The 2006 Volkswagen GTI has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,342,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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…
Consequence
NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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…
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence
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
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…
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
7
1crashes2injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
2fires
ENGINE
5
1fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2
Total complaints57
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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”
“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”
“Camshift sensor check engine light on and off every 2 days”
“Camshift sensor check engine light on and off every 2 days”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2006 Volkswagen GTI as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.