Clutch Pedal/linkage problems of the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta

Vehicle manual transmission failure, pushed clutch foot pedal clear to floor, would not spring back. On a busy road, able to pull off the road.

2006 Jetta tdi 2/ 68k began shuddering at stop lights. Dealer claims the two-piece flywheel and clutch assembly is a weak design. Owner reports online claim loss of clutch (pedal falling to floor) while driving. My car will not be operated until repaired for the sake of safety.

2006 Volkswagen Jetta 54000 miles 5 speed manual transmission. I was driving and while exiting a freeway offramp I depressed the clutch to disengage the transmission. Clutch pedal went to the floor and would not come back up and it did not disengage the transmission. The car would not stop, as I could not put the car in neutral. Very dangerous!.

2006 Volkswagen Jetta tdi 5 speed manual with 42k miles. While driving on an exit ramp and attempting to downshift, the clutch failed and the pedal went to the floor. The car would not move and was impossible to engage any gear. The car was not showing any signs of failure before this. It had to be towed to the local vw dealership.

While driving on a divided highway changed from 3rd to 4th gear. Vehicle clutch engaged odd and upon slowing to a red light vehicle would not shift properly. Attempted to go at green light and clutch gave out midway through intersection and stalled car. Got vehicle going before a collision. Had vehicle towed to local vw dealership (performance, omaha) who told me that the luk clutch was not a warranty item and the recalls only applied to sacs. Vw of America (the rep had only worked with vw for 3 months) seemed to be clueless and only backed up dealers assessment. Dealer informed me that many vw come in with less than 30k miles and clutch problems which is a poor and dangerous design to have it fail before 80k miles. Clutch linkage was found to be the problem and was broken, one hard shift due to a broken linkage caused the clutch plate to shred. Total charge quoted $2200 out of pocket for a manufacturer design flaw.

On a return trip from new hampshire to connecticut on interstate 91 in my 2006 vw Jetta tdi, I depressed the clutch and the pedal became stuck at the floor. I worked to free it, but being unable to do so, coasted to the side of the road. With no ability to put the vehicle in gear, we (myself and my family) were stuck in a dangerous location. I was able to free the pedal, but the clutch no longer worked and we had to wait there for assistance. The vehicle had less than 50,000 miles and I was told that the clutch assembly needed to be replaced, though there was little wear on the clutch surface. With some investigation on the internet, I found that this appears to be a very common problem and I believe it is a safety problem that should be corrected by vw.

I have a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta tdi. Initially I was slowing down on the interstate, as soon as I was getting ready to stop due to construction, when the shifter hit first, the car bucked, died and I lost power steering and brakes. I also noticed that none of the gears in the transmission would sync and allow me into them. I pulled off to the side of the road, when I realesed my foot from the clutch, the pedal did not come back up. I shut down the car, crawled out the passenger side, I looked under the car for leaks and anything that may indicate a major failure. When I pulled the clutch back up manually, the pedal would not go back down but half way. I pushed hard enough to get the clutch interlock switch to disengage, and tried to start the car. When the starter engaged, the engine dragged with something else. I abandoned the car to get to a phone. When I called the dealer, they gave me a phone number to roadside assistance, they wanted to charge me to tow the car to the nearest vw certfied repair shop. Eventually I convinced them to tow the car, and when I met him at the car, I noticed a leak of either hydraulic, gear, or diesel fluid. When I got on the internet I found that this is a very common problem due to a poor desing in the flywheel. Vw tends to refuse to replace the clutch claiming that it was premature wear due to poor driving habits. The flywheel tends to crack or even shatter causing not only clutch issues but also transmission and engine issues. This issue can lead to wrecks fires and also even stranded people that may have no way of getting help. Volkswagen has recalled the flywheel in europe but refuses to do so in America. . Read more...

Grinding sound when clutch pedelal is deessed, shuddering at take off. Dealer and vw will not warranty at 29000 miles cost of a new clutch $2500.