Problems · by component

2006 Volkswagen Jetta engine and engine cooling problems

54 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta cite engine and engine cooling, 9% of all 580 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
54
9% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT SHUT OFF THE FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER AS A SAFETY FEATURE, AND THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT ADDRESSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. ...UPDATED 04/12/16 *BF UPDATED 04/13/16.*JB *JS *JS *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10846098
“THE OIL PAN IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED VECHILE THAT I OWN HAD TO BE CHANGED DUE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAD PUT A ALUMINUM PAN WITH A STEEL BOLT. THE STEEL BOLT OVER THE YEARS CORRODED THE PAN NECESSIATING A REPLACEMENT OF THE PAN. FITZGERALD AUTOMALL (410-224-3480) IN ANNAPOLIS MD REPLACED THE PAN FREE OF LABOR BUT CHARGED ME FOR THE OIL PAN. THEY DID INFORM ME THAT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT VW HAS SINCE RECTIFIED IN THE NEWER MODELS AND THAT I HAD TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR REIMBURSEMENT. WHEN I CONTACTED VW, THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY INFORMED IT WAS UNDER THEIR DISCRETION TO RECTIFY THE DEFECT IN NEWER MODELS AND WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OLDER MODELS. IN MY OPINION VW SHOULD REIMBURSE ME AND ALSO RECALL ALL THEIR VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS IF SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS OR NOT.[XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2013Engine and engine coolingODI 10502604
“WE WERE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOR HOOD AT ABOUT 25MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AS IF THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER AND PARK. THE CAR WENT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE (WHICH I NOW KNOW). ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT ERROR LIGHTS WERE ON AS WELL AS THE GEAR LIGHTS FLASHING. PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, LET IT REST AND THEN PROCEEDED TO RESTART WITH THE SAME ENGINE ERROR. THE CAR WOULDN'T REVERSE OR GO OVER 2ND GEAR. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY IT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT MY LOCAL VW DEALER ON TIME AND IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. PRIOR TO THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE FAILURE, I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEM WITH MY GLI, FROM INTERIOR, ELECTRICAL, TO THE TURBO. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS VERY EARLY ON WITH THIS CAR, SOME WERE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND SOME WERE NOT. INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF MY GLI ALL AROUND. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 28, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical systemODI 10456742
“DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL(DMF) DETACHED ITSELF,CAUSING ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION(DSG).INITIALLY,I HAVE TO REPLACE DMF,THEN CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR,CRANKSHAFT SEAL AND BEARING.THIS REPAIR COST ME $1,700.00. *TR AFTER TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CAR,THE MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT,BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGESDMF HAS CAUSED TO THE TRANSMISSION,THE TRANSMISSION IS NOW LEAKING OIL.A PIECES OF THE DMF CUT INTO THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CREATED A NUMBER OF HOLES.AS A RESULT OF ALL THIS,THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED,AS MY ONLY SOLUTION,TO REBUILT TRANSMISSION,WHICH COST AN ADDITIONAL $ 3,300.00. VW OF AMERICA,DENIED ANY REIMBURSEMENT,BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JANUARY 2011.THEY CAN NOT EXPLAIN WHY DMF FAILD.THEY JUST LOST ONE CUSTOMER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10454177
“THIS VEHICLE IS A 2006 TURBO DIESEL VW JETTA. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE FAILED, NO WARNING LIGHTS. EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER, ROUGH IDLING, VALVE TRAIN NOISE AND TRANSMISSION NOISE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO CERTIFIED MECHANIC. MECHANIC FOUND COMPLETE LOSS OF COMPRESSION ON ONE PISTON AND SCORED LIFTERS. ALSO DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL WAS MAKING LOUD NOISE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP QUOTED EST 1800 DOLLARS FOR PARTS AND LABOR FOR FLYWHEEL AND CERTIFIED MECHANIC RECOMMENDS REBUILT ENGINE FOR APPX 5000 DOLLARS PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. ESTIMATE WILL BE COMPLETE NEXT WEEK. TOTAL WILL EST AROUND 9 TO 10,000 DOLLARS FOR TOWING, INSPECTING VEHICLE TO FIND ISSUES, PARTS AND LABOR. SPOKE WITH VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA CONSUMER ADVOCATE WHO OFFERED US $750 OFF A NEW VW. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR WITH APPROPRIATE OIL CHANGES USING VW APPROVED OIL. MOST OF THE MILEAGE WAS OBTAINED AS HIGHWAY MILES. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10453610
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS VIBRATING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FLYWHEEL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED FOR THE FLYWHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10451479

Showing 6 of 54 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.

Engine and engine coolingReported Mar 7, 2014NHTSA 14E007000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.