2006 Volkswagen Golf recalls and problems

The 2006 Volkswagen Golf has 1 recall and 12 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is vehicle speed control.

2005 Volkswagen Golf
Pictured: a 2005 model; the 2006 may differ in details. Photo: 2005 Volkswagen Golf by Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2006 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 24 Golf model years — 17th most.

1recalls
12complaints
1crashes
0fires
1injuries
70,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Check your VIN →

1 recall

Exterior Lighting

Feb 20, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V063000 · 1,002,000 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Original NHTSA wording

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & notes

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.

Volkswagen recall no. N4.customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Vehicle Speed Control3
Air Bags2
Engine2
Electrical System1
Equipment1
Fuel System1
Latches/locks/linkages1
Seat Belts1
Seats1
Structure1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2006: 2 complaints20062007: 4 complaints200742011: 2 complaints20112016: 1 complaints20162017: 1 complaints20172018: 1 complaints20182019: 1 complaints20191

2006 vs. other Volkswagen Golf years

2000: 88 complaints20002001: 116 complaints2002: 74 complaints20022003: 26 complaints2004: 28 complaints20042005: 19 complaints2006: 12 complaints20062007: 2 complaints2008: 1 complaints20082009: 3 complaints2010: 70 complaints20102011: 110 complaints2012: 48 complaints20122013: 43 complaints2014: 12 complaints20142015: 131 complaints1312016: 85 complaints20162017: 117 complaints2018: 29 complaints20182019: 63 complaints2020: 6 complaints20202021: 7 complaints2022: 81 complaints20222023: 11 complaints202311

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2006. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2006 Volkswagen Golf have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2006 Volkswagen Golf, the latest from Feb 20, 2007 (exterior lighting). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Volkswagen Golf?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention vehicle speed control (3), air bags (2), engine (2). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.