Your vehicle report
2006 Volkswagen Jetta
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 580
- Received Nov 2005 to Jul 2023
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips63 complaints · 11% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Manual clutch wears out or fails early59 complaints · 10% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Rear door latch fails to open or close26 complaints · 4.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #10V621000Volkswagen 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.
- Recall #09V164000Volkswagen 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 15 crashes, 6 fires, 17 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
- Headlights dim or fail at night
- Instrument cluster or speedometer fails
- Door ajar light stays on when closed
1 more problem
Airbags, belts & seats
- Airbag warning light stays on
- Seat belt fails to latch or retract
- Heated seat overheats and burns occupants
1 more problem
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
1 more problem
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 46 |
| 2007 | 60 |
| 2008 | 53 |
| 2009 | 57 |
| 2010 | 71 |
| 2011 | 76 |
| 2012 | 47 |
| 2013 | 26 |
| 2014 | 53 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 580 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 63 | 11% | – | |
| Manual clutch wears out or fails early | 59 | 10% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 26 | 4.5% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 26 | 4.5% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 20 | 3.5% | – | NHTSA recall #07V442000 |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 19 | 3.3% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 17 | 2.9% | – | |
| Instrument cluster or speedometer fails | 12 | 2.1% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 11 | 1.9% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 11 | 1.9% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 10 | 1.7% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 10 | 1.7% | – | |
| Door ajar light stays on when closed | 9 | 1.6% | – | |
| Heated seat overheats and burns occupants | 9 | 1.6% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 9 | 1.6% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 8 | 1.4% | – | |
| Tailgate or trunk latch fails | 7 | 1.2% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 7 | 1.2% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 7 | 1.2% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 6 | 1.0% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #10V621000December 10, 2010228,236 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #09V164000May 19, 200925,594 vehicles affected
power train: driveline: driveshaft
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #07V442000September 24, 2007340,000 vehicles affected
exterior lighting: headlights
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.
Noncompliance Can inhibit proper headlamp aim adjustment for roadway illumination, improperly aimed headlamps could cause reduced road visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #07V284000June 25, 200758,900 vehicles affected
visibility: windshield wiper/washer
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN