VehicleVerdict

2006 Volkswagen Jetta transmission problems

The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta has 254 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 32% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

254

Transmission complaints

32%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Related recalls

09V164000TransmissionMay 19, 2009 · 25,594 units

Defect

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 25,594 MY 2006-2009 JETTA 5TH GENERATION EQUIPPED WITH 2.01 ENGINE. THE FASTENING SCREW CONTACT SURFACES ON THE DRIVESHAFT COVER PLATE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. SOME SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY AND COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHES FROM THE GEARBOX.

Consequence

IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DETACHED DRIVESHAFT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE THE GEARBOX HOUSING. A DAMAGE GEARBOX HOUSING COULD LEAK GEARBOX OIL ONTO THE STREET AND CREATE A RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS AND REPLACE THE SCREWS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

What owners report

BEEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS CLAIMING IN FOX VALLEY IL ROCKFORD IL GLENVIEW IL THAT EITHER MY MECHUNIT IS BAD/FAULTY OR DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL IS BAD/FAULTY. WAS DRIVING WHERE EITHER MY CAR WOULD SHIFT VERY ROUGH AS IF SOMEONE WHO IS VERY INEXPERIENCED WOULD LET GO OF THE CLUTCH LATE AND SHIFT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · January 18, 2014 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta have?

NHTSA has 254 complaints about the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta transmission — 32% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 09V164000.

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.