2006 Volkswagen Jetta Powertrain (other) Problems

So it appears to be fine until about 30/45 mins drive time Then it starts shifting/slamming real hard and hesitates to shift in the next gear To the point where stopping and going isn’t an option or it slips After about 45 mins all the prnds lights turned on and did the same in manual mode.. I read someone it’s a valve body that leads to a faulty Tranny I’ve read almost 150 of the same exact accounts on here and Reddit With the same 2006 Vw Jetta 2.5 It’s too common of an issue Most of them were under 100k miles and never dealt with by the manufacturer Myself my car has roughly 168k miles and I’ve been working to fix it up I just got it a month or so ago And now I have to deal with this Honestly is sad that VW hasn’t been held accountable for an issue that is WAY TOO COMMON to not be their fault. I understand the car is almost 20 years old but a bunch of these accounts i were reading dated as far back as 2009 with 86k miles it’s a shame..

NHTSA ID

11532411

Incident

Jul 3, 2023

The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission shuddered without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.

NHTSA ID

11419495

Incident

May 27, 2021

Mileage

156,000 mi

I HAVE A 2006 JETTA THAT I JUST GOT FROM A FRIEND, THEY STATED THAT IT NEEDED SOME SENSORS LIKE THE MAF REPLACED. I SPENT THE 39.99 AND BOUGHT THE CARFAX REPORT AS WELL TO ENSURE IT WAS A GOOD CAR. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT UNTIL I DROVE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME LONGER THAN 20 OR 30 MINUTES. I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN IT GOT HOT AND THE GEARS NOT SHIFTING. AS I BEGAN TO LOOK UP THESE SYMPTOMS TO VERIFY WHAT THE ISSUE WAS I RAN INTO SOME VERY CONCERNING STATEMENTS. MULTIPLE SOURCES SAY THE CARS ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING BAD TRANSMISSIONS/ VALVE BODY ISSUES. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DRIVING 2006 VW JETTA 2.5 LITER AUTOMATIC CARS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING AND SOME WERE WORSE THAN THAT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 103,000 MILES ON IT AND MANY OF THESE OTHER VEHICLES WERE BETWEEN 75K AND 140K. HAVING TO HAVE ENTIRE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT NEEDING TO SWITCH GEARS BUT STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN. IT DISCOURAGES ME THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND A RECALL HAS NEVER BEEN ISSUED FOR IT. THERE IS NO WARRANTY ANYMORE . MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY STATED THAT THE 09G VALVE COVER THAT VW USED WAS NOTORIOUS FOR THESE ISSUES AND THEY ARE STILL PRETTY COMMON. HTTPS://WWW.TRANSMISSIONREPAIRCOSTGUIDE.COM/VOLKSWAGEN-JETTA-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS/ HTTPS://M.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/JETTA/2006/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_FAILURE.SHTML HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/IMPMDINGZOG HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/GLITVICEKFC HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/QEGQ0D2NMOM HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/5KVGSJAXATO HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/SCJ0FMNCNNM HTTPS://WWW.JETTAFORUMS.COM/FORUM/VOLKSWAGEN-JETTA-GENERAL-DISCUSSION/571-2006-JETTA-AUTOMATIC-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS.HTML#/TOPICS/571 HTTPS://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/JETTA/TRANSMISSION-GEAR-SLIPPING-PROBLEMS.PHP. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331181

Incident

Jun 27, 2020

Mileage

102,344 mi

TRANSMISSION GOES INTO LIMP MODE ONCE VEHICLE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. CODES ARE P1689 AND P0746. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL ONLY FUNCTION IN 2ND GEAR AND NOTHING ELSE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ON INTERSTATES WHERE THE MINIMUM SPEED LIMIT CAN NOT BE REACHED. RESEARCHING ONLINE, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE MECHATRONIC NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11297069

Incident

Oct 3, 2019

Mileage

265,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO WALLACE VOLKSWAGEN OF JOHNSON CITY (3101 E OAKLAND AVE, JOHNSON CITY, TN 37601, (423) 952-0888) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11217049

Incident

May 14, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

TRANSMISSION NOR SHIFTING PROPERLY(AUTOMATIC). CREATES SAFETY ISSUES PARTICULARLY ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

11123944

Incident

Jul 24, 2018

Mileage

97,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PASS EMISSIONS INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SIGNAL FROM THE ECU AND TRANSMISSION MODULE INDICATED THAT THERE WERE TWO PINS THAT WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. COLONIAL VOLKSWAGEN (89 TURNPIKE RD, WEST BOROUGH, MA) WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE, BUT THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11061255

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

163,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SEEMINGLY POPS OUT OF GEAR (GOES FROM 50 MPH TO 10 MPH OR LESS WITH NO WARNING). IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE, EVEN WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. VERY UNSAFE! WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE (ONE WHICH VW RECALLED 2007-2010 MODELS FOR).

