Model year record

2006 Volkswagen GTI

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 57 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V442000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Component
Exterior lighting: headlights
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected
340,000
Reported to NHTSA
2007-09-24
Owners notified
2007-10-31

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V063000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected
1,002,000
Reported to NHTSA
2007-02-20
Owners notified
2007-04-27

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags769,800 mi
Power train: automatic transmission740,000 mi
Electrical system517,250 mi
Engine5110,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline448,145 mi
Engine and engine cooling381,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system367,000 mi
Unknown or other330 mi
Exterior lighting232,400 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump211,400 mi
Power train264,000 mi
Structure: body287,500 mi
Tires: sidewall220,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine180,050 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor117,250 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings145 mi
Power train: clutch assembly120,200 mi
Power train: driveline180,139 mi
Service brakes164,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic135,000 mi
Structure: body: door19,500 mi
Suspension: front140,000 mi
Visibility/wiper187,500 mi

The 2005 model has 5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2007 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.