Clutch in my 2006 Jetta tdi (manufactured 02/06) went out while driving down the highway at 70 mph. I lost ability to shift gears and vehicle is currently at the dealership for repairs. Dealer says that it is the clutch but from what I have researched these cars (manufactured before 03/06) have a faulty dual mass flywheel that comes apart and then tears up the clutch.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

I went to stop at a light pushed in my clutch and when it got to the floor it clicked ever so quietly and wouldn't return to engaged position. I pulled the clutch pedal back up off the floor and now it can't be pushed more than 3/4 of the way to the floor and if you try while the engine is running you get an awful grinding noise. Clutch plate flew apart.

- Longview, WA, USA

Clutch flywheel problems with my 2006 Jetta tdi. Left me stranded on highway with only 41 K miles on it. The vehicle is in the shop and under review. I'm concerned over the number of clutch failures at such low mileage. I am very gentle with my clutch.

- Omaha, NE, USA

After about 22,000 miles the engine started losing power, and the clutch started making noises and vibrations upon engaging/disengaging. The first time it happened we were driving on the interstate, so the loss of power was really dangerous. The dealership replaced the whole flywheel and clutch assembly.

- Sterling, VA, USA

I was driving my 2006 VW Jetta tdi on freeway doing about 60 mph when I needed to down shift from traffic and when depressing the clutch it stuck to the floor managed to get to the side of the road called dealer I bought the car from. Then told me to try to pull up the clutch pedal and if so try pumping the clutch and if feels good then give it a try. So I did, the pedal cam up, I pumped it felt ok I just started the car, slowly released the clutch the car shot forward and died with a clunk. So I had the car towed to the nearest dealer ( not mine ). talking to the service rep he told me their has been a problem with these clutches and they had done eight of the same year and model under warranty. I called to see if it was ready they told me it is not covered under warranty and that the car was ready to be picked up and I owed them $2700 for the repairs ie; new clutch, pressure plate, flywheel and bearing. I complained to no avail. My car has 20,000 miles and other problems they have not figured out yet.

- Okotoks, 00, USA

Around 12-13K mi a lot of strange vibration appeared on the clutch pedals, a lot of pulsation during take offs and shifts, slight grinding noice during shifts, vibration from the engine compartment and the shift leaverage at around 2K RPM. Makes it easy to stall especialy during hot days. Dealer identify the problem as the failing dmf and throw-out bearing and possibly a spring/pressure plate. The clutch disk itself was not slipping.

- Rochester, NY, USA

I was driving on I-80, I moved to the off ramp, and when I pushed the clutch, it went all the way down to the floor. The 2006 Jetta tdi with 26 000 miles now needed a new clutch and flywheel, $1700 repair bill. The new clutcha nd flywheel were not the same as the original. The replacement parts have been upgraded by volkwagen, why? maybe the original clutch was defective. Or Volkswagen did not take into account the added torque of the new pd engine. Very annoying.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

Clutch has failed twice while driving. First time March 2007 at 8,000 miles. Clutch and flywheel replaced and failed again May 2007 at 10,000 miles.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that she felt the vehicle's clutch slipping while driving 5 mph. The dealer stated that the clutch assembly needed replacing. The contact stated that she experienced the clutch slipping, difficulty switching gears, and the vehicle has stalled since the vehicle was purchased. The VIN, purchase date, and engine size were unknown. The current mileage is 33,000 and failure mileage was 31,000.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

Our 2006 Volkswagen tdi was towed to the dealer again yesterday for clutch problems. At 2 months with 5,000 miles the clutch would intermittently not engage. Was able to drive it to dealer, and dealer replaced master cylinder, bleed system and reassembled. At 6 months, with 15,000 miles the clutch failed, stranding us along the highway. Had it towed to the dealer, who removed the transmission, and inspected dual mass flywheel. Slipped throw out, bearing came apart, the fork for bearing slid into pressure plate. Replaced flywheel, clutch plate, pressure throw out bearing fork and spring. - at 9 months with 20,000 miles transmission whined in third gear and had a harsh shift in all gears. While driving to dealer the car popped out of gear. Dealer found transmission leaking fluid from bell housing. Called Volkswagen, and was told to check for cracks in case. Removed case, and inspected for cracks. Had hairline cracks. Removed and replaced transmission, and reassembled and added fluid." This repair took the longest as the dealer has to wait for parts. The car was at the dealer this time for over three weeks. 4- 10 months with 22,000 miles three weeks after last repair we were again stranded at the side of the road. At a stop sign depressed clutch, put car in first, started to move and car made a loud noise and clutch was dead again. Towed to dealer, and we are waiting to hear again from them. Both my husband and I have been driving stick shift for over 20 years each. Our dealer has never suggested that we don't know how to drive a stick shift although I have seen online this was often said as soon as the clutch went out. Everything so far has been replaced at no cost to us. The manual transmission was very unreliable, and in heavy traffic it could easily lead to an accident. Luckily, while we drive many miles it was mostly country highways.

- Mazon, IL, USA

Clutch flywheel problems with my 2006 Jetta tdi. Left me stranded on highway with only 37 K miles on it. Dealer says not covered under warranty as wear and tear, this is the second time it has needed to be replaced in 1 year. We were exiting off of a highway and the clutch stayed depressed stuck to the floor and the transmission was not working.

- Sturgeon Bay, WI, USA

My 2006 tdi seems to have had a clutch failure at 8950 miles. I was sitting in traffic and the engine started smoking and giving off a large amount of noxious fumes and wouldn't accelerate. I waited for towing outside on the freeway in sub-zero temperature. It was a Saturday so waited until Monday for it to go to the shop. The dealer says they were unable to re-create the problem and sent me off with the fail-prone car. I am very unhappy with Volkswagen, if this is their idea of customer satisfaction.

- Portland, OR, USA

1. 2006 VW Jetta tdi 5-speed: Clutch filed to operate at 18,000 miles, slipping & burning 2. 2006 VW Jetta tdi 5-speed: Clutch and dual mass flywheel failed at 18,000 miles 3. dealer replace at cost of $2,500. Dealer stated not covered under warranty, filed complaint with VW of America. Damaged parts available for inspection.

- Holbrook, NY, USA

Traveling in stop and go traffic on an upgrade toward george Washington bridge. I stepped on clutch to shift but could not. The clutch pedal was nailed to the floor. I coasted into a gas station and turned off engine. The smell of clutch burning was very pronounced. The VW roadside assistance would not tow me anywhere but to the nearest dealer or anywhere else for that matter unless under 15 miles. I would have to pay for any towing beyond that. The car was ultimately towed to the dealer from whom the car was purchased. Vwoa covered the replacement clutch only as a courtesy one time. They said the clutch was not covered by the warranty. I had the car for one week. It had 289 miles total! I am concerned that the vehicle is not actually fixed and that vwoa knows the clutch assembly is inadequate for the car. The old parts are not available as far as I know. I am not sure at this time what parts other than the clutch plate and flywheel were replaced.

- Montclair, NJ, USA

I had to come to a complete stop to not rear end a car that was not moving. When I put on the brakes so forcefully, it apparently messed up my transmission and clutch. I couldn't get my car into gear. I had to have the car towed to VW of van nuys where the service agent said it was my fault that the clutch was burnt out, even though I only had 7500 miles on the car. After researching this problem on the internet, it appears to be a problem with this car regarding the clutch. I was able to talk the dealership into covering this with my warranty but felt it's important to let you guys know because I'm not the only one who is having this problem.

- Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

2006 Volkswagen Jetta tdi with 12,469 miles had complete clutch failure. Center of the clutch was completely blown out. Volkswagen replaced as we were only 469 miles over warranty but upon investigation there seems to be a design flaw in the clutch which Volkswagen will not acknowledge.

- Belvidere, NJ, USA

The clutch on my husbands 2006 Jetta tdi is going out. It only has 44, 000 miles on it. He has owned six manual transmission cars in the past, never having to replace a clutch in less than 110,000 and even then it was not the clutch worn out but the throw out bearing fell apart. We have done several searches on the internet on VW tdi clutches. One thing we found out is that this is a common problem with 2005.5 and early 2006. VW of europe has issued recalls on the 2006 passat tdi only sold overseas. I believe that the same clutch was used in the early 2006 Jettas. Audi has issued a recall on there A3 with the tdi engine that was produced from June of 2003 till the end of 2004. On 6/24/2005 the los angeles times reports that VW is recalling 44,000 of its touran vans worldwide to fix a clutch problem. I have found several complaints on www.uk-mkiv.net where the golf and Jetta are referred to as mkv or the 5th edition and on www.Audi-sport.net for the Audi A3 tdi and on www.tdiclub.com and forums.vwvortex.com. also there is a reuters news report dated June 29, 2006 that states the passat recall and makes mention of earlier recalls for the golf, golf plus, Jetta and touran. VW sells far more tdi diesel cars in europe so it would be advantageous for then to issue a recall there. All of the cars that have problems have the dual mass flywheel and most are tdi diesel cars. Volkswagen is blaming the owners because it does not have a large number of the tdi vehicles in the usa and has no 2007 tdi diesel cars due to emissions requirements. When many are experienced manual transmission drivers that have not had clutch problems with other vehicles. While the foreign cars are not exactly the same most share many common parts from the same manufacturers.

- Worden, IL, USA

The clutch on my 2006 VW Jetta tdi has started to fail. The car has 43,000 highway miles on it. I have read several complaints on the clutch failing on 2006's due to not being built heavy enough to withstand the additional torