NHTSA Complaint #10865770 — 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

ORIGINALLY, THE TURBO WOULD LOSE BOOST AND THE ENGINE WOULD LOSE POWER. AFTER SOME TIME, PARTICULARLY DURING WET WEATHER, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY VIBRATE, JOLT, AND THEN THE ENGINE WARNING CHIME SOUNDS. THE TACHOMETER DROPS TO ZERO, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON, THE STABILITY CONTROL SHUTS OFF, THE GLOW PLUG LIGHTS FLASH, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL WONT WORK, AND IF THE CAR IS SHUT OFF IT WILL NOT RESTART. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS DURING SNOW OR RAIN, AS THE CAR LOSES TRACTION CONTROL DURING WEATHER IN WHICH IT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO HAVE. ALSO, IF THE CAR DIES AND IS ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, DURING RAIN OR SNOW, THERE IS POOR VISIBILITY AND IT INCREASES THE RISK OF SOMEONE HITTING THE DISABLED CAR. I HAVE SEEN MANY MENTIONS OF THIS SAME EFFECT HAPPENING ON OTHER 2006 TDI MODELS, AND IT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND ENGINE TYPE. THE ROOT CAUSE APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS THAT RUNS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHAFING OVER TIME, WHICH HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT CAUSES SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERNS WITH ITS FAILURE MODE.