The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving 30-40 mph, there was a sudden loss of power. The dealer stated that the engine control unit failed and caused the vehicle to go into limp mode. As a result, the engine control unit shut off the fuel. The contact stated that this was a design by the manufacturer as a safety feature, and that the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was concerned that the failure was not addressed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000....updated 04/12/16 updated 04/13/16.

- Berkley Springs, WV, USA

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. Information on the issue can be found here forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?T=137014&page=1 this is a 60 page forum that equals about 500 pages printed out this is specifically to this issue. The recall info can be found here uk-mkivs.net/forums/2/562166/showthread.aspx

- Jackson, MO, USA

This has not resulted in a crash on my behalf. While driving on the highway with cruise control set at 75 mph the car will occasionally (averages once per every 1500 miles) hesitate then resume normal operations. The duration of this event is approximately 1 - 2 seconds. The effect of this being that the car suddenly starts to decelerate then suddenly resume normal behaviour. There are no inidicator lights or events logged in the onboard computer. The vehicle has been in the shop numerous times where they are unable to reproduce the issue. I have offered to drive around with a computer running vagcom (a VW diagnostics app) if they would provide it in order to catch the issue, yet VW and the local dealership refuse to do so. This incident has occured at least 5 times in the previous 4 months, once while my wife was driving. That particular incident nearly resulted in her running into the highway divider. The date noted below is the first incident.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

When starting in drive, at a stop light, car does not accelerate as it would normally would, but just creeps forward from 3 to 10 seconds, then it begins to accelerate normally.

- Hastings, MI, USA

While driving my new 2006 Jetta tdi motor vehicle with a total mileage on the odometer reading of approximately 385 miles, on June 12, 2006, on I-84 in waterbury, ct. The motor vehicle stalled while traveling in the left hand lane of the highway. At the time of the stall, the vehicle transmission was operating in the drive mode, in 5th gear with rpms at approximately 1300 RPM. During the stall the vehicle exhibited intermittent power, while the instrument panel exhibiting a flashing numeral 3, on the gear indicator. I maneuvered the vehicle to the breakdown lane with much difficulty as the engine stalled out completely. This maneuver caused a major interruption to the flow of traffic on the highway and a serious safety risk to me and other motorists on the highway. After pulling over the breakdown lane, I was able to restart the vehicle and proceed to my destination, during which time the vehicle operated normally. On June 15, 2006, driving with approx. 484 miles, while on rt. 8 southbound in waterbury, ct. The subject motor vehicle stalled once again while driving in the left hand lane. I once again was forced to make another emergency crossing of a major Connecticut highway in a stalled vehicle.

- Watertown, CT, USA