2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Complaints

DRIVER'S SEAT, LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT BACK: NOTICED A DISCOLORATION & CHANGE IN THE FABRIC AT LEAST ONE YEAR AGO. MORE RECENTLY, TWO PINHOLES HAVE APPEARED IN THE AREA. WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. IN RETROSPECT, WE REALIZE THAT SEVERAL ARTICLES OF CLOTHING - PRIMARILY OUTERWEAR - WERE DAMAGED BY THE EXCESS HEAT FROM THAT AREA OF THE SEAT. BECAUSE IT WAS OUTERWEAR, THAT PROBABLY ACCOUNTS FOR WHY WE NEVER FELT THE INTENSE, LOCALIZED HEAT. NO INJURIES RESULTED. BUT AFTER READING ABOUT ALMOST 200 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE JETTAS BUILT AROUND THAT TIME, SOME RESULTING IN INJURIES AND / OR FIRES, I'M SURPRISED THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. *TR

THE DSG CLUTCH ON THE 2006 VW JETTA TDI LOST STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND CAME APART COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, DESTROYING THE AUTOMATIC CLUTCH AND POTENTIALLY THE TRANSMISSION. THE SPRINGS ARE SO DAMAGED THAT THEY WERE EJECTED FROM THE CASING ONTO THE ENGINE PROTECTION MATT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CLUTCH WHICH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY AND POTENTIAL TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. *TR

THIS IS SECOND TIME THE WIRE HARNESS SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAVE BROKEN. THIS BREAKAGE CAUSES THE CRASH SENSOR TO BECOME INACTIVATING ALONG WITH OTHER CRITICAL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS IN THE DOOR, IE WINDOW, LOCK, FUEL DOOR. THIS ALSO HAS A POTENTIAL FOR STARTING A FIRE. WHEN I HAD MY CAR IN FOR A IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE THERE WAS A COMMENT TYPED ON THE SERVICE REPORT INDICATING THAT THE HARNESS APPEAR IN GOOD REPAIR. THIS ENTRY REVEALS THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS VERY AWARE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO RESOLVE IT. *TR

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] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE PIPING HAD BECOME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY APPLYING A RUBBER GUARD HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE DUEL MASS FLYWHEEL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, DEALER DIAGNOSED AS A PASSANGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE, RHEOSTAT IN AIR BAG WAN'T HEATING PROPERLY & BAG WOULD THEREFORE NOT IGNITE AT IMPACT. *TR

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. I PROCEEDED TO CALL A NEARBY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND SPOKE TO TWO CERTIFIED VW MECHANICS, WHO FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATION BEFORE THE CAR STARTED TO ACT UP AND SAID TO BRING IT IN TO SWAP OUT THE ENGINE AT APPROX. $7500; THEY DISMISSED THE PROBLEM AS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAM, WHICH I HAD CONFIRMED BY AN AUTO-MECHANIC AFTER TOWING THE CAR IN. HE TOLD ME THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS WARPED DUE TO THE CAM GOING OUT. OTHER 2006 VW JETTA TDI OWNERS HAVE COMMENTED ON THE SAME ISSUES, WHICH AT THIS POINT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR", BUT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 VW JETTA SD W/ 93,000 MILES. I USE THIS VEHICLE FOR WORK. THE AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. I INITIALLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DAVID MAUS VW IN SOUTH ORLANDO. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR REP KEVIN IT WOULD COST $400 TO REPAIR THE CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT THAT RELATE TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO BEAR THIS COST. I ASKED [XXX] HOW THE CONNECTORS WOULD BECOME FAULTY SINCE THERE IS NOTHING EVER STORED UNDER MY DRIVER SEAT AND NO ONE GOES UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. [XXX] SAID THAT ??IT JUST HAPPENS.?? I TOLD HIM I WAS DISAPPOINTED VW HAD MADE SUCH A FAULTY CAR BECAUSE OF THE MANY PRIOR PROBLEMS I HAD THAT FORTUNATELY WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, E.G., ESP LIGHT CONTINUALLY ON; IGNITION COILS RECALLED/REPLACED; ASR LIGHT CONTINUALLY LIT; TRUNK LATCH REPLACED, AIR CONDITIONING VENTS BROKE, DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK/UNLOCK; AND DRIVER SIDE BUTTON STOPPED WORKING. AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I PAID TO REPLACE THE BUTTON FOR THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS BECAUSE IT BROKE OFF. [XXX] TOLD ME THE BUTTON WAS CHEAP AND THEY ALWAYS BREAK. A RECALL FOR THE SIDE AIR BAG HARNESS ON SEATS WERE REPAIRED ON BOTH SIDES ON 3/30/11. IN OCTOBER, 2011 I TOLD [XXX] I DID NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT AS I BELIEVED IT WAS A DEFECT ON VW PART. I COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE LIGHT TO COME ON BY DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED BY [XXX] THAT WITHOUT THIS REPAIR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS CONSIDERED TO BE INOPERABLE AND UNSAFE. AFTER REVIEW OF THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS AND AN INTERNET SEARCH, THIS AIRBAG ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ONE FOR SOME TIME. VW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS A LARGE CONCERN. I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED DUE TO THE OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FIRST, VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC LOCKS STOP RESPONDING TO DEPRESSES FROM BOTH REMOTES. REPLACE THE BATTERIES TO THE REMOTE AND STILL THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS BY MANUALLY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE, WHICH IS THE ONLY MANUAL KEYHOLE, AND TURNING LEFT TWICE. ONCE TURN UNLOCKS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, ANOTHER TURN UNLOCKS THE PASSENGER DOORS. AFTER SOME TIME PASSENGER DOORS STOP RESPONDING TO SECOND TURN. PASSENGER DOORS DO NO LOCK WHEN MANUALLY TURNING KEY THE RIGHT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, WHICH IS THE ONLY MANUAL KEYHOLE. THE PASSENGER DOORS THAT DO NOT LOCK CAUSE THE ALARM TO GO OFF WHEN OPENED. DEPRESSING THE SILENCE ALARM BUTTON ON KEY FOB DOES NOT SILENCE ALARM. THE ONLY WAY TO SILENCE ALARM IS BY CLOSING PASSENGER DOOR, CLOSING DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND TURNING KEY RIGHT ONCE TO LOCK AND LEFT TO UNLOCK. DOING SO ONLY CONTROL DRIVER SIDE DOOR. AFTER SOME TIME DASHBOARD SHOWS "DOOR OPEN" SYMBOL EVEN WHEN ALL DOORS ARE SECURELY CLOSED AND INDICATOR LIGHT ON DOOR IS OFF. DOME LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING AS IF THE DOORS ARE INDEED OPEN EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SECURELY CLOSED. AT THIS STAGE THE ALARM SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS EITHER BY KEY FOB DEPRESS NOR BY MANUALLY TURNING THE LOCK IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AS DESCRIBED EARLIER. DOORS MUST BE LOCKED BY OPENING EACH ONE MANUALLY AND PRESSING THE LOCK DOOR BUTTON LOCATED ON EACH PASSENGER DOOR. PRESSING THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK PASSENGER DOORS. ALL FUSES ARE INTACT AND NO ELECTRICAL ISSUES REPORTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION POSITION LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. A DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SYMPTOMS AND STATED THEY KNEW THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.