2006 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls & Reliability
792 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 62/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 69,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1991–1992, 1994, 2008, 2018, 2020–2022.
Avoid
Where 2006 sits among all Jetta years
What owners report
“Transmission nor shifting properly(automatic). Creates safety issues particularly on highway.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Jetta
“The driver door wiring harness is to short and in time the wires break where the wires go from the body into the door. There was a recall for the 2005 and 2004 years for this problem.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Jetta
“My car has some shifting problems when in motion.my car has a jerking motion that it does when going into gears and when slowing down its rough going down gears.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Jetta
“Passenger side air bag light came on. Had repaired. Then driver side air bag light came on.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Jetta
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Jetta
“Takata recall ignition switch was locked. Vehicle was stationary and when turning key it wouldn't turn. Car was in park and foot on brakes and turn of the stirring wheel didn't get it to turn. Had to get towed and the full ignition switch replaced.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Jetta
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 671 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 79,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 42,222 and 111,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master…
Fix: Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master…
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October…
Fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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.
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.…
Technical service bulletins
473 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta drew 792 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 62/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2006 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta are transmission & drivetrain (254 complaints), electrical (149), and engine (94).
At what mileage do 2006 Volkswagen Jetta problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Volkswagen Jetta problems around 79,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 42,222 and 111,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.