Model year record

2006 Volkswagen GTI recalls & problems

The 2006 Volkswagen GTI has 2 safety recalls and 43 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (11 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints43filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 3reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingSep 24, 2007

Headlights

Recall 07V442000340,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

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

Exterior lightingFeb 20, 2007

Brake lights › Switch

Recall 07V0630001,002,000 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Risk: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

GTI

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,300/year to fuel

GTI

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel

GTI

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel

GTI

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Clutch assembly	11	0	0	0	42,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	7	0	0	0	48,145 mi
Air bags	7	1	0	2	87,400 mi
Electrical system	5	0	2	0	32,325 mi
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor; Engine	5	0	1	0	80,050 mi
Engine	5	0	1	0	115,100 mi
Unknown or other	3	0	0	0	30 mi
StructureBody; Body › Door	3	0	0	0	87,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	3	0	0	0	—
TiresSidewall	2	0	0	0	—
Exterior lighting	2	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine
FUEL INJECTOR FAILD OPEN AND DUMPED FUEL INTO THE CYLINDER AND IT HYDRO LOCKED. I WAS IN MOTION AND CHECK ENGINE FLASHING AND ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH
Feb 1, 2020
Air bags
CAMSHIFT SENSOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF EVERY 2 DAYS
Jan 4, 2019 · 122,000 miles
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BULB FROM THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET DETACHED WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Apr 19, 2018 · 160,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE FUEL PRESSURE PUMP AND THE CAMSHAFT WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,145.....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF
Jun 5, 2016 · 48,145 miles
EngineFire
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING AND VEHICLE WAS QUICKLY CONSUMED IN FLAMES. POWER LOSS WAS INITIALLY NOTICED ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND STARTED TO BURN ON A SIDE STREET WHILE STOPPED.
May 18, 2016 · 110,000 miles
Engine
CAR LOST ACCELERATION AT APPROX 40 MPH ON 4 LANE ROAD. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC CLAIMS BROKEN CAM CHAIN. DEALER DID NOT CHECK WARRANTY EXTENSION PART CAM FOLLOWER WHICH IS KNOWN TO FAIL (PER CORY FROM VWOA) BUT HAS ANOTHER WARRANTY EXTENSION PART INTAKE CAMSHAFT ON REPAIR LIST. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENING WITH A QUICK SEARCH.
Oct 30, 2015 · 74,800 miles
Air bags
AIR BAG LIGHT AND SYMBOL LIGHT IS ON WITH AN INTERNAL CODE STORED. UNCERTAIN IF AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY; POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AFTER FINDING SEVERAL HUNDRED + PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT A SERVICE NOTICE WAS SENT OUT; HOWEVER I DID NOT RECEIVE FOREMENTIONED NOTICE NOR ANY PRIOR OR SUBSEQUENT RECALL NOTICES OR BULLETINS FROM VOLKSWAGEN. APPARENTLY THE SERVICE BULLETIN EXPIRED JAN 2013 AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR "OBVIOUS SYSTEMIC PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH ALL 2006 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGENS". PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AND THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST NOTED FROM SEVERAL POSTS INDICATE THAT IT IS AN $1800+ REPAIR, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND…
May 8, 2013 · 47,400 miles
Service brakes
CAR STARTED TO EXHIBIT INTERMITTENT ABS FAULTS WHICH WAS INDICATED BY DASH MIL AND THE FOLLOWING FAULT CODES: TRANSMISSION MODULE 18255 - PLEASE CHECK DTC MEMORY OF ABS CONTROLLER ABS BRAKES 00290 - ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR; REAR LEFT (G46) 012 - ELECTRICAL FAULT IN CIRCUIT - INTERMITTENT 00290 - ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR; REAR LEFT (G46) 008 - IMPLAUSIBLE SIGNAL - INTERMITTENT WITH THE CODES PRESENT BOTH ABS AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ARE DISABLED. THE SAFETY COMPLAINT HOWEVER IS THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL IS PERIODICALLY LOCKED OUT. WHEN AT SPEED (60+ MPH) THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. MANUAL GEAR SELECT WILL NOT PUT THE CAR BACK INTO A DRIVE GEAR. DASH…
Dec 13, 2013 · 64,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.