2006 Volkswagen Passat: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2006 Volkswagen Passat: 7 recalls, 576 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Steering Vehicle recall #05V540000 · 2005 · 15 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, the left and right tie rod securing nut May be insufficiently torqued.
Why it matters: An insufficiently tightened tie rod nut May loosen, resulting in separation of a tie rod. This can cause a loss of steering control, which could cause a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and install new left and right tie rod securing nuts at the proper torqued specification. The recall began on December 7, 2005.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #06V470000 · 2006 · 57,291 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain '6' generation passenger vehicles, the wiper motor May fail during heavy rain due to excessive moisture entering the wiper motor. If this happens, the wipers can become inoperative.
Why it matters: This could lead to reduced visibility increasing the risk of a crash without warning.
The fix: Dealers will install a special cover and sealing kit. The recall began on January 12, 2007.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #06V472000 · 2006 · 58,800 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.0l engine with 147 kw May have a vacuum line that May fracture and become disconnected at low ambient temperatures.
Why it matters: If this happens, the brake power assist can become inoperative, and the driver will experience increased effort to apply the brakes possibly increasing vehicle stopping distance. This could lead to a crash without warning.
The fix: Dealers will install the newly designed vacuum line. The recall began on January 12, 2007.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V079000 · 2016 · 151,767 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi a3, and 2006-2009 Audi a4 cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure May cause the inflator to rupture.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen
Fuel system Vehicle recall #17V509000 · 2017 · 280,915 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen cc, 2006-2010 passat and passat wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module May cause the fuel pump to fail.
Why it matters: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V247000 · 2018 · 71,335 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2007 Volkswagen passat sedan and wagon vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure May cause the inflator to explode.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #24V834000 · 2024 · 248,330 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 beetle, beetle convertible, 2012-2014 passat, 2017 passat wagon, and 2006-2007 passat sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 6 mention a fire, 9 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (148): the most common themes are warning light on (24).
- Steering (112): the most common themes are steering problems (107).
- Electrical (79): the most common themes are door / lock issues (32), electrical failure (24).
- Engine & cooling (66): the most common themes are warning light on (18), stalls / loses power (14), noise or vibration (14).
The 2006 Volkswagen Passat has 576 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 33 Passat model years for complaints (2.4× the average Passat year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (76 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 64,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2005 (148 complaints, 3 recalls), 2007 (262 complaints, 7 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 22 | Premium |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 26 | 20 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2006 Volkswagen Passat.
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FAQ
Does the 2006 Volkswagen Passat have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2006 Volkswagen Passat. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2006 Volkswagen Passat problems?
Owners have filed 576 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (148), steering (112), electrical (79).
What gas mileage does the 2006 Volkswagen Passat get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.0 L, Manual 6-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2006 Volkswagen Passat repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.