED 02/18/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10253110

Official recalls

1

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.

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.