2006 Volkswagen Passat Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 47about this part
- Share
- 8%of 576 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 61,092miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 47 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat, 8% of the 576 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,092 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Check engine light was on and car would rattle loudly. One day the car just starts driving slow and shuts off. I took it to mechanic and after several tests, it was noted that the engine coils and turbo cap was broken. Hefty price to get it fix. After two days, the check engine light is back on. I research and talked with mechanic, it seems to be a growing problem with vw cars.”
NHTSA complaint #10908833, filed 2016-09, 92,300 miles“When starting the car this morning the engine cranked hard before starting. The battery is low. When trying to drive it this morning the car told me I needed to depress my clutch peddle. The car is an automatic, there is no clutch. The car is unusable. I was in my driveway at the time.”
NHTSA complaint #11042709, filed 2017-11, 120,000 miles“Has I was driven the car will came up with need services soon and will show brake light on and dead systems failed check parking brake and if you press the parking brake button on and off the car will nearly such gears or nearly move at all where if you shout it of the car and then wait for 5_10 min and turn it back on it will go like nothing wrong at all . Transmission has oil and I don't know what it is.”
NHTSA complaint #10691397, filed 2015-03, 130,537 miles“Turbo charger is faulty. I still owe $12,00 on this car. It is appearing thru the forums online that the diesel engine is not the only engine affected by the recent emmision failure of volkswagon car. Please investigate and recall for 2006...not just 2009 thru 2014 cars. This is not fair. Car is smoling so badly you cant see the car behind you and mechanic said that even tho I only have 60,000 miles my turbo charger is toast.”
NHTSA complaint #10781601, filed 2015-10, 60,000 miles“I was getting onto the highway in my 2006 3.6 Passat. The car lost power, check engine light & epc light came on in the car. The car would not allow me to go over 40mph, so I exited the highway & drove car to the mechanic. They removed the transmission to find the issue of the bolt holding the oil pump was partially removed. The car detected a timing issue & was the reason that it would not allow me to go over 40 MPH. When the mechanic removed the bolt to replace it, it came off in two pieces. …”
NHTSA complaint #10512646, filed 2013-05, 62,185 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10161203Jun 11, 2019Addressing Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Concerns, update authing system metadata.
- 10161202Jun 11, 2019Addressing Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Concerns, update authing system metadata.
- 10161457Nov 3, 2018Addressing Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Concerns, update authing system metadata.
- 10161456Nov 3, 2018Addressing Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Concerns, update authing system metadata.
- 10157830Sep 15, 2017Update to model year applicability and existing tip for Dual clutch basic settings procedure.
- 10157829Sep 15, 2017Update model year applicability and existing tip for transmission basic settings direction.
- 10157304Sep 15, 2017Update to model year applicability and existing tip for Dual clutch basic settings procedure.
- 10157303Sep 15, 2017Update model year applicability and existing tip for transmission basic settings direction.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | 15% |
| 2019 | 2 | 17% |
| 2018 | 3 | 7% |
| 2017 | 5 | 5% |
| 2016 | 5 | 5% |
| 2015 | 12 | 5% |
| 2014 | 37 | 6% |
| 2013 | 33 | 4% |
| 2012 | 15 | 3% |
| 2011 | 1 | 6% |
| 2010 | 34 | 21% |
| 2009 | 10 | 7% |
| 2008 | 12 | 7% |
| 2007 | 13 | 5% |
| 2006 | 47 | 8% |
| 2005 | 13 | 9% |
| 2004 | 38 | 14% |
| 2003 | 35 | 6% |
| 2002 | 25 | 4% |
| 2001 | 34 | 8% |
| 2000 | 19 | 4% |
| 1999 | 29 | 4% |
| 1998 | 16 | 5% |
| 1996 | 2 | 5% |
| 1995 | 10 | 11% |
| 1994 | 4 | 16% |
| 1993 | 4 | 6% |
| 1992 | 7 | 18% |
| 1991 | 2 | 8% |
| 1990 | 8 | 24% |
Other parts of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat
148 complaintsSteering
112 complaintsElectrical system
79 complaintsEngine cooling
66 complaintsEngine
64 complaintsFuel system
64 complaintsBrakes
49 complaintsVehicle speed control
32 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
21 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsExterior lighting
12 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Volkswagen Passat
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