2006 Volkswagen Jetta Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 32about this part
- Share
- 6%of 580 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 13,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 32 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, 6% of the 580 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 13,500 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My vw dealer tells me that the high and low headlights cannot be adjusted separately on my 2006 Jetta. The low beams illuminate the road for about 100 feet and the high beams only illuminate the tree tops. I cannot see the road safely to drive with any combination. They have adjusted the beams several times and cannot fix it to a safe condition.”
NHTSA complaint #10210482, filed 2007-12, 1 miles“The headlamp assemblies on my 2006 Volkswagen Jetta tdi are designed in a manner that I feel is extremely dangerous. When the low beams are aimed correctly, the high beams are aimed far too high to be effective. The design of these headlamps is such that the high beams cannot be adjusted independently of the low beams. This headlamp design could most definitely result in an accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10172784, filed 2006-11, 68 miles“2006 vw Jetta, driving down street 11/09/12 door ajar light comes on, I stop to close doors and light goes off. I pull into work parking lot and get out of car as I click the key to lock the car, nothing. I then proceed to check the car.. Nothing is working. Cannot access gas cap to put gas in car, some lights may not be functioning properly, airbag light not on, door will not lock, window will not respond, no car alarm. Drivers side of car has no power at all. I have no idea what is and is not working correctly. …”
NHTSA complaint #10483902, filed 2012-11, 70,068 miles“Electrical problems have been abundant in this vehicle starting in 2012. Driver side door locks work randomly. The car responds to the keys randomly even with a new battery. Alarm will sound when it fails to respond to key. Over the last year lights go out monthly. Shifter electronics failed. Repaired in june 2014. Mechanic had no idea why it would go out which was cause for my concern.”
NHTSA complaint #10641425, filed 2014-10, 80,000 miles“The drivers side door electrical system does not work. The locks, windows, mirrors, trunk latch, gas tank latch, mirror defroster et al. In speaking the vw service reps they knew right away that the issue was a broken harness. They indicated it had failed in many other vehicles. However, in speaking with vw customer care they are not willing to accept responsibility for the known issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #10401912, filed 2011-05, 90,000 milesRelated recalls
- 07V442000Sep 24, 2007Certain vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."…Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 2005–2008, GTI 2006–2008, Rabbit 2006–2008 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 10188562Mar 2, 2021Exterior lighting moisture in lens updated to exclude LED lighting.
- 10158533Feb 18, 2019Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses. TB updated to include model year 2019 applicability.
- 10121257Mar 27, 2015Technical Bulletin: Condensation and or water droplets becomming visible on inside of exterior light lenses issue is discussed in this document
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2025 | 1 | 3% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 26 | 5% |
| 2017 | 5 | 3% |
| 2016 | 3 | 2% |
| 2015 | 5 | 3% |
| 2014 | 24 | 6% |
| 2013 | 17 | 3% |
| 2012 | 13 | 3% |
| 2011 | 41 | 7% |
| 2010 | 19 | 2% |
| 2009 | 24 | 3% |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% |
| 2007 | 8 | 4% |
| 2006 | 32 | 6% |
| 2005 | 14 | 6% |
| 2004 | 9 | 4% |
| 2003 | 28 | 6% |
| 2002 | 50 | 7% |
| 2001 | 80 | 12% |
| 2000 | 34 | 8% |
| 1999 | 17 | 5% |
| 1998 | 7 | 4% |
| 1995 | 7 | 3% |
| 1993 | 1 | 6% |
| 1988 | 1 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta
245 complaintsElectrical system
112 complaintsAir bags
65 complaintsEngine cooling
54 complaintsEngine
39 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 31, 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