KnownCarProblemsHome › Volkswagen › Jetta › 2006
2006 Volkswagen Jetta Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 580 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, most often about the transmission (42% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles). It is 6th of 27 Jetta model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2006 Volkswagen Jetta problems
Transmission
245 complaints · 42%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly, manual transmission, driveline.
Flywheel and clutch catastrophic failure. Clutch pedal went completely to floor and engine seized up. Clutch would not disengage engine and was seized up. Driver was operating vehicle at low speed when failure occurred. If failure had happened at highway speeds it likely would have resulted in high-speed wreck.
Dual mass flywheel failure in transmission of 06 vw Jetta tdi. The dmf has broken and is damaging the transmision of the car. Attempting to get problem fixed. Updated 01-16-08. Updated
Electrical
112 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, ignition, wiring, horn.
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…
The drivers side door electrical system does not work. The locks, windows, mirrors, trunk latch, gas tank latch, mirror defroster et al. In speaking the vw service reps they knew right away that the issue was a broken harness. They indicated it had failed in many other vehicles. However, in speaking with vw customer…
Engine
93 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Check engine light codes p0302/p2293 intake camshaft, cam follower, high pressure fuel pump, low pressure fuel sensor, air intake hose, sparks plugs.
I was leaving for a trip from milwaukee to madison to start a long weekend vacation. I was I-94 traveling 65 MPH when my vehicle's epc light came on and the engine died. This rendered me useless on a busy highway fearing for my safety. The car died in the middle of heavy traffic due to it being the end of the work…
Air bags
65 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The passenger side airbag experiences a computer fault every 3 months or so, needing to be reset. Indicator light for passenger airbag show airbag is not functioning while airbag fault is registering and until reset at dealer. This has happened three times. It costs ~$200 to fix each time. Vw now offers a "suggested"…
The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the headliner fabric detached, which distorted the contact's vision whenever the vehicle was being driven. In addition, the doors would only unlock manually. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously and the horn…
Lights
35 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, brake lights.
Bought used Volkswagen Jetta turbo. After one year of perfect functioning, the interior lights and air conditioning have totally stopped functioning. Mechanic can't figure it out. Additionally, trunk latch would not latch upon opening trunk.
2006 vw Jetta, driving down street 11/09/12 door ajar light comes on, I stop to close doors and light goes off. I pull into work parking lot and get out of car as I click the key to lock the car, nothing. I then proceed to check the car.. Nothing is working. Cannot access gas cap to put gas in car, some lights may not…
Brakes
29 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, disc.
My 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5l started making strange noises from my rear brakes at 23,000 total vehicle miles. When I removed the rear brake pads, they were already worn to the studs and etching the rear brake discs. Braking effort and stopping distances were increasing. I have never owned a car with brakes that wore…
The rear brakes prematurely wore out on my 2006 vw Jetta tdi. This occurred at 27,000 miles and the brakes were down to metal with no brake material left on the pads which in turn ruined the rotors. The dealer had to replace the pads and rotors at a cost of $341 to me plus tax. Since front brakes do 70-80% of the work…
Seats
25 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 106,500 miles. Parts named most often: front assembly.
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…
While driving my 2006 vw Jetta the drivers power seat started to move by itself forward this has happened several times to the point where my knees where pushed to the dash and my right knee actually turned car off by hitting my keys on key chain occasionally when I have gone out in morning to start the car the seat…
Visibility and wipers
24 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 64,500 miles. Parts named most often: rearview mirrors/devices, sun/moon roof assembly, windshield wiper/washer, glass, side/rear.
The headliner is pulling away from the rear pillars. Being the primary driver of the vehicle I do not spend time in the back seat. My daughter is currently learning to drive so on a recent errand I was sitting in the back seat and looked up to see the headliner completely pulling away and coming down from the roof of…
Window on driver side sometimes are inoperative. This can be because of wires inside the drivers side door are too short. Can be a problem if in an emergency my window must be rolled down. If I'm trapped, what happens if I can't roll down my window to get out! Also, ceiling headliner is coming down. Can no longer see…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Volkswagen Jetta recalls
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: driveshaft
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: headlights
Risk: Noncompliance can inhibit proper headlamp aim adjustment for roadway illumination, improperly aimed headlamps could cause reduced road visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Visibility and wipers: windshield wiper/washer
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (245 complaints, typically around 68,000 miles); electrical (112 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles); engine (93 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 10, 2010 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Volkswagen Jetta?
- It is 6th of 27 Jetta model years by number of complaints, with 580 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.