2006 Volkswagen Jetta consumer reviews

I bought my 2006 GLI after reading the reviews and thinking only the negative reviews were for the 1 in a 1,000. My car needed a thermostat and brand new a/c compressor a week after I bought it with only 76k miles. The car get decent gas mileage on the highway but better in the city. It is fast and you will be doing speeds of 89 before you notice the cop in your rear view mirror. The seats are uncomfortable if you plan on taking this car for a long drive. The car has AMAZING features for the price but you will pay for those too. I do not recommend a VW GLI unless you sell it after your warranty runs out.

this car was a fun car with good looks and great handling, but thats where it ends I have driven 3 vws the past 10 years and this will be my last, trunk would not close and not usable in the winter, gas latch would not close all of the time, was in the shop 8 times in the first 75k and now at 110 miles the camshaft and timing belt are seized up a $3000 repair, do not own a vw unless you are under warranty, electrical is horrible and maitining then is a cost nightmare, vw should be ashamed of the product they are now producing.

I bought this car used in 2011 with around 60,000 miles and owned it for a year and less than 10,000 miles. In general I liked the way the car drove and its responsiveness. I have owned a number of VW's over the years and they all seem to have some rally annoying problems. One issue is the headliner failed (and was failing when I got it) but this is a common problem with this year of Jetta. The trunk also had trouble latching when closed and would take a number of tries before it would catch. there were also a few strange noises emanating from the breaks, sort of a buzzing that would come up through the steering column and would go away when the breaks were tapped. I could not locate it or demonstrate it when I took it in for service. from time to time the radio would also decide to go out. Anyway, after a year I traded it in for a 2006 GTI that I absolutely love! Build quality seems hugely better and so far no issues but time will tell.

This car is awesome - fun to drive, plenty of power, and incredible fuel mileage. Buy one, you will not be sorry.

good fuel economy, sporty, would like to put it in gear from neutral without putting foot on brake, when using remote door locks can the beep be turned off? timing belt and dual mass fly seem to be very expensive and fail early

2006 Jetta 2.5 fully loaded. Been in VW repair shop more than 4 times to find our what was wrong with the automatic transmission. The mfg could not explain the continual electric problems either. With the transmission slipping and sliding all over the place, a $654.00 electric repair and a diagnoses of no problem anymore with the transmission, I, the owner had to insist the problem is there. Low and behold, today, the diagnoses is that the transmission is completely burned up all in 106,000 miles. The mfg has let this go undiagnosed until we're out of warranty. Now what? Pay 5300.00? Really?

I have to be honest, the services can be expensive at the dealership, but if you just follow through with them, and have them done, you will not have any problems. Before the Jetta I had a Touareg, which was a maintenance queen, so I am saving money in service. Worst case, if you have a problem with the price the dealer charges, do the service yourself, and stop being lazy.... I say most engine problems are due to the fact that people have not had the proper maintenance done. I am sorry to rant, but this is a plucky, fun, well built, well designed car, and if people didn't treat them like junk they would return the favor. My only complaint is the interior room, I am a tall guy, so getting in and out, i have hit my head a few times and if i have a passenger in the back I need to scoot my seat to far forward. Another problem would be the paint used on the interior, I found if you are just very diligent about it you will not have to worry about the flaking paint, but I shouldn't have to be diligent to avoid paint flaking off of my locking button.

My parents bought me this car for my 16th birthday. It's styling and handling won me over. It was VERY fun to drive AND it was safe as volkswagens always are. Awesome paddle shifters and cool features such as the xenon lights and headlight washers. I also like the rain adaptive windshield wipers that adjusted depending on speed. This car however couldn't handle the slightest slope in the snow. Now, this car was in the mechanic at least once a month, the engine light never went off, the AC broke, interior paint peeled off, it frequently over-heated, I needed to put oil in once a week, and countless things went wrong with the computer and engine. The GLI is esthetically great, however it is a money pit and a waste of time.

One thing I have to say is that when you drive a German car, will be hard to go and drive another car from an other country. I purchase this Jetta 2.5 L as work horse, commuter. I purchase it with 77,000 miles. I have now 103,000 miles, have done two service according inspections and one warranty call back on the transmission valve. I make in a year around 30,000 miles on the road, and no issues at all. The only not happy side of it is that the noise insulation could be much better, however this depends as well on the kind of asphalt on the road, plus the type of tire you are using. Gas mileage is just great, according manufacturers specification should be 29 miles per gallon. I do that on combination city and highway. On my many highway trips between Houston and Baton Rouge, I was able to bring even 34 miles per gallon. This is just a great car. you have good comfortable seats, the driver seat can be adjust in many ways and heights! If you have the chance do a test drive!

I have 68K miles and the timing belt loosed and bent three valves. Head had to be sent a machine shop and parts alone was $1700. Transmission bearings are going on the front axles now. My mechanic even told me to get rid of it as soon as I can.