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KLUNK
KLUNK

2006 Volkswagen Jetta

The Verdict

21 Check Engine

The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta has 578 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are transmission (216 complaints) and electrical (150 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 21/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Volkswagen Jetta, consider the 2025 model year which has 96% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2025 has 96% fewer complaints

View the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta dashboard →

21

Klunk Score: Check Engine

More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 3

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

07V284000 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.

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.

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....

Reported Apr 11, 2026

09V164000 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 FAC...

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 V...

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.

Reported Apr 11, 2026

10V621000 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....

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.

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 RES...

Reported Oct 12, 2010

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20001383410715132
20011616525314656
20021784426413194
2003144201737451
20045510587931
20052911567973
20068027150105216
20073542643228
20083621573045
20098220398413107
2010975722242277
20111252620524933
20121443314515933
201312315125145104
201476159913852
20155915475517
20163018326911
20173712386110
201891785
201910920115165127
202016410174
2021172211132
202211116130
20239109121
20241183122
202590345

By Category

Transmission
216
Electrical
150
Engine
105
Body
80
Brakes
27

By Severity

1
283
2
271
3
3
4
21

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Engine 1

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 isn’t an option or it slips After about 45 mins all the prnds lights turned on and did the same in manual mode.. I read someone it’s a valve body that leads to a faulty Tranny I’ve read almost 150 of the same exact accounts on here and Reddit With the same 2006 Vw Jetta 2.5 It’s too common of an issue Most of them were under 100k miles and never dealt with by the manufacturer Myself my car has roughly 168k miles and I’ve been working to fix it up I just got it a month or so ago And now I have to deal with this Honestly is sad that VW hasn’t been held accountable for an issue that is WAY TOO COMMON to not be their fault. I understand the car is almost 20 years old but a bunch of these accounts i were reading dated as far back as 2009 with 86k miles it’s a shame..

36mo ago
Engine 2

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.

44mo ago
Brakes 1

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 replaced. Soon after repair, the failure returned. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 20E064000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which she linked to the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed her that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

57mo ago
Transmission 1

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 manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.

62mo ago
Brakes 1

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ON INDICATING REPAIR IS NEEDED.

67mo ago
Engine 2

THERE ARE SOME MOUNTING BRACKETS, SUSPENSION BRACKETS, NUTS AND BOLTS ASSOCIATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE THAT HAVE BROKE MORE THAN ONCE PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL GIVE U FURTHER DETAIL.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).. *TR

68mo ago
Engine 2

THERE HAS BEEN TAMPERING DONE TO MY VEHICLE HOW DO I ASSURE SAFETY AND HAVE IT INVESTIGATED AND HAVE A REPAIR MAN LOOK OVER THE VEHICLE AFTER THE THEFT?

68mo ago
Electrical 1

THERE IS VACUUM PUMP DEFECT, MECHANICAL ENGINE MOUNTING BRACKETS, BREAKS, HOSES/PUMPS, WINDSHIELD FLUID MOUNTED HOUSES NEAR WINDSHIELD (FLUID SPRAYS THROUGH THESE HOUSES ON TO THE WINDSHIELD) AND KEY IGNITION INTERLOCK. PLEASE CALL AUDI FOR THE FULL DESCRIPTION OF DEFECTIVE PARTS AND REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. WAS DRIVING VEHICLE HEARD A LOUD POP OR BREAKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE STIFFENING THE STEERING WHEEL. AUTO WAS STOLEN AND CAME BACK WITH LOUD SCREECHING NOISE. UNKNOWN.

68mo ago
Electrical 2

THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED BACK TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS IN THE DOOR HINGE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON VW ISSUE, AND MANY OTHER ONLINE COMPLAINTS REFERENCE A WIRE HARNESS THAT IS TOO SHORT. I REPAIRED THE SEVERED WIRES WITH BUTT CONNECTORS. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I INSPECTED THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM (CONNECTORS, WIRING, FUSES, ETC.) TO NO AVAIL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. AGAIN, OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS SAME ISSUE WHEN FIXING A VW'S WINDOW (I.E., FIX THE WINDOW AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES). THE TWO ISSUES SHOULD NOT BE CONNECTED, AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME.