NHTSA ID

11032140

Incident

Sep 27, 2017

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWNSHIFT. FURTHERMORE, THE BATTERY WOULD DRAIN OVERNIGHT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LEE SUMMIT VOLKSWAGEN DEALER (LOCATED IN LEE SUMMIT, MO, (816) 600-4224) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11012648

Incident

Jan 11, 2017

Mileage

180,000 mi

DEFECTIVE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY RECALL ALSO THE MECHATRONICS UNITS ARE FAILING AND CAUSING MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DROPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING, DROPPING INTO A LOWER GEAR WHILE DRIVING CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES AND VW KNOWS ABOUT IT! THEIR CLAIM IS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL SO NOTHING IS BEING DONE!!!!! PLEASE HELP, HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHEN IN WARRANTY AND NOTHING WAS DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10938597

Incident

Nov 20, 2016

Mileage

250,000 mi

I'VE GOT A 2006 JETTA, 2.0TDI WITH THE DSG, I PURCHASED 04-16-2016 FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT SEEMS AS IF EVERY TIME I STOPS AND TAKES IT OUT OF GEAR AND ATTEMPTS TO GO INTO REVERSE IT WON'T ENGAGE AND THE FLASH OF DEATH HAPPENS. HAS TO TURN THE CAR OFF/ON TO GET IT TO MOVE AGAIN. THIS IS A CLASSIC SAFETY HAZARD. I READ VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI (FEW YEARS AGO) ARE RECALLING 16,000 VEHICLES BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT MAKE THEM LOSE POWER -- OR COMPLETELY STALL -- OUT OF THE BLUE.

NHTSA ID

10928150

Incident

Apr 16, 2016

MY CAR HAS SOME SHIFTING PROBLEMS WHEN IN MOTION.MY CAR HAS A JERKING MOTION THAT IT DOES WHEN GOING INTO GEARS AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN ITS ROUGH GOING DOWN GEARS.

NHTSA ID

10903551

Incident

Aug 30, 2016

Mileage

191,000 mi

I HAVE TWO MAJOR SAFTEY PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAVE ENDED IN A FATALITY.FIRST MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT A WARNING WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 75 MPH AND A 18 WHEELER WAS BEHIND ME THE CAR DROPT DOWN TO 40 MPH AND I ALMOST GOT REARENDED BY THE SEMI.I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILD.SECOND THING I PULLED OUT OF BURGERKING AND THE CAR HAS NO POWER AND ABOUT GOT TBONED AND THERES NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON.

NHTSA ID

10882493

Incident

Jul 4, 2016

Mileage

232,094 mi

MY VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI 2006 GOT THE PRNDS FLASH OF DEATH, AND I FOUND OUT IT WAS THE MECHATRONIC UNIT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 75MPH WHEN THE FLASHES STARTED TO OCCUR. I COULDN'T GIVE MY ENGINE ANY POWER AND I STARTED TO DECELERATE AT A QUICK PACE, AND THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE FOR ME AND FOR ALL OTHER OCCUPANTS ON THE HIGHWAY, BECAUSE MY FAULTY CAR COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT, THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MANY INJURIES. I WANT TO BRING THIS ATTENTION TO THE NHTSA TO, PROVIDE ME WITH MORE INFORMATION AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE IS FAULTY, AND THE AMOUNT OF TROUBLE I WOULD BE IN IF I DIDN'T MANAGE THIS SITUATION LIKE I DID TO PROTECT MYSELF AND EVERYONE ELSE.

NHTSA ID

10881253

Incident

Apr 6, 2016

Mileage

193,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.

NHTSA ID

10872930

Incident

May 20, 2014

Mileage

199,000 mi

TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTING WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF VEHICLE START. LOUD CLUNK NOISE THRU 4 GEARS. CAR IN GARAGE. OST 50-75 DEGREES. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WITH WIRING EXTENSION COMPLETED.

NHTSA ID

10870315

Incident

May 10, 2016

Mileage

133,176 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND SOMETIMES FAIL TO SHIFT. THE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10846282

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

83,000 mi

CAMSHAFT FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR ON A VEHICLE WITH 160,000 MILES DESPITE USING VW RECOMMENDED 505.01 SPECIFICATION OIL AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE. ENGINE DEVELOPED A RATTLING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, DECREASED PERFORMANCE, EXCESSIVE BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE, AND $1500 REPAIR BILL. DUAL MASS TRANSMISSION FLYWHEEL FAILURE ON A VEHICLE WITH 120,000 MILES RESULTED IN RATTLING NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION, VIBRATION OF THE WHOLE VEHICLE AND $1200 REPAIR BILL. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE WIDESPREAD. MULTIPLE OWNERS OF THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE EXACT SAME ISSUES DUE TO POOR QUALITY PARTS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AND FIX THESE ISSUES DUE TO THEM BEING WIDESPREAD. THERE ARE NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS ON PUBLIC FORUMS OF THESE ISSUES AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

10807586

Incident

Nov 27, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPEED DECREASED TO 20 MPH AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN SHIFTING INTO A GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. THE FAILURES RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE MODULE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10734037

Incident

Dec 10, 2013

Mileage

138,000 mi

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT CONTROLLING AT ANY NOMINAL CRUISING SPEED, OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. SAFETY CONCERN. CAR WAS SHIFTING WHEN IT DIDN'T NEED TO SHIFT, I.E. OUT OF 6TH AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN THE TERRAIN AND SPEED HADN'T CHANGED. IT WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR THE WAY YOU DO IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT INSTEAD OF SHIFTING BACK IN IMMEDIATELY, IT WOULD HESITATE (RPMS DROP SIGNIFICANTLY) SO THAT THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY IDLING BETWEEN GEARS. THEN IT WOULD SHIFT BACK IN TO A GEAR FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN SHIFT AGAIN INAPPROPRIATELY WITH THE SAME HESITATION. WHEN IT WOULD SHIFT BACK IN SOMETIMES IT WOULD DO THE HARD SHIFT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT TIMES BUT NOT ALWAYS. THE CAR COULDN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT GEAR IT NEEDED TO BE IN, AND IT KEPT SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF THE HIGHER GEARS EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER HADN'T CHANGED THE SPEED AND THE TERRAIN WAS THE SAME. IT WAS MUCH WORSE DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY. WHEREAS THE PROBLEM IS HARDLY PERCEPTIBLE AT NIGHT. STILL IT SEEMED TO BE SHIFTING BETWEEN 6TH DOWN TO 5TH WHEN IT DIDN'T NEED TO. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO REPEAT OVER AND OVER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT SOME POINT, BUT WAS NOT ON THIS MORNING.

NHTSA ID

10731609

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

85,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED BY IT-SELF AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ENGINE'S ACCELERATION COMMANDS. SINCE THAN IS HAS BEEN MORE OFTEN, AND HAS CAUSED FEAR AND ANXIETY. THERE IS NO WARNING SIGNS ON THE DASHBOARD TO NOTIFY THE DRIVER OF ANY PROBLEMS. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MODEL 2007 AND NEW-ER. THE 2006 MODEL IS NOT FOR SOME REASON INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AND IT WAS JUST A WASTE OF TIME.

NHTSA ID

10725245

Incident

Jul 9, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

AFTER REPLACING THE CAM SHAFT AND TIMING BELT I TOOK THE CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE. THE PROBLEMS WERE APPARENT, A HARD SHIFT FROM A STOP INTO FIRST GEAR AND HARD SHIFTS ALL THE WAY TO 4TH GEAR. FROM A FULL STOP IT WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR AND IF IT DOES IT JOLTS. MULTIPLE TIMES CROSSING TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR DOES NOT RESPOND, AND I HAVE NEARLY BEEN HIT MULTIPLE TIMES. I BROUGHT IT INTO A SERVICE SHOP AND THEY HAVE SAID IT IS THE MECHATRONICS UNIT THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THAT IS AN ISSUE IN MANY VEHICLES LIKE MINE, AND TO REPORT IT TO NHTSA AND VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680020

Incident

Jan 19, 2015

Mileage

134,975 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OR WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS WHILE THE GAS PEDAL IS BEING STEPPED ON ALSO AFTER A STOP IT WILL NOT ENGAGE AT TIMES IT STAYS ON 5 GEAR WHILE MOVING SLOWLY AND WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668203

Incident

Dec 23, 2014

Mileage

94,248 mi

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD, WHILE ACCELERATING MY ENGINE STARTED REVVING, AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I PULLED OVER SAFELY BUT WAS UNABLE TO PUSH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. WHEN TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, MY PRDNS ON DASH WAS FLASHING. THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD WHILE IN DRIVE OR BACKWARDS WHILE IN REVERSE. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL NOTHING HAPPENS. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE RECALLS ON 2007 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TRANSMISSIONS, BUT WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE PART OF THAT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663934

Incident

Dec 7, 2014

Mileage

108,000 mi

PURCHASED A "PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED" 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AFTER HITTING 90,000 MILES THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CV BOOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654919

Incident

Nov 11, 2014

Mileage

91,000 mi