NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
THE DIRECT SHIFT GEAR TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR COULD NO LONGER GET OUT OF NEUTRAL. *TR
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT CONTROLLING AT ANY NOMINAL CRUISING SPEED, OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. SAFETY CONCERN. CAR WAS SHIFTING WHEN IT DIDN'T NEED TO SHIFT, I.E. OUT OF 6TH AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN THE TERRAIN AND SPEED HADN'T CHANGED. IT WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR THE WAY YOU DO IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT INSTEAD OF SHIFTING BACK IN IMMEDIATELY, IT WOULD HESITATE (RPMS DROP SIGNIFICANTLY) SO THAT THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY IDLING BETWEEN GEARS. THEN IT WOULD SHIFT BACK IN TO A GEAR FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN SHIFT AGAIN INAPPROPRIATELY WITH THE SAME HESITATION. WHEN IT WOULD SHIFT BACK IN SOMETIMES IT WOULD DO THE HARD SHIFT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT TIMES BUT NOT ALWAYS. THE CAR COULDN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT GEAR IT NEEDED TO BE IN, AND IT KEPT SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF THE HIGHER GEARS EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER HADN'T CHANGED THE SPEED AND THE TERRAIN WAS THE SAME. IT WAS MUCH WORSE DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY. WHEREAS THE PROBLEM IS HARDLY PERCEPTIBLE AT NIGHT. STILL IT SEEMED TO BE SHIFTING BETWEEN 6TH DOWN TO 5TH WHEN IT DIDN'T NEED TO. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO REPEAT OVER AND OVER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT SOME POINT, BUT WAS NOT ON THIS MORNING.
WAS DRIVING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. WAS GOING TO TAKE IT IN BUT THEN I GOT SIDESWIPED WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED AND PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE CHECKED OUT MY CAR AND SAID IT WAS A WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS FAULTY. NOTICING THAT IT'S A COMMON THING NOW THAT I'M READY THIS SO WHY AREN'T THEY RECALLING IT IF IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE??? *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE MODIFIED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER CHARGED $125.00 FOR THE REPAIR AND STATED THAT A NEW AIR BAG MAY BE NEEDED AT THE COST OF APPROXIMATELY $750.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOORS FAILED TO OPEN AND THE PASSENGERS WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE USING THE REAR DOORS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,550. UPDATED 9/18/14*CN
TURNED THE KEY ON AND THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYS ON I'VE TRIED TO RESET IT BUT IT WILL NOT RESET. I HAVE READ ON MANY FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FURTHER CAUSE IT IS HAPPENING IN A LOT OF VEHICLES. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE "MECHAERON". THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DECLINED TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO FIX THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.
THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR CONSOLE TURNS OFF WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN SLIGHTLY MORE THAN HALFWAY. IF THE DOOR IS CLOSED THE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK SOMETIMES, SO I HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR SLIGHTLY FOR IT TO WORK. DRIVER SIDE DOOR WORKS OCCASIONALLY AS WELL AS THE TRUNK WITH THE KEY LESS ENTRY. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND I NOW BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. *TR
THE WINDOWS, GAS DOOR, MIRRORS, TRUNK NO LONGER WORK BECAUSE OF A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS THAT VW HAS ACKNOWLEDGED. THEY ARE ONLY FIXING VEHICLES WITH LESS THEN 100,000 MILES OR 8.5 YEARS OF SERVICE. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE BACK TWO WINDOWS CAN BE ROLLED DOWN BY CHILDREN. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND ONE WITH DOWNS SYNDROME THAT KEEPS ROLLING THE WINDOWS DOWN BECAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS HAS FAILED AND VW IS NOT GOING TO FIX THE CARS AND INSTEAD LET SMALL CHILDREN DIE BECAUSE THEY CAN ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. ALSO, EVERYTIME I HAVE TO OPEN THE GAS LEVER I SCRAPE MY ARM ON SOME POINTING SCREWS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED ON THE VW JETTA WIRING HARNESS. *TR
AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION AT THAT TIME. AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. SRS CODE NOT ABLE TO BE CLEARED FROM MEMORY. *TR
AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION AT THAT TIME. AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. SRS CODE NOT ABLE TO BE CLEARED FROM MEMORY. *TR
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 OF A CRASH. VOLKSWAGEN IS REFUSING TO TAKE ANY OWNERSHIP OF KEEPING THEIR VEHICLE SAFE AND COVERING THE COST OF THE PART. I CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN USA AND THEY GAVE THE REASON THEY WILL NOT COVER THE PART BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS BEING NEGLECTFUL TO THEIR CLAIM ON PROVIDING A SAFE VEHICLE. NOW THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS GOING OUT, WE ARE HAVING MORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS. *TR
AFTER USING THE FOB TO LOCK THE DOORS WE NOTICED THE REAR DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. IF THE CAR IS JUST SITTING THE REAR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN TO CHILDREN OR WOULD BE THIEVES. WE ALSO NOTICED THE REAR DOORS WOULD SHOW THEY WERE LOCKED ONCE WE WERE MOVING, BUT WERE ACTUALLY UNLOCKED ALLOWING THE REAR PASSENGER TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE! VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ASAP. *TR
DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. FLYWHEEL FAILURE SENT METAL SHRAPNEL INTO TRANSMISSION, CRACKING THE BELL HOUSING AND THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY. THE CAR WAS MECHANICALLY TOTALED AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE, DESPITE IT BEING A DOCUMENTED AND KNOWN ISSUE. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THIS PART WAS RECALLED IN AUSTRALIA BUT NOT THE UNITED STATES. COST OF REPAIR WAS BEYOND VALUE OF VEHICLE AND CAR WAS DEEMED A TOTAL MECHANICAL LOSS. *TR
BEEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS CLAIMING IN FOX VALLEY IL ROCKFORD IL GLENVIEW IL THAT EITHER MY MECHUNIT IS BAD/FAULTY OR DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL IS BAD/FAULTY. WAS DRIVING WHERE EITHER MY CAR WOULD SHIFT VERY ROUGH AS IF SOMEONE WHO IS VERY INEXPERIENCED WOULD LET GO OF THE CLUTCH LATE AND SHIFT HARD/ROUGH INTO 1-2-3 WITH CLICKING NOISES. CAR JUST RECENTLY SHIFTED FROM 2 TO NEUTRAL AND SCARED THE CRAPOUT OF ME. THE CAR HAS EXTREME VIBRATION AND UNCONTROLLED SHIFT PATTERNS. WAS TURNING ONTO MY STREET AND CAR WENT FROM 3-2 TO NEUTRAL WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND WENT INTO A SNOW BANK ON SIDE OF ROAD. WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE VOLKSWAGEN CONTACT ME TO EITHER REPLACE OR FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS OWNERS OF A 2006 VW TDI OR ANY AUTOMATIC WITH DSG MECHUNIT BEWARE AND PLEASE BE CAREFUL. *TR
TRAVELING ALONG AT 55 MPH AND THE GEAR DISPLAY STARTED FLASHING/BLINKING AS THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. BATTERY IS FINE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING HOME WITH MY WIFE, SHE STATED THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE HEATED SEATS WERE ON AS IT WAS A COLD MORNING. THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THAT THE BACK REST OF THE SEAT HAD A SMOLDERING MARK AS WELL AS SOME SORT OF SMOKE DAMAGE AS IF THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT. WE LATER LOOKED ON HER JACKET AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS TRANSFER OF THE "LEATHER" TO HER JACKET. *TR
DRIVER'S REAR DOOR LOCK STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE BUTTONS ON IT, AND ON THE MAIN CONTROL, AND ON THE REMOTE. IT INTERMITTENTLY WORKED UNTIL MARCH AND IS NOW DEAD. THE CAR CANNOT BE LOCKED AND THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
OUR JETTA EXPERIENCED A "FALSE NEUTRAL" PROBLEM BACK IN DECEMBER, 2013. (95,000 MILES) I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT IT COULD BE DUE TO A LOW VOLTAGE CONDITION. I CHECKED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FOUND THE ALTERNATOR TO BE FAULTY. I REPLACED IT AND KEPT DRIVING THE CAR. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE UNTIL MID JANUARY, 2014 WHEN WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER FN EVENT. WE WERE ABLE TO SWITCH THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE CONDITION WENT AWAY. I CALLED OUR LOCAL VW DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE RESULTS OF THIS TEST CAME BACK AND THEY SAID WE NEEDED A NEW MECHATRONICS UNIT (THIS CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION) AT A COST OF $2300.00 I AM FAMILIAR WITH THESE CARS AND ALSO FAMILIAR WITH THE FACT THAT VW HAS ALREADY INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE IN LATER YEAR CARS. THIS INVESTIGATION (NHTSA ACTION# PE09035) RESULTED IN A RECALL CAMPAIGN (NHTSA# 09V333000) WHERE VW REPLACED DEFECTIVE MECHATRONICS UNITS AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE AFFECTED UNITS TO 10YRS/100,000 MILES. LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER RECEIVING THIS DIAGNOSIS, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LUCKILY IT WAS AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE SPEED WAS LESS THAN 15MPH. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE VW DEALER, THE TRANSMISSION MUST NOW BE REPLACED ($6,000.00) I CONTENT THAT THIS IS THE SAME OR NEARLY THE SAME ISSUE ADDRESSED IN THE PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN AND THAT VW DID NOT FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE MECHATRONICS AND SUBSEQUENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. A NEW INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE OPENED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED FOR SOME OF THEIR VEHICLES. VW NEEDS TO BE MADE TO ADDRESS IT FOR ALL DSG EQUIPPED VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY ONES MANUFACTURED BEFORE THE PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED LOT. I CONTACTED VWOA AND EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS STILL WITHIN THE MILEAGE RANGE OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIRS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPEED DECREASED TO 20 MPH AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN SHIFTING INTO A GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. THE FAILURES RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MODULE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
DURING A HEAVY RAIN, AND WHILE SLOWING TO APPROACH A STOP , MULTIPLE EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED IN THE DASH DISPLAY. LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR ADVISED TO SHUT OFF ENGINE IMMEDIATELY, GLOW PLUG INDICATOR FLASHED, AND TACHOMETER WENT TO ZERO (EVEN THOUGH ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING). I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, CHECKED OIL (LEVEL WAS FINE), BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. TOWED BACK HOME, AND 30 MINUTES LATER, ENGINE STARTED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT ANY TIME. PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN IN HEAVY RAIN SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. EXAMINED WIRING HARNESS AND FOUND TWENTY INDIVIDUAL WEAR POINTS IN THE WIRES WHERE THE INSULATION WAS WORN ENOUGH TO EXPOSE THE COPPER STRANDS. THERE WERE NUMEROUS OTHER WEAR POINTS WITH NO COPPER VISIBLE, BUT ALL OF THE INSULATION WEAR MATCHED THE CORRUGATION OF THE RIBBING IN THE PLASTIC WIRE LOOM COVERING. CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE WEAR POINTS REVEALED THE MOST PREVALENT AND SERIOUS BARE WIRE CONDITIONS WERE IN THE AREA OF THE HARNESS SUPPORT CLAMPS. VERY CONCERNED REGARDING OTHER SIMILAR POTENTIAL WEAR PROBLEMS THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE OR FIRE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER, SHE WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW DEFROSTER AND THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
AT APPROX 80-90K I STARTED HEARING A CLATTERING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND EXTRA NOISE WHEN IDLING. ALSO, THE CAR HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING (AUTOMATIC TRANS). AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S THE DSG DMF COMING APART AND RATTLING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FIND IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. IT STARTED HAPPENING SHORTLY AFTER MY CAR WENT OUT OF CPO WARRANTY, WHICH EXPIRED AT 74K. I DIDN'T REALLY PAY THAT MUCH ATTENTION TO IT UNTIL IT GOT WORSE. THIS IS A 06 TDI MKV WITH AUTO DSG, BRM ENGINE. ALSO EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH SOOT IN FUEL FILTER, LIKELY DUE TO FAULTY SEAL IN FUEL INJECTORS UNDER CAM SHAFT. ONCE AGAIN, COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO MECHANICS AND ONLINE FORUMS ON THIS MODEL. THERE'S A RECALL ON THE DMF FOR THIS MODEL IN AUSTRALIA, NEEDS TO HAVE ONE FOR US. *TR
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 THROUGH MY REARVIEW MIRROR! THE HEADLINER LINER WAS CUT TOO SHORT SO I CAN'T FIX IT. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. *TR
PURCHASED THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IN AUGUST 2014 WITH 116,000 MILES. ONE MONTH LATER THE HORN WAS NOT WORKING. UPON DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH, DISCOVERED AN INORDINATE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT THESE HORNS BECOME INOPERABLE EVEN WITH FEWER MILES. THE PROBLEM COMES WHEN PRESSING THE HORN PAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, IT DOES NOT MAKE CONTACT TO SOUND THE HORN. THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY IS LOCATED HERE AS WELL SO I DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE TO TRY TO REPLACE IT MYSELF. THE QUOTE TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED WAS $900.00. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PART IMMEDIATELY! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V621000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
CAM SHAFT AND LIFTER INFERIOR QUALITY!!WHAT HAS HAPPENED ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS OF TDI'S THAT I HAVE TALKED TO IS THAT THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS HAVE FAILED. THEY WERE BUILT INFERIOR AND BREAKDOWN. THIS CAUSES A LOT OF CONFUSION WITH MECHANICS TRYING FOR ENDLESS HOURS TO FIGURE OUT WHY ITS SMOKING. WITH A LOT OF RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS ARE INFERIOR AND BREAKDOWN. WHY DOES VOLKSWAGEN DO THAT TO PEOPLE, IT COST ME SO MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS REPLACING TURBO, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR TO REBUILDING THE ENGINE FOR GOD SAKE TO FIND THAT IT IS THE CAM AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. *TR
A RATTLING SOUND BEGAN TO COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SHORTLY AFTER PASSING 85,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. SCANNED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND SEVERAL CODES FOR MISFIRES AND VACUUM LEAKS ON THE VEHICLE ECU. TOOK IT TO A SHOP AFTER PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DID NOTHING TO SMOOTH OUT ENGINE OPERATION. SHOP SHORTLY CONTACTED ME BACK WITH A QUOTE OF THE TIMING CHAINS WERE COMING APART AND THE ENGINE WAS SEVERELY OUT OF TIME. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE EARLY 2.5L MK5 JETTA ENGINE. *TR
DRIVER'S REAR DOOR LOCK STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE BUTTONS ON IT, AND ON THE MAIN CONTROL, AND ON THE REMOTE. IT INTERMITTENTLY WORKED FOR A MONTH OR SO AND IS NOW DEAD. THE CAR CANNOT BE LOCKED AND THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
#1 JULY 262013 JETTA SEDAN 2.5L AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 87,850 MILES A D V E R T I S E M E N T S I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 VW JETTA WITH A DSG TRANSMISSION AND 2.5 L MOTOR. THE VEHICLE LURCHES AND LOSES POWER AS IF GAS HAD BEEN SWITCHED OFF OR THE TRANSMISSION HAS BOGGED DOWN AND SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN SHIFTING. IT ALSO HAPPENS FROM A DEAD STOP, WITH THE VEHICLE LURCHING FORWARD WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON BOTH VERY HOT DAYS, 100+ DEGREES, AND ALSO DURING EVENING AND NIGHTTIME WHILE DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS AND ON THE INTERSTATE THOUGH ON THE INTERSTATE IT DOESN'T LURCH FORWARD WHEN POWER IS RESTORED. THE VEHICLE USUALLY REGAINS POWER 3-5 SECONDS AFTER LOSS OF POWER MOST TIMES THIS OCCURS BUT THERE WERE A FEW TIMES THE VEHICLE STALLED. ONCE THIS HAPPENS THIS CONDITION CONTINUES TO OCCUR MORE WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS COOLED OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, 2 OR MORE HOURS, IT DRIVES WITH OUT THIS PROBLEM FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME, OR LESS, AS WHEN DRIVEN FROM A COLD START. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE PASSING AND FORCED ME TO CANCEL MY PASS OF A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE AND MERGE INTO THE TRAFFIC WHICH ON ONE OCCASION HAD CLOSED RANKS LEAVING ME NO ROOM TO MERGE. I HAVE ONLY BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THIS STATEMENT WAS POSTED AROUND 8-5-2013. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THE SAME. *TR
ALL ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS IN DRIVERS DOOR CEASED TO FUNCTION. AUTO DOOR LOCK, DRIVER'S WINDOW, GAS LATCH. COULD NOT OPEN DRIVER'S WINDOW. APPARENTLY THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF WIRE HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE IN THAT IT WAS 80 MM TOO SHORT. VW HAS ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON APRIL 20, 2011 (V97-11-04) IDENTIFYING THIS INHERENT DEFECT. DEALER REPLACED DRIVER'S DOOR WIRING HARNESS AFTER DIAGNOSING MULTIPLE BROKEN WIRES. VW WILL NOT REIMBURSE CAR OWNERS FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. *TR
IN THE MORNING I WENT TO START MY CAR AND I SHIFTED IT INTO REVERSE AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. I THEN WENT TO DRIVE IT AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PARKING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL TANK LEAKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLINER UPHOLSTERY NEAR THE REAR WINDOW WAS SPLITTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UPHOLSTERY CENTER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE ENTIRE UPHOLSTERY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AND I HEARD A NOTIFICATION "BEEP" ON MY CAR'S DASHBOARD. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND SUDDENLY MY STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME. HAVING NO CONTROL OF MY CAR, I DRIFTED INTO A CAR PARKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET, CAUSING MY CAR TO FLIP OVER. *TR
I HAVE RUN INTO NUMEROUS ISSUES ON MY CAR THAT HAVE CAUSED ME TO TROUBLESHOOT AND SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE PULLED BACK THE ABRASION PROTECTION ON THE WIRING AND FOUND THAT THE INSULATION COMMON TO THE WIRES IS CRACK OR WORN OFF EXPOSING THE CENTER CONDUCTOR OF THE WIRES. MANY TIMES THERE ARE NUMEROUS WIRES WITHIN A HARNESS THAT ARE WORN THROUGH. SO FAR I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY THAT ARE SHORTED OUT BUT MANY ARE VERY CLOSE AND AT HIGH RISK OF CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/FIRE. I AM AN AIRCRAFT ELECTRICIAN/INSPECTOR AND HAVE FOUND THE ABRASION PROTECTION TO BE HORRIBLE INADEQUATE. THERE ARE 2 HARNESSES THAT GO TO THE TURBO THAT HAVE A HARD PLASTIC ABRASION COVER BUT NOTHING SHIELDING THE WIRE FROM THIS COVER. ON BOTH OF THESE HARNESSES I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC HAD WORN A SERIES OF RIDGES DOWN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF WIRE THEY COVERED AND EXPOSED THE CONDUCTOR IN MULTIPLE PLACES. MY RIGHT HAND MIRROR TURN SIGNAL WAS NOT WORKING SO I PULLED IT OUT AND TESTED THE BULB AND FOUND THAT IT WAS GOOD. WHEN I PULLED THE RUBBER BOOT THAT COVERS THE WIRES IN THE DOOR JAM I FOUND A POWER WIRE IN THERE THAT THE INSULATION HAD CRACKED AND PULLED APART EXPOSING .150" OF CENTER CONDUCTOR IN MULTIPLE PLACES. IT SEEMS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE WIRING IS EITHER POOR QUALITY OR JUST NOT PROTECTED CAUSING THE INSULATION TO FAIL AND BECOME A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD FOR POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL SHORTS OR FIRES. I HAVE HEARD THESE CARS ARE PRONE TO ELECTRICAL CAUSED FIRES AND STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO AVOID MORE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS THAT COULD COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR SINCE MAY OF 2013 AND HAVE ALREADY REPAIRED 4 WIRING HARNESSES THROUGHOUT THE CAR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A CAR THAT IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. *TR
THE HEADLINER BEGAN SEPARATING ABOVE THE REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT. I LIVE ALONE AND NO ONE EVER EVEN RIDES IN THE BACK SEAT. CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT INSTALLING A WHOLE NEW HEADLINER. *TR
I SWERVED TO MISS AN ANIMAL AND RAN OFF THE ROAD AT 55MPH AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON AND THE DRIVER AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. SPOKE TO VW CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR ENGINEERS LOOKED AT THE PHOTOS NOT THE ACTUAL CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THEY FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. I SAID I THOUGHT THEY WERE SPEED RATED AND WAS TOLD THAT II COULD HIT A WALL AT 100MPH AND THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT GO OFF. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! *TR
THE VEHICLE STALLS WHENEVER DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS ON THE HWY WHILE SNOWING OR RAINING. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE BROKEN DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND FACING AN UPHILL INCLINE. ON EACH OCCASION I HAVE HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND FACING HEAVY TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER ASSIST ME IN PUSHING THE CAR TO OFF THE HIGHWAY THE LAST 3 TIMES. EACH TIME, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AND LET THEM KNOW BECAUSE IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A FACTORY RECALL BASED ON THE DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED ON TDI FORUMS HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=239987&PAGE=6 AS A WIRE CHAFING CONDITION CAUSED BY THE VIBRATION OF THE DIESEL ENGINE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM BECAUSE EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP THEY WERE UNABLE TO MATCH THE DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT I WAS DRIVING IN AND EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO DRY. *TR
ENTIRE CAMSHAFT HAS TO BE REPLACED, CAR IS INOPERABLE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE BUT VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS OR HELP WITH THE REPLACEMENT COST, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL. *TR
THE DSG CLUTCH ON THE 2006 VW JETTA TDI LOST STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND CAME APART COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, DESTROYING THE AUTOMATIC CLUTCH AND POTENTIALLY THE TRANSMISSION. THE SPRINGS ARE SO DAMAGED THAT THEY WERE EJECTED FROM THE CASING ONTO THE ENGINE PROTECTION MATT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CLUTCH WHICH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY AND POTENTIAL TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. *TR
VW IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE DEFECT REGARDING CAMSHAFT FAILURE IN THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN HIGH REPAIR COSTS AND DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER THAT COULD RESULT IN A COLLISION. VW SOUTHTOWNE IN UTAH CALLED THE ENGINE "EXPERIMENTAL" BASICALLY ADMITTED THAT VW KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND ONLY BUILT THE ENGINE FOR 1.5 YEARS AS A RESULT. THEY ONLY RESPOND THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS THE CONSUMERS PROBLEM TO PAY FOR A $4000 REPAIR ONTO OF PAYING FOR THE LOAN ON THE CAR. *TR
THIS IS SECOND TIME THE WIRE HARNESS SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAVE BROKEN. THIS BREAKAGE CAUSES THE CRASH SENSOR TO BECOME INACTIVATING ALONG WITH OTHER CRITICAL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS IN THE DOOR, IE WINDOW, LOCK, FUEL DOOR. THIS ALSO HAS A POTENTIAL FOR STARTING A FIRE. WHEN I HAD MY CAR IN FOR A IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE THERE WAS A COMMENT TYPED ON THE SERVICE REPORT INDICATING THAT THE HARNESS APPEAR IN GOOD REPAIR. THIS ENTRY REVEALS THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS VERY AWARE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO RESOLVE IT. *TR
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, DEALER DIAGNOSED AS A PASSANGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE, RHEOSTAT IN AIR BAG WAN'T HEATING PROPERLY & BAG WOULD THEREFORE NOT IGNITE AT IMPACT. *TR
FIRST, VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC LOCKS STOP RESPONDING TO DEPRESSES FROM BOTH REMOTES. REPLACE THE BATTERIES TO THE REMOTE AND STILL THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS BY MANUALLY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE, WHICH IS THE ONLY MANUAL KEYHOLE, AND TURNING LEFT TWICE. ONCE TURN UNLOCKS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, ANOTHER TURN UNLOCKS THE PASSENGER DOORS. AFTER SOME TIME PASSENGER DOORS STOP RESPONDING TO SECOND TURN. PASSENGER DOORS DO NO LOCK WHEN MANUALLY TURNING KEY THE RIGHT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, WHICH IS THE ONLY MANUAL KEYHOLE. THE PASSENGER DOORS THAT DO NOT LOCK CAUSE THE ALARM TO GO OFF WHEN OPENED. DEPRESSING THE SILENCE ALARM BUTTON ON KEY FOB DOES NOT SILENCE ALARM. THE ONLY WAY TO SILENCE ALARM IS BY CLOSING PASSENGER DOOR, CLOSING DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND TURNING KEY RIGHT ONCE TO LOCK AND LEFT TO UNLOCK. DOING SO ONLY CONTROL DRIVER SIDE DOOR. AFTER SOME TIME DASHBOARD SHOWS "DOOR OPEN" SYMBOL EVEN WHEN ALL DOORS ARE SECURELY CLOSED AND INDICATOR LIGHT ON DOOR IS OFF. DOME LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING AS IF THE DOORS ARE INDEED OPEN EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SECURELY CLOSED. AT THIS STAGE THE ALARM SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS EITHER BY KEY FOB DEPRESS NOR BY MANUALLY TURNING THE LOCK IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AS DESCRIBED EARLIER. DOORS MUST BE LOCKED BY OPENING EACH ONE MANUALLY AND PRESSING THE LOCK DOOR BUTTON LOCATED ON EACH PASSENGER DOOR. PRESSING THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK PASSENGER DOORS. ALL FUSES ARE INTACT AND NO ELECTRICAL ISSUES REPORTED. *TR
THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED SEPARATING...LOOKS LIKE LITTLE MICRO TEARS THAT CONTINUE TO WORSEN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION POSITION LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. A DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SYMPTOMS AND STATED THEY KNEW THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME AND SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED JERKING AND MADE A "KNOCKING" SOUND, WITHOUT ANY WARNING (I.E. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME AND DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON; HOWEVER, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MILES, THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED, STILL WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY INDICATION OF WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, WHILE PARKED ON A SECURED PREMISE, I STARTED THE CAR UP AND IT HAD AN ERRATIC LOPING SOUND. I PROCEEDED TO CALL A NEARBY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND SPOKE TO TWO CERTIFIED VW MECHANICS, WHO FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATION BEFORE THE CAR STARTED TO ACT UP AND SAID TO BRING IT IN TO SWAP OUT THE ENGINE AT APPROX. $7500; THEY DISMISSED THE PROBLEM AS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAM, WHICH I HAD CONFIRMED BY AN AUTO-MECHANIC AFTER TOWING THE CAR IN. HE TOLD ME THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS WARPED DUE TO THE CAM GOING OUT. OTHER 2006 VW JETTA TDI OWNERS HAVE COMMENTED ON THE SAME ISSUES, WHICH AT THIS POINT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR", BUT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V164000 (POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN IOWA AND TO MY HORROR, MY CAR SEAT STARTED MOVING BACK BY ITSELF. I COULD NOT REACH THE PEDALS IN THE CAR AND HAD TO HOLD THE ELECTRIC SEAT BUTTON AND FIGHT IT TO KEEP IT FROM MOVING BACK. THIS WAS PRETTY DIFFICULT SINCE THE CAR IS A STICK SHIFT. VOLKSWAGEN WAS UNINTERESTED IN HELPING DEFRAY THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY UNSAFE DEFECT! *TR