The Lemon Index2006 Volkswagen Golf.
The 2006 Volkswagen Golf is worse than average by owner complaints: 29 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 145, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 24 to 34 mpg combined. The best Volkswagen Golf year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 55 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Volkswagen Golf year. 2006 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 17K to 81K miles on the car (47 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 4
- engine 2014
A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- lights 2007
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…
- brakes 2007
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUI…
Show all 4 recalls
- lights 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Volkswagen told dealers about
Volkswagen sent dealers 444 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Headlights may intermittently dim slightly at idle
- Tech Tips (Torque Converter/Flywheel/Flexplate installation): Incorrect torque converter
- Tech Tips (Comfort Module (J393) or BCM (J519) Replacement): This document informs if a…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $2700–2950 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.9L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
Quick answers
Is the 2006 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 145; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Volkswagen Golf year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2006 Volkswagen Golf problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (31%), fuel system, gasoline (10%) and electrical (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 Volkswagen Golf have?
4 safety recalls (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Volkswagen Golf get?
24 to 34 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2006 Volkswagen Golf problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 17,200 and 81,000 miles. The middle report was at 47,400 miles, from 47 complaints.
Does the 2006 Volkswagen Golf have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 31% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2006 Volkswagen Golf cost in fuel a year?
About $2700 to $2950 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2006 Volkswagen Golf have?
1.9L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What Volkswagen Golf year is better than the 2006?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2020 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works