VehicleVerdict

2006 Volkswagen Jetta lighting problems

The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta has 35 lighting complaints filed with NHTSA — 4% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

35

Lighting complaints

4%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Lighting complaints by year

Jetta lighting complaints by model year90 complaints1988: 1 complaints1993: 3 complaints1995: 14 complaints1996: 6 complaints1997: 1 complaints1998: 7 complaints1999: 22 complaints2000: 35 complaints2001: 90 complaints2002: 62 complaints2003: 30 complaints2004: 11 complaints2005: 14 complaints2006: 35 complaints2007: 8 complaints2008: 6 complaints2009: 24 complaints2010: 21 complaints2011: 42 complaints2012: 13 complaints2013: 17 complaints2014: 24 complaints2015: 5 complaints2016: 3 complaints2017: 5 complaints2019: 26 complaints2021: 1 complaints2022: 1 complaints2025: 1 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Jetta lighting complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

07V442000LightingSeptember 24, 2007 · 340,000 units

Defect

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.

Consequence

NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

What owners report

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · July 17, 2006

Common questions

How many lighting complaints does the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta have?

NHTSA has 35 complaints about the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta lighting — 4% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta lighting?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the lighting: 07V442000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.