72mo ago
Transmission 2

I HAVE A 2006 JETTA THAT I JUST GOT FROM A FRIEND, THEY STATED THAT IT NEEDED SOME SENSORS LIKE THE MAF REPLACED. I SPENT THE 39.99 AND BOUGHT THE CARFAX REPORT AS WELL TO ENSURE IT WAS A GOOD CAR. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT UNTIL I DROVE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME LONGER THAN 20 OR 30 MINUTES. I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN IT GOT HOT AND THE GEARS NOT SHIFTING. AS I BEGAN TO LOOK UP THESE SYMPTOMS TO VERIFY WHAT THE ISSUE WAS I RAN INTO SOME VERY CONCERNING STATEMENTS. MULTIPLE SOURCES SAY THE CARS ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING BAD TRANSMISSIONS/ VALVE BODY ISSUES. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DRIVING 2006 VW JETTA 2.5 LITER AUTOMATIC CARS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING AND SOME WERE WORSE THAN THAT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 103,000 MILES ON IT AND MANY OF THESE OTHER VEHICLES WERE BETWEEN 75K AND 140K. HAVING TO HAVE ENTIRE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT NEEDING TO SWITCH GEARS BUT STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN. IT DISCOURAGES ME THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND A RECALL HAS NEVER BEEN ISSUED FOR IT. THERE IS NO WARRANTY ANYMORE . MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY STATED THAT THE 09G VALVE COVER THAT VW USED WAS NOTORIOUS FOR THESE ISSUES AND THEY ARE STILL PRETTY COMMON. HTTPS://WWW.TRANSMISSIONREPAIRCOSTGUIDE.COM/VOLKSWAGEN-JETTA-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS/ HTTPS://M.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/JETTA/2006/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_FAILURE.SHTML HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/IMPMDINGZOG HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/GLITVICEKFC HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/QEGQ0D2NMOM HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/5KVGSJAXATO HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/SCJ0FMNCNNM HTTPS://WWW.JETTAFORUMS.COM/FORUM/VOLKSWAGEN-JETTA-GENERAL-DISCUSSION/571-2006-JETTA-AUTOMATIC-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS.HTML#/TOPICS/571 HTTPS://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/JETTA/TRANSMISSION-GEAR-SLIPPING-PROBLEMS.PHP. *TR

73mo ago
Electrical 2

AIRBAG/SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON RANDOMLY WHILE CAR WAS OCCUPIED AND IN PARK. NO ACCIDENTS.

78mo ago
Transmission 1

TRANSMISSION GOES INTO LIMP MODE ONCE VEHICLE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. CODES ARE P1689 AND P0746. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL ONLY FUNCTION IN 2ND GEAR AND NOTHING ELSE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ON INTERSTATES WHERE THE MINIMUM SPEED LIMIT CAN NOT BE REACHED. RESEARCHING ONLINE, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE MECHATRONIC NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

79mo ago
Electrical 2

CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF - KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. HAVE TO PUSH THE STEERING WHEEL IN FORCEFULLY TO BE ABLE TO TURN KEY AND ENGINE OFF.

80mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. THE NEW BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITHIN A MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE RADIO CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED YORK VOLKSWAGEN (3475 E MARKET ST, YORK, PA 17402, (717) 755-1015) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE KEY FAILED TO INSERT INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR THE IGNITION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

82mo ago
Electrical 2

THE AIRBAG DRIVER IS NO WOKS..THE AIR BAG IS ON CHECK ALL TIME.

82mo ago
Electrical 2

JETTA DRIVER SIDE DOOR WIRING HARNESS ISSUES CREATING THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH INOPERATIVE, FUEL DOOR SWITCH INOPERATIVE, DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ON, DOOR LACK SWITCH INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE IS PARKED WHEN THIS PROBLEMS ARE PRESENT. THERE HAS BEEN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED TO SOME 2006 JETTA OWNERS BUT NO TO EVERYONE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=P1EQ5XL-ZPM THIS PERFECTLY DESCRIBES THE ISSUES MENTIONED ABOVE.

86mo ago
Transmission 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO WALLACE VOLKSWAGEN OF JOHNSON CITY (3101 E OAKLAND AVE, JOHNSON CITY, TN 37601, (423) 952-0888) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

86mo ago
Body 1

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE

86mo ago
Engine 2

CAR CAN SPUTTER ON FREEWAY AT TIMES AND CAN STALL OUT WHEN DECELERATING FROM FREEWAY CRUISING SPEED. FUEL LINES ARE EMPTY DESPITE HAVING REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND FILTER, AS WELL AS WIRING HARNESS.

87mo ago
Electrical 1

APRIL 12, 2019 AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE CENTER OF THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP CAR WAS PURCHASED AT. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT TESTED FAULTY WHICH COULD BE RENDERING THE AIRBAG INOPERABLE. THE PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED IN ORDER TO REPAIR IT AT A SECOND APPOINTMENT. CONCERNING THAT THE DEALERSHIPS DON'T CARRY PARTS THAT COULD AFFECT THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE JETTA IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS JETTA HAS NEVER HAD THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY OR ANY ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELTS UNTIL NOW.

87mo ago

578 total

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