Used car guide

2006 Volkswagen Jetta: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Volkswagen Jettas, from 1,057 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,057MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
7,100typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Volkswagen Jettas than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    20.7% All 2006 cars
    11.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 2.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Coil springs1.7× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    19.4% All 2006 cars
    11.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Rust in key structural areas4.6× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    5.5% All 2006 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 0.8% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Airbag warning light3.5× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    4.6% All 2006 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 1.2% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Side repeaters2.1× usual
    Volkswagen Jetta
    3.2% All 2006 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.9% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 4.5% here, against 9.4% of all 2006 cars. Brake lights: 1.9% here, against 5.9% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Volkswagen Jetta MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    52% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    43% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    37% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    35% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    15% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    14% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Looking at a Volkswagen Jetta?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2016717Tyres 29%
20151,059Suspension 32%
2014906Suspension 39%
2013965Suspension 43%
20121,070Suspension 44%
2011801Suspension 48%
2010569Suspension 45%
2009865Suspension 50%
20081,252Suspension 51%
20071,566Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Volkswagen Jettas registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score