2006 Volkswagen Jetta Complaint Log

ON A RETURN TRIP FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE TO CONNECTICUT ON INTERSTATE 91 IN MY 2006 VW JETTA TDI, I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND THE PEDAL BECAME STUCK AT THE FLOOR. I WORKED TO FREE IT, BUT BEING UNABLE TO DO SO, COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WITH NO ABILITY TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR, WE (MYSELF AND MY FAMILY) WERE STUCK IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION. I WAS ABLE TO FREE THE PEDAL, BUT THE CLUTCH NO LONGER WORKED AND WE HAD TO WAIT THERE FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THOUGH THERE WAS LITTLE WEAR ON THE CLUTCH SURFACE. WITH SOME INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY VW. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT ONLY AFTER CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ON A TWO YEAR OLD CAR. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE EXHAUST CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT FAILED THE DAY AFTER I PICKED IT UP. I TOOK IT BACK, THEY REPLACED IT AND IT FAILED AGAIN. I AM NOW ON MY FOURTH ONE. VW SAYS THEY KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM, BUT STILL MADE ME PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR

STEERING WHEEL IS FAILING ELECTRICALLY. AIR BAG FAULT IN PASSENGER SIDE, NO HORN OR OTHER WHEEL CONTROLS. REAL/UNREALIZED SAFETY HAZARD(S) DUE TO NON WORKING ELECTRONICS IN STEERING WHEEL. *TR

AT 23,000 MILES, WITHOUT WARNING, NO INITIAL SIGNS OF CONCERN, CLUTCH FAILS, DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO RETURN. MY MISFORTUNE HAPPENED EXACTLY HOW THE OTHER NUMEROUS COMPLAINANTS DID. FOUND VW TECHNICAL BULLETIN #2016615 DATED 11/05/07 DESCRIBED AS 'CLUTCH, FRICTION MATERIAL FLAW' (SACHS MANUFACTURED ONLY) NOTES ONLY SACHS CLUTCH PLATES ARE AFFECTED BY THIS FLAW AND THEREFORE ONLY ISSUES WITH THE SACHS CLUTCH PLATE WILL BE COVERED UNDER THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN. THERE ARE NO KNOWN FRICTION MATERIAL FLAWS WITH LUK CLUTCH PLATE OR PRESSURE PLATE.' BULLETIN EXTENDS THE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS AN EXTRA 4 YEARS / 50000 MILES. MY CLUTCH PLATE HAPPENS TO BE A LUK...AFTER READING THE SCORES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT CLUTCHES GOING OUT AT 10-50K MILES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S TRUE ANYMORE...MY SUSPICION IS THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM IS REALLY WITH THE LUK MANUFACTURED CLUTCH PLATE AND THAT THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN WAS ISSUED COVERING THE SACHS BRAND TO AVOID HAVING TO WARRANT THE LUK BRAND. *TR UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB

MY 2006 JETTA 2.5 HAS AN INTERMITTENT ACCELERATOR HESITATION. IT CAN OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD OR HOT. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN IT IS ROLLING FREE AT NEAR 5 TO 10 MPH, AND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED NOTHING HAPPENS FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THEN IT CATCHES AND GOES. *TR

MY 2006 JETTA 2.5 HAS AN INTERMITTENT ACCELERATOR HESITATION. IT CAN OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD OR HOT. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN IT IS ROLLING FREE AT NEAR 5 TO 10 MPH, AND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED NOTHING HAPPENS FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THEN IT CATCHES AND GOES. *TR

VOLKSWAGON HAS A PROBLEM WITH A FAULTY DUAL MASS FLYWHEELS,THE SPRINGS BREAK INSIDE THE FLYWHEEL YOU HEAR A RATTLE WHEN THE CAR IS AT IDLE AND THE GOES AWAY WHEN IN GEAR.FROM READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I FINALLY FOUD OUT WHAT THIS NOISE IS.I HAVE ASKED THE SERVICE TECH TO SEE IF ANYTHING IS LOOSE AND THEY ALWAYS COME UP EMPTY.I FINALLY READ ABOUT THIS ON THE VW TDI FORUMS ONLINE.THEY SAID VW RECALLED THIS PROBLEM IN AUSTRAILIA BUT NOT IN THE UNITED STATES.I HAVE CALLED VW CUSTOMER LINE BUT ALL THE TELL ME IS WE HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM SO THEY CAN'T HELP ME.ONE OF THE SPRINGS ALREADY BROKE A HOLE IN THE COVER FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP! *TT

THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF RESULTING IN A DEAD BATTERY AND A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION WHILE DRIVING. I DROVE FOR A HALF A DAY WITHOUT KNOWING THE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON. A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HONKED AT ME, BUT I DID NOT KNOW WHY. I ALSO COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY MY CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. I FIGURED OUT THE BRAKELIGHT SWITCH WAS NOT WORKING WHEN I CAME OUT OF HOME DEPOT AFTER DARK AND I THOUGHT I LEFT MY LIGHTS ON. IT TURNED OUT IT WAS THE BRAKELIGHT SWITCH. I CALLED A VOLKSWAGON REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY. WHEN I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SERVICE TO REPAIR IT, THEY DENIED ANY RECALL. I DID A LITTLE SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND I NOW SEE THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF BRAKELIGHT SWITCH FAILURES ON JETTAS AND BEETLES. THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY ALSO AS IT HAS 59,400 MILES ON IT AND IT IS A 2006 JETTA TDI. I BOUGHT THIS CAR THINKING IT WILL GO 250,000 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS AND AM SADDENED BY THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT FOR A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS OVER 250,000 MILES WITHOUT A BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. IT SEEMS VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURES ON THE MEXICAN MADE VEHICLES ON SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH SHOULD BE DESIGNED FOR A NEAR INFINITE LIFE SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS NOT LIKE A FAN SWITCH. I AM PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST TO SEE THE FAILURE AS I HAVE PUT ON AN UNUSUALLY HIGH AMOUNT OF MILES, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE HIGHWAY MILES. WHEN I GET IT REPAIRED, I CAN GET THE OLD PART. I HOPE TO GET IT REPAIRED TOMORROW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

MY CAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL AFTER LAST CHANGE AT BERT SMITH VOLKSWAGEN IN ST. PETERSBURG FLORIDA. CHECKED UNDERNEATH CAR AND FOUND TRANSMISSION CASING AND FLYWHEEL HOUSING CRACKED. TOOK PICTURES BUT ACCORDING TO BERT SMITH VOLKSWAGEN THIS IS JUST DIRT AND GREASE STAINS, THEY CANNOT SHOW ME ANOTHER CAR WITH THE SAME "STAINS". *TR

I PURCHASED A 2006 JETTA ATTRACTED BY AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF FEATURES AND CONVENIENCES THAT I WANTED AS A CONSUMER. ONE OF THIS FEATURES INCLUDED THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW OPENING VIA REMOTE CONTROL, FEATURE THAT IS NOT NORMALLY SEEN ON VEHICLES OF ITS CLASS AND PRICE. VOLKSWAGEN DID AN UPDATE TO THE SOFTWARE TO THIS VEHICLE AND WITHOUT MY CONSENT TOOK THAT OPTION OUT. I PAID FOR THAT CONVENIENCE AND VW CANT EVEN TELL ME WHY IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE COMPUTER. THE DEALER CANT TELL ME EITHER BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THEM THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S ON THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. IN ANY CASE I NEED TO BE COMPENSATED BY THIS INCONVENIENCE OR THE SOFTWARE NEEDS TO BE RETROFITTED TO GET ME THIS OPTION BACK. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 VW JETTA TDI WITH APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES ON IT. THIS AUTO WAS PURCHASED TO BE USED PRIMARILY AS A COMMUTER CAR FOR MY WIFE AND I. LAST WEEK WE SUDDENLY STARTED SEEING THE DASHBOARD WARNING "AIR BAG FAULT". UPON TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL VWOA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A VWOA TECHNICAL BULLETIN (THAT EVIDENTLY HAD BEEN OUT FOR SOME TIME) WHICH INDICATED THAT SOME CONNECTOR(S) LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT THAT ARE RELATED TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM NOR ANYTHING THAT WE COULD HAVE CAUSED BUT VWOA IS INDICATING THAT DUE TO THE AUTO NOT BEING WITHIN THE WARRANTY (4 YEAR AND/OR 50,000 MILES AS WE'VE BEEN TOLD) THAT WE WILL NOW HAVE TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $400 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. WE WERE FURTHER INFORMED BY THE VWOA SERVICE THAT WITHOUT THIS REPAIR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS CONSIDERED TO BE IN AN "UNSTABLE STATE" AND COULD POTENTIALLY NOT ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG WHEN NEEDED OR POSSIBLY ACTIVATE AT AN INAPPROPRIATE TIME. THE VW DEALER ALSO SAID THAT VWOA CONSIDERS THIS TO BE SO UNSAFE THAT THEY ISSUE A FREE RENTAL AND REQUIRE THE REPAIR TO BE MADE BEFORE RELEASING THE AUTO AGAIN....BUT ONLY IF YOU'RE UNDER WARRANTY. VWOA DID MANAGE TO COME THROUGH WITH SOME "GOOD WILL ASSISTANCE" (THEIR WORDS) BY PROVIDING $200 TOWARDS THE REPAIR. THIS AIRBAG ISSUE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2006 VW JETTA (MAYBE OTHER YEARS AS WELL I'M NOT SURE) FOR SOME TIME. VWOA INDICATES THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A MAJOR CONCERN AND IS THEREFORE NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA AND OTHER SITES THAT SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THIS IS A LARGER ISSUE THAN VWOA STATES. I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED DUE TO THE OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS INVOLVED WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE BEFORE ANY INJURIES AND/OR FATALITIES OCCUR. *TR

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 THE REAR BRAKES SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN OUT THIS EARLY, CERTAINLY NOT BEFORE THE FRONT BRAKES. THIS INDICATES A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BRAKES THAT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. I COULD SEE THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKES OR INCREASED BRAKING FORCE ON THE REAR BRAKES BEING THE POTENTIAL CAUSE FOR AN ACCIDENT AND POTENTIALLY INJURY. *TR

VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATE DRAIN TUBE IS NOT SECURED FROM THE FACTORY. TUBE WILL POP LOOSE AND FILL VEHICLE CARPET WITH STAGNANT AIR CONDITIONING WATER. DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OBVIOUS FACTORY DEFECT AS NO FASTENER WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE TUBE FASTENER TAB. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR PROBLEM. *TR

I COMPLAINED TO THE VW DEALER ABOUT MY A/C IN MY JETTA GLI. THEY TOLD ME THEIR WAS NOTHING WRONG TWICE. NOW MY AC DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE. WHEN I COMPLAINED MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

CLUTCH FAILURE ON 2006 JETTA TDI CLUTCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING REPAIR OF CLUTCH BY OWNER, DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR. *TR

THE CAR AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES RANDOMLY. DEALER INDICATES SYSTEM MUST BE RESET FOR A CHARGE OF $80 EACH TIME. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1-30 MPH, SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS TURNED ON HIGH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. SHE FEELS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT PUTS HER AT RISK OF CRASHING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 24,000.

BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. VW CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL. *TR

DRIVER 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

I OWN A 2006 VW JETTA TDI AND HAVE 30,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER AND HAD THE FRONT END INSPECTED FOR PROBLEMS, BUT NONE NOTED. I HAD THE WHEEL ROTATED AND BALANCED AND THAT DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. THE TECH AT VW DEALER NOTICED WEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE. HE STATED THAT MY TIRES (TURANZA EL 400-02, 205/55R16) ARE MORE THAN LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EXCEPT REPLACE ALL THE TIRES. WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER SOON TO FIGHT THE BATTLE WITH THEM. *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 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

MY JETTA WOULD STALL AND WE WERE ALMOST INVOLVED IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. WE BROUGHT IT TO DEALER AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS FIXED AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I ASKED FOR A REPLACEMENT AND THEY REFUSED. PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED RECENTLY, HOWEVER WE WERE ALMOST KILLED. UNSURE OF DATES, HOWEVER DEALER HAS RECORDS. *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 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

NOTICED VERY ROUGH IDLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FLYWHEEL MALFUNCTIONING WITHOUT VISUAL INSPECTION. THE FAULT WAS PLACED WITH ME. WEAR AND TEAR. DEALER CLAIMED MUST FIX, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, QUOTED $2100. IF THIS PROBLEM IS ALLOWED TO WORSEN, THE FAILURE MODE IS A COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE AND ON A BUSY FREEWAY IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I WENT TO A THIRD PARTY GARAGE AND PAID $1200 FOR A MORE RELIABLE SINGLE MASS FLYWHEEL. THE DAMAGED SACHS DMF IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *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

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI 5-SPEED WITH 39,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO IN JANUARY OF 2006, AND I PURCHASED IT IN JUNE OF 2006. THIS WEEK, THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AND IT WARRANTED A VISIT TO THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT MANY 2006 VW JETTA TDI 5-SPD VEHICLES WERE MADE WITH A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH PLATE, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE MY TRANSMISSION TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT MY VEHICLE HAD THE DEFECTIVE PART. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IF MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART, THEY WOULD CHARGE ME NEARLY $500 IN LABOR FEES FOR REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION FOR INSPECTION. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT HAS THE DEFECTIVE PART, NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE WHEN THIS CLUTCH HAS BEEN FAILING PREMATURELY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CLUTCH PLATE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I ALSO FOUND 88 PAGES ON ONE FORUM ALONE (HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=137014) ABOUT THIS PART AND THE CLUTCH/FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY FAILING PREMATURELY. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO PAY FOR A NEW CLUTCH AT A COST OF OVER $2000.00. SOME WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CLUTCH PLATE AND THE CORRESPONDING ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS IN MANY COUNTRIES EXCEPT FOR THE UNITED STATES. I FEAR HAVING MY CLUTCH FAIL WHEN I NEED THE ENGINE TO BE ENGAGED. IF I WERE TO HAVE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, IT COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND ENDANGER MYSELF AND THE OCCUPANTS OF MY VEHICLE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO BRING THIS PROBLEM TO THE SURFACE, AND PROMPT AN INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE? THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS NEED TO BE RECALLED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. IT SEEMS THAT NHTSA IS IGNORING THIS MATTER AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE, AND THE AUTOMAKERS BENEFIT. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE SEATBELT LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON. THE FIRST TIME VWOA REPAIRED WIRING UNDER MY SEAT AT 49,000 MILES. THE LIGHT IS NOW ON AGAIN, LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAVE MORE THAN 12,000 MILE SINCE REPAIR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED REGARDLESS OF TIME. SAFETY IS THE PRIORITY AND IF VWOA HAS A SAFETY DEFECT THEY NEED TO STAND BEHIND IT. *TR

2006 JETTA TDI. DMF AND CLUTCH FAILURE AFTER 54,000 MI OF NORMAL DRIVING. CAR STUCK IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO STOP AND GO. NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. DESCRIBED AS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. CHEAP DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH COMPONENTS! *TR

THE FLYWHEEL HAS FAILED AND DISABLED THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN UNSAFE AND UNDER DESIGNED COMPONENT OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE FLYWHEEL SELF DESTRUCTED. IN ALL MY YEARS I HAVE NEVER HEARD OR EXPERIENCED A FLYWHEEL SELF DESTRUCTION ON A CAR 2 YEARS OLD WITH 30K MILES. *TR

THE HEADLINER BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM THE INSIDE ROOF AROUND THE BACK GLASS, THE VANITY LIGHTS IN BOTH THE BACK AND FRONT, AND IS NOW HANGING DOWN OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW FROM THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. VW SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED TO SEE IF VW WOULD COVER COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AS THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WHEN IT BEGAN TO COME DOWN, AND THEY REFUSED. IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AS THE SERVICE MANAGER DID SUGGEST I CONTACT VW MYSELF BECAUSE HE HAD SEEN THIS SAME THING IN QUITE A FEW OF THE SAME MODEL CARS. THE DEFECT IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE BLOCKING OF THE DRIVER'S VIEW. *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

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

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2006 VW TDI USED, WITH 33K MILES. AFTER ONE DAY OF OWNERSHIP THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT THE FLOOR. I PULLED THE PEDAL UP WITH MY TOE, AND GOT IT TO ENGAGE ONE MORE TIME, THEN BACK TO THE FLOOR. AFTER THAT, THE CAR WOULDN'T PULL ITSELF IN ANY GEAR. THE CAR NEVER SLIPPED, VIBRATED, ETC., NO SYMPTOMS OF A WORE CLUTCH, JUST INSTANT FAILURE. I CALLED VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND VW TOWED IT TO A DEALER 3HOURS AWAY. BEFORE THE DEALER TORE INTO IT THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT IF IT IS DUE TO CLUTCH WEAR/ABUSE THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH HERE ON TDICLUB, I FOUND THAT DMF, AND CLUTCH FAILURES WERE VERY COMMON AND GENERALLY WARRANTED. I TOLD THE DEALER TO GO AHEAD AND TEAR INTO THE CAR TO FIND OUT MORE. TODAY I GET A CALL AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE CLUTCH IS WORE OUT, AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED. THE ADVISOR ON THE PHONE SAID THAT HALF THE CLUTCH ON ONE SIDE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS COMPLETELY GONE. AND IF I COME PICK IT NOW, I WILL ONLY BE OUT $550, OR I CAN HAVE THEM DO THE REPAIR FOR $1800. I TOLD HIM TO NOT DO ANYTHING YET, AND THAT I WOULD CALL HIM BACK TOMORROW WITH AN ANSWER. THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS VERY NICE, AND AS HELPFUL AS HE COULD BE, BUT COULD NOT WARRANTY THE CLUTCH OR REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IF THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPLACED, THEY WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

I AM LEASING A 2006 VW JETTA SINCE JAN. 2006. EVER SINCE, PERIODICALLY ONE OF THE DAYLIGHT HEADLIGHTS (MOSTLY THE RIGHT LIGHT) DOES NOT TURN OFF AFTER TURNING OFF THE MOTOR. I THEN TURN THE MOTOR BACK ON, MOVE THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF AGAIN. THE LIGHT WILL THEN TURN OFF. VW SERVICE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT COULD NEVER DETECT ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. 6 WEEKS AGO, MY BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON FEB 3RD, THE DAYLIGHT HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE TOAS HAD A SNOWSTORM AND THE SUPPORTING HEADLIGHTS (SMALLER) WERE NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH. I CALLED VW HEADQUARTERS ON 2-3 AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. I WANTED VW TO START A CASE ON IT, REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS AND CREDIT ME FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT I REPLACED EARLIER, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE LIGHTING ISSUE COMES FROM ONE SOURCE. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH VW SERVICE FOR 2-5, BUT HAD TO RESCHEDULE FOR 2-12 DUE TO A SNOWSTORM. HOWEVER, MEANWHILE THE DAYLIGHT HEADLIGHTS TURNED BACK ON AGAIN (AFTER TWO DAYS OF NOT FUNCTIONING). I BROUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE THE LIGHTS CHECKED AND VW SERVICE WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT STARTED A CASE ON IT. MEANWHILE, VW HEADQUARTER CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. YESTERDAY AGAIN, THE LIGHTS DID NOT TURN OFF AFTER PARKING, AND I ALMOST HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP JUST TO PROVE THAT I AM NOT MAKING ANYTHING UP! IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO DEAL WITH SUCH INCOMPETENT PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND VW HEADQUARTER. I AM WORRIED THAT MY CHILD AND MY SAFETY IS AT STAKE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TRUNK DOOR UNLATCHED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE TRUNK FAILED TO CLOSE TIGHTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND MORE FREQUENTLY IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE LATCH SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LATCH DEFECT WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON FORTY SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL 2006. HE ALWAYS HEARD A NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SIMILAR TO ROCKS RATTLING INSIDE THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE NOISES WERE NORMAL FOR HIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. THE NOISES BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHERE THEY VERIFIED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH THEY FOUND THE FLY-WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 12/22/10 *BF UPDATED 12/30/10*JB

I OWN A 2006 VW JETTA...2-3(UNDER WARRANTY) YEARS OR SO AFTER BUYING THIS CAR NEW I HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLINER & RADIO REPLACED DUE TO RUBBER USED IN MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE MELTED CAUSING FABRIC TO COME DOWN & BUTTONS ON RADIO TO MELT. TODAY MARCH 24, 2015 W/44,000 MILES ON MY CAR I DISCOVERED THAT RUBBER USED TO GLUE VINYL MATERIAL TO INSIDE DOOR PANELS HAD ALSO CAUSED MATERIAL TO COME DOWN DUE TO MELTING. AS I WRITE THIS TO YOU MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED AT THE COST OF APPROXIMATELY $550.00. I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE PURCHASING VW'S BECAUSE I LOVE THEM BUT THIS EXPERIENCE TO SAY NOTHING OF THE COST & INCONVENIENCE HAS MADE ME QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VW IN THE FUTURE. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS COMPLAINT AND IF I DO NOT HEAR FROM VW I WILL POST THIS COMPLAINT ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE. *TR

I COULDN'T PUT MY KEYS IN THE IGNITION. I TRIED ALL SPARE KEYS AND THEY DIDN'T WORK. IF YOUR WINDOW IS OPEN, YOU CAN CLOSE IT BY PUTTING YOUR KEY IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO USE THE WINDOW SWITCH.....DEALER DID NOT KNOW THIS...??? GO FIGURE (SALES) 2006 JETTA TDI. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT, SIZE 225/45R17 (NA) TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMP. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD SEPARATED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED BY HER FATHER. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,000.

WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PREMATURE FAILURE OF CLUTCHES ON 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDIS. *TR

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

REAR BRAKE PAD WEAR WORN OUT AT 19K. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND WANTS $272.72 FOR THE PAIR. *CN

NO SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO FAILURE. WHILE EXITING FREEWAY, CLUTCH STOPPED OPERATING BETWEEN GEARS, WHILE DOWNSHIFTING. COULD NOT GET CAR BACK INTO GEAR AND HAD TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF MULTI LANE OFFRAMP, POINTING SLIGHTLY UPHILL. CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD COME ONLY HALF WAY UP. CLUTCH COULD NOT BE ENGAGED ENOUGH TO START ENGINE. AAA WAS CALLED AND ARRIVED AFTER 20 MINUTES, DURING WHICH TIME CAR REMAINED IN OFFRAMP. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND LEFT OVER LONG NEW YEAR'S WEEKEND. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME, ONCE THEY LOOKED AT IT, THAT THE CLUTCH HAD FAILED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AGREED TO THE SERVICE SINCE THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE. I WAS CHARGED $1,863. FOR THE SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE FLYWHEEL. I COMPLAINED THAT THE FLYWHEEL WAS PART OF THE ENGINE, AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS DIRECTED TO CALL VOLKSWAGEN AND SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. I ASKED TO RETAIN THE PARTS SO THAT I COULD SEE WHAT HAD GONE WRONG. THE NEXT DAY, BEFORE CALLING VOLKSWAGEN, I DISCOVERED FROM AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS HAD A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE CLUTCH SINCE NOVEMBER 2007. AFTER VERIFYING FROM THE PARTS THAT I WAS COVERED, I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY ARE CUTTING ME A CHECK TO REPAY WHAT I SPENT ON THE REPLACEMENT. *TR

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 OUT IN 20,000 MILES, AND IF I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE BRAKES ENTIRELY AND/OR HAD A FAILURE. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS BECAUSE THE HAND BRAKE IS NOT FULLY RELEASED. *TR

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 JETTA TDI (STANDARD SHIFT); AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT THE VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 17,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND UPON DOWNSHIFTING THE CLUTCH FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN GEAR; I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR OR CHANGE SPEED. THIS INCIDENT LED ME TO HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE BEING UNABLE TO SAFELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT APPEARS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SACHS CLUTCHES FROM VOLKSWAGEN. CLEARLY, WITHOUT A RECALL, THIS IS PUTS MANY DRIVERS IN AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION. THE DEALER REPAIRED THIS PROBLEM FOR NO COST; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNAWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AND THAT VW HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE FAILING CLUTCHES. A RECALL IS THE ANSWER; HOWEVER, VW SO FAR HAS NOT HAD TO ISSUE ONE. *TR

2006 VW JETTA RECALL ON HEADLAMP INSPECTION/MODIFICATION. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEADLAMPS ARE NOW BACK WHERE THEY WERE. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE HIGH BEAMS SHINE INTO THE TREE TOPS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE HIGH BEAMS WERE USELESS AS THEY SHINED ABOUT 20 FEET DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO ILLUMINATION CHANGE LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD BETWEEN THE LOW BEAMS AND THE HIGH BEAMS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTED SO THAT THE HIGH BEAMS WERE EFFECTIVE, BUT THEN THE LOW BEAMS SHINED DOWN VERY CLOSE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH DID NOT PROVIDE ILLUMINATION FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD. RECALL # 07V442000*JB

MY RADIO/NAVIGATION SYSTEM ON MY 06 VW JETTA HAS STOPPED WORKING AND RESORTED TO "SAFE MODE" AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS OF THE DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTING REPAIR, THEY HAVE STATED THAT THEY WILL SUPPLY AND INSTALL A NEW RADIO. THIS IS STILL YET TO HAPPEN. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLOCK DOES NOT KEEP CORRECT TIME, RESETS BACK TO 12:00 EACH TIME I GET IN THE CAR. THE WEATHER INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DINGS WITH A SNOWFLAKE, WHEN THERE IS NO PRECIPITATION. *TR