2006 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Jetta years
- Far more complaints than other years 6th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 580 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. That ranks 6th out of 32 Jetta model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (245 complaints, 42%), typically at around 68,000 miles. Complaints mention 15 crashes, 6 fires, 17 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.

- 580owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 15complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2006 Volkswagen Jetta problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 245 | 42% | 68,000 | “dual mass” (22%) | $3,250 |
| Electrical System problems | 112 | 19% | 90,000 | “wiring harness” (26%) | — |
| Air Bags problems | 65 | 11% | 85,000 | “air bag” (48%) | $360 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 54 | 9% | 64,000 | “dual mass” (9%) | — |
| Engine | 39 | 7% | 123,543 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 32 | 6% | 13,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 25 | 4% | 106,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 23 | 4% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 21 | 4% | 27,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 3% | 52,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 18 | 3% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 16 | 3% | 126,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 14 | 2% | 76,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 10 | 2% | 69,250 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 2% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 2% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9 | 2% | 134,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 8 | 1% | 25,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 1% | 3,700 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 1% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 6 | 1% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 1% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 1% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 1% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 1% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 1% | 10,010 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 0% | 32,104 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 19,247 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 60,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2006 Volkswagen Jetta recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
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.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Problem: 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.
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.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: 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.
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.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Problem: 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.
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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
So it appears to be fine until about 30/45 mins drive time Then it starts shifting/slamming real hard and hesitates to shift in the next gear To the point where stopping and going isnât an option or it slips After about 45 mins all the prnds lights turned on and did the same in manual mode.. I…
The windshield wiper broke the window, brakes need replaced to soon, fuel system car has trouble fueling and after fueling and engine over heating due to engine cooling malfunction. None of these have been repaired yet it shows 0 unprepared recalls.
The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that brake fluid had leaked from her vehicle as the check engine light illuminated the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where she was informed that the brake master cylinder needed to be…
The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission shuddered without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The…
Anti-lock brake light on indicating repair is needed.
Other Volkswagen Jetta years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Jetta | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 Jetta | 30 | 2 |
| 2024 Jetta | 45 | 0 |
| 2023 Jetta | 43 | 0 |
| 2022 Jetta | 43 | 1 |
| 2021 Jetta | 69 | 4 |
| 2020 Jetta | 54 | 6 |
| 2019 Jetta | 549 | 11 |
| 2018 Jetta | 31 | 2 |
| 2017 Jetta | 160 | 6 |
| 2016 Jetta | 161 | 4 |
| 2015 Jetta | 194 | 7 |
| 2014 Jetta | 387 | 4 |
| 2013 Jetta | 517 | 4 |
| 2012 Jetta | 500 | 5 |
| 2011 Jetta | 607 | 7 |
| 2010 Jetta | 852 | 4 |
| 2009 Jetta | 889 | 6 |
| 2008 Jetta | 188 | 4 |
| 2007 Jetta | 201 | 4 |
| 2006 | 580 | 4 |
| 2005 Jetta | 248 | 4 |
| 2004 Jetta | 231 | 2 |
| 2003 Jetta | 456 | 2 |
| 2002 Jetta | 702 | 5 |
| 2001 Jetta | 668 | 6 |
| 2000 Jetta | 439 | 4 |
| 1999 Jetta | 349 | 6 |
| 1998 Jetta | 192 | 2 |
| 1997 Jetta | 54 | 1 |
| 1996 Jetta | 31 | 1 |
| 1995 Jetta | 220 | 4 |
See all Volkswagen Jetta problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
Similar Volkswagen models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, air bags problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 245 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Jetta model years, the 2006 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.