RoadVitals

2006 Volkswagen Jetta Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Dec 29, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 580 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 29, 2015

MY VW JETTA HAS HAD ISSUES LOSING ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ON AND OFF, TYPICALLY WHEN IT RAINS OR THE ROADS HAVE BEEN SALTED AND IT IS SLUSHY OR SNOWING. THIS LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING AND I LOST TRACTION CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL, TACHOMETER, ABS BRAKES AND OIL PRESSURE. THE CAR WOULD NOT IDLE. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. I INSPECTED THE HARNESS AND DISCOVERED THAT SEVERAL WIRES HAVE BEEN CHAFED BY THE PLASTIC LOOM AND WORN THROUGH THE INSULATION, EXPOSING THE WIRES. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE POSITIVE CABLE TO THE STARTER HAD CHAFED AND WORN THROUGH THE GROUND WIRE INSULATION CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO SHORT THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ID
10816855
Incident
Dec 28, 2015
Mileage
249,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 28, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AND I HEARD A NOTIFICATION "BEEP" ON MY CAR'S DASHBOARD. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND SUDDENLY MY STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME. HAVING NO CONTROL OF MY CAR, I DRIFTED INTO A CAR PARKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET, CAUSING MY CAR TO FLIP OVER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10522270
Incident
Jun 24, 2013
Mileage
97,800 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 2, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ID
10438146
Incident
Nov 28, 2011
Mileage
66,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 31, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL FAILED THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED UNDRIVEABLE. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10422757
Incident
Nov 28, 2010
Mileage
36,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 15, 2011

SUB-FRAME SHIFTING CAUSING A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING. LEADS TO LOOSE STEERING, WANDER, AND SEVERE FLEXING OF FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. DUE TO WEAK SUB-FRAME BOLTS, CONTRIBUTING TO LOWER CONTROL ARM WEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10390327
Incident
Nov 15, 2010
Steering
Filed Feb 15, 2010

WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMP REACHES 82 OR ABOVE AND I AM STUCK IN TRAFFIC, I LOSE MY POWERSTEERING (ELECTRIC). THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE DAY 1 WHEN I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE ON 11/1/2006. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES. EACH TIME THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE COMPUTER SHOWS THE FAILURE BUT WILL NOT REMEDY THE CONDITION UNLESS THE IDIOT LIGHT IS ON WHEN I ARRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10310440
Incident
Jun 1, 2007
ElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 29, 2009

AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.9L TDI AUTOMATIC DSG WITH 87,000 MILES. A VIDEO OF IT IN ACTION: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=7LSEX_-B_O0 WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL AND ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL COME ON WITH DIFFERENT SOUNDS. CHANGING THE SHIFTER INTO P, N, D, R, S (SPORTMODE) DOES NOTHING. CHANGING INTO THE TIPTRONIC MODE DOES NOTHING. THIS IS ONE INCIDENT OF A SERIES OF INCIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SPORADICALLY FOR THE PAST YEAR, BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF SINCE BEFORE THANKSGIVING 2009. WE'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION. THE DEALERSHIP (PARADISE VOLKSWAGEN 760-200-4000) HAS DONE NUMEROUS "REPAIRS" TO THE CAR INCLUDING: MISC DIAGNOSIS 12/28-?? NEW STEERING RACK 12/6-12/22 SENSOR AND ELECTRICAL MODULE 12/1-12/16 MISC DIAGNOSIS ON 11/16-11/20 WE FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THE CAR - WHAT IF IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY? *TR

NHTSA ID
10297409
Incident
Nov 16, 2006
Mileage
86,702 mi
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 12, 2008

STEERING WHEEL IS FAILING ELECTRICALLY. AIR BAG FAULT IN PASSENGER SIDE, NO HORN OR OTHER WHEEL CONTROLS. REAL/UNREALIZED SAFETY HAZARD(S) DUE TO NON WORKING ELECTRONICS IN STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241999
Incident
Sep 12, 2008
Mileage
34,038 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Mar 3, 2008
2 injuries reported

BRAKES/STEERING/ESP-VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AFTER MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS OR U-TURNS. SOMETIMES SO AGGRESSIVELY THAT IT HAS CAUSED INJURY TO THE DRIVERS AND DAMAGE TO THE CAR'S RIM AND TIRE. VEHICLE MOVES AFTER PUT IN PARK AND THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. SOMETIMES, IT MOVES AFTER GETTING OUT AND WALKING AWAY. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. I DON'T FEEL THAT MOVING 6 INCHES OR MORE IS SAFE, ESPECIALLY AROUND CHILDREN AND SMALL PETS. SEAT MEMORY-SEAT STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS AS IN THE MIDDLE OF BRAKING, THE SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY BACK WHERE I COULD NOT REACH THE PEDALS. MEMORY HAS NOT BEEN RIGHT EVEN AFTER REPLACING SWITCHES AND I AM STRESSED AND WONDER WHEN THE SEAT WILL START MOVING ON ITS OWN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10219874
Incident
May 23, 2006
Mileage
19 mi
Body & structureElectricalOther / unspecified+2 more
Filed Sep 18, 2006

I HAVE A 06' JETTA IT HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS. 1. STERO BROKE AFTER 2 MO. AND 6 CD'S WERE STUCK IN DAMAGED CD PLAYER AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECIEVED THEM BACK LIKE I WAS TOLD AFTER 4 MONTHS OF BEING FIXED. 2.PAINT WAS PEELING OFF FRONT BUMPER, WAS REPAIRED. 3. BACK CENTER CONSOLE WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. 4.STEERING WHEEL MAKES SQEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT. 5.HAZARD BUTTON FELL INTO DASH. 6.PAINT IS NOW PEELING AGAIN. 7.CHROME ON WHEEL IS PEELING. 8.A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE PUT IN AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS OF FIXING IT VW TECH SUPPORT TOLD THE VALENCIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO JUST REPLACE IT. 9.WHEN REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WHICH IS HOLDING THE AXEL SPINNDELES AND WHEELS ALTOGETHER TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE BOLT WAS STRIPPED AND TECH SUPPORT SAID IT WAS A FACTORY MALFUNCTION AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNLESS FIXED .WE CAME TO FIND OUT THE SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10168527
Incident
Mar 4, 2006
Mileage
10,207 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .