41 problems related to electrical system have been reported for the 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat based on all problems reported for the 2006 Passat.
Takata recall.
Failure of car to remain running when starting; has happened for two days in a row now. Twice in one day. Start car and then it stalls right away. Also receive steering column error sometimes when this happens.
I had a 2006 Passat that I bought new in Nov. 2006. The car caught fire after I parked it at work. No warning lights came on while driving it and I maintained my car. My car is totaled and the fire was in the engine compartment. I am now without a car.
Steering column lock failure, 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2. 0t at 61,000 miles, vehicle started shutting itself off one second after starting with no message. Within 500 miles, diagnostic message reported steering column lock failure. Vehicle is 2,000 miles out of warranty (less then 1 year old), dealer insist on replacing steering column, steering column lock, steering column lock control module and the convenience control module for a total of $2400. I have found on various internet forums multiple identical incidents. This steering wheel lock is and was defective from the start and vw has an obligation to make it right.
I bought a car brand new and ever since 1700 miles it's been having electrical problems. First it started with windows not wanting to roll up, they'd roll down first then up. My radio was stuck on loud and would not turn off or down or change radio stations. The parking brake (electrical) engaged on me while I was driving on the freeway, a hose came undone at 18k miles on the freeway and caused heavy convulsing. The steering wheel lock randomly had "errors", the airbag has "errors", the transmission downshifted very rough which made me jolt in the car and started making my neck sore. For every incident my car has been to the dealer to be fixed, they fix the problem and a new one happens a week later. I am a valet and other vw owners say the same things happen to their cars. So I know I have a legit complaint here.
2006 Volkswagen Passat 2. 0t shortly after acquiring the vehicle I experienced that at times the vehicle would severely decelerate shortly after proceeding from a stop, followed by a rapid acceleration. Thankfully drivers behind me avoided rear end collisions. On one occasion a broad side collision was narrowly averted. Subsequent trips to the dealership could not duplicate the condition . No diagnostic fault codes were registered and service personnel mentioned the possibility of "turbo lag". After driving the vehicle for a few months I inadvertently duplicated the condition while creeping through a car wash with my left foot lightly on the brake while I accelerated with the right foot. I found that I could easily replicate the condition if I touched the brake pedal with my left foot as I began to accelerate with my right foot. I demonstrated this to a dealership tech as he accompanied me with an analyzer connected . No fault codes registered when the vehicle would "die and then accelerate". The tech had subsequent dialog with a regional vw rep with the end result being ----- "don't left foot brake" apparently this is a vw computer control module issue inherent to this model vw. I believe it to be a serious and potentially hazardous condition.