2006 Volkswagen Jetta Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 39about this part
- Share
- 7%of 580 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 123,543miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 39 complaints about the engine of the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, 7% of the 580 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 123,543 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Driving along the road and coolant suddenly flushed out of car. Water pump had to be replaced along with timing belt. Oil leaks in multiple places are starting to appear. I wondered why I was going through so much oil. Mechanic alerted me to the poor design and build and told me to check of open recalls and similar problems.”
NHTSA complaint #10641422, filed 2014-10, 120,000 miles“I have two major saftey problems that could have ended in a fatality.first my transmission went out without a warning while I was on the interstate going 75 MPH and a 18 wheeler was behind me the car dropt down to 40 MPH and I almost got rearended by the semi.I had the transmission rebuild.second thing I pulled out of burgerking and the car has no power and about got tboned and theres no check engine light on.”
NHTSA complaint #10882493, filed 2016-07, 232,094 miles“Cam shaft and lifter inferior quality!!what has happened according to other owners of tdi's that I have talked to is that the camshaft and lifters have failed. They were built inferior and breakdown. This causes a lot of confusion with mechanics trying for endless hours to figure out why its smoking. With a lot of research I found out that the camshaft and lifters are inferior and breakdown. …”
NHTSA complaint #10572728, filed 2014-03, 100,000 miles“The vehicle stalls whenever driving in wet conditions on the hwy while snowing or raining. I have lost control of the vehicle and have broken down on the side of the road with no shoulder and facing an uphill incline. On each occasion I have had my children in the vehicle with me and facing heavy traffic in both directions. I was fortunate to have a highway patrol officer assist me in pushing the car to off the highway the last 3 times. …”
NHTSA complaint #10514076, filed 2013-05, 82,000 miles“My wife and I were driving home and suddenly my car started jerking and made a knocking sound, without any warning (I.e. Check engine light). We were close to home and decided to continue on; however, in the next couple of miles, the problems persisted, still with no check engine light or any indication of what was wrong with the vehicle. Over the next several days, while parked on a secured premise, I started the car up and it had an erratic loping sound. …”
NHTSA complaint #10496238, filed 2013-02, 149,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10206820Jan 21, 2022Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)
- 10202843Oct 28, 2021Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)
- 10198230Jun 22, 2021Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
- 10198166Jun 21, 2021VW approved gasoline fuel additive, update to include additional models and model year applicability.
- 10190228Apr 5, 2021Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)
- 10181413Oct 2, 2020Mandatory fastener.
- 10167196Oct 29, 2019Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards.
- 10165535Sep 24, 2019Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards.
- 10164209Aug 19, 2019Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards. Also includes 2004 and 2005 Jetta Wagon and 2018-2020 Tiguan LWB
- 10163517Jul 16, 2019Engine oil quality standards. Also includes all models for 1997-2003. Also Rabbit from 2006-2009.
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2025 | 1 | 3% |
| 2024 | 12 | 26% |
| 2023 | 11 | 26% |
| 2022 | 12 | 28% |
| 2021 | 5 | 7% |
| 2020 | 12 | 22% |
| 2019 | 147 | 27% |
| 2018 | 2 | 6% |
| 2017 | 33 | 21% |
| 2016 | 44 | 27% |
| 2015 | 43 | 22% |
| 2014 | 108 | 28% |
| 2013 | 112 | 22% |
| 2012 | 84 | 17% |
| 2011 | 90 | 15% |
| 2010 | 117 | 14% |
| 2009 | 96 | 11% |
| 2008 | 20 | 11% |
| 2007 | 16 | 8% |
| 2006 | 39 | 7% |
| 2005 | 27 | 11% |
| 2004 | 11 | 5% |
| 2003 | 16 | 4% |
| 2002 | 7 | 1% |
| 2001 | 9 | 1% |
| 2000 | 8 | 2% |
| 1999 | 2 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
245 complaintsElectrical system
112 complaintsAir bags
65 complaintsEngine cooling
54 complaintsExterior lighting
32 complaintsBrakes
30 complaintsSeats
25 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
24 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsBody and structure
23 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology