2006 Volkswagen JETTA: complaints, problems and recalls

DURING PRODUCT EVALUATION, TEST DRIVE AND UPON DELIVERY OF MY NEW CAR, IT DID NOT INCLUDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL). AFTER INITIAL SERVICE AT 5,000 MILES, THE CAR SUDDENLY INCLUDED DRL. THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS REQUIRED BY LAW TO ACTIVATE THIS FEATURE. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS FUNCTION DOES NOT INCLUDE AN OVERRIDE SWITCH, NOR DOES IT INCLUDE A DARKNESS SENSOR THAT ACTIVATES THE MAIN LIGHTS WHEN IT GETS DARK. THEREFORE, WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AS DUSK APPROACHES THE ROAD IS ILLUMINATED BY THE DRL, THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ARE ON, AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142375 at NHTSA ↗

SPEEDOMETER IS 5.3% FAST. NOT A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM UNLESS YOU DO A LOT OF FREEWAY DRIVING AND ARE CONSTANTLY BEING PASSED BY IRATE DRIVERS BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING 70 INSTEAD OF 75 MPH. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND WAS TOLD IT IS WITHIN SPEC (5.3%)???? THE DEALER ALSO SAID THEY COULD REPLACE PARTS BUT IT WOULD NOT CHANGE THE CALIBRATION. VW OF AMERICA TECH DEPARTMENT WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT SAID "IT WAS WITHIN SPEC". THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALL ELECTRONIC WITH A SPEED SENSOR - THIS PROBLEM COULD BE EASILY CORRECTED WITH A QUICK SOFTWARE FIX. N…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144186 at NHTSA ↗

I AM CONTINUING TO HAVE A PROBLEM ON MY NEW MODEL 2005 JETTA. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON 3 TIMES SINCE AUGUST 2005. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING TO THE LEMON LAW PROGRAM IN CT. I HAVE SPOKE TO THE ATT GENERALS OFFICE AND THIS FALLS UNDER THE SAFETY CATEGORY AND FEELS I SHOULD FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS. I AM FRUSTRATED AND CONCERNED NOT KNOWING FOR SURE IF THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN FIXED OR NOT SINCE THIS PAST WEEK WAS THE THIRD ATTEMPT OF THEM FIXING THE PROBLEM. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146367 at NHTSA ↗

ONE COMMENT I HAVE IS REGARDING THE REAR EXTERIOR TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS. OTHER THAN THE SMALL ORANGE SIDE MIRROR INDICATORS WHICH ARE A MARGINAL BACKUP TO THE REAR TURN INDICATORS IT WAS STILL DIFFICULT TO SEE THE REAR TURN SIGNALS ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING AS THEY ARE RED, THE SAME COLOR AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS. WHEN I FOLLOWED MY SON HOME LAST NIGHT I KNEW HE WAS BRAKING BUT WITHOUT THE SMALL ORANGE MIRROR INDICATOR I HAD NO IDEA HE WAS TURNING. IS THERE ANY PLAN TO REPLACE THE REAR TURN SIGNAL LENSES WITH ORANGE COLORED LENSES? *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147235 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE NOR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I CAN HEAR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS BEING ACTIVATED INSIDE THE DOOR WHILE UNLOCKING THE DOOR VIA REMOTE OR INTERNAL SWITCH, BUT THE DOOR REMAINS LOCKED. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR AN URGENT EXIT. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER, BUT ONCE I REALIZED THAT THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT I PUSHED THIS APPOINTMENT TO THE NEXT SERVICE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148254 at NHTSA ↗

2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, ENGINE MAKES A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE FOR THE FIRST MINUTE EVERYTIME THE CAR IS COLD AND AT FIRST STARTUP IN THE MORNING...EVERY SINGLE DAY , AFTER REPORTING THE PROBLEM TO MY DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THIS NOISE IS ON ALL 2006 JETTA'S AND THE MANUFACTURER IS WORKING ON SOLVING THE PROBLEM, I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM LAST MAY 2005 WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR AND I HAVE SINCE MADE 2 OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WITH THE DEALER. I HAVE NOW WARNED THEM A THIRD TIME AND WILL WAIT THE OFFICIAL 30 DAY…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10149679 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50MPH AND APPROACHING A YIELD, THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED. THE CLUTCH STUCK TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE ALL TRANSMISSION FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL DETERMINED THE FLYWHEEL HAD BROKEN CAUSING THE CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE TO BREAK. THE MANUFACTURER…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150522 at NHTSA ↗

THE 'PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF' LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES, WITH NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS IS NOT PROBLEMATIC IN THE DAYTIME BUT, AT NIGHT, IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE DISTRACTION OF A VERY BRIGHT ORANGE LIGHT GLARING AT THE DRIVER. IF THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING NORMALLY, WHETHER IT'S ON OR OFF, THERE SHOULD NOT BE A WARNING LIGHT. HAVING THAT BRIGHT ORANGE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME, AT NIGHT, IS NOT SAFE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151528 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-06-25 (June 25, 2007)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2007-09-24 (September 24, 2007)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2009-05-19 (May 19, 2009)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2010-12-10 (December 10, 2010)

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.

Consequence: 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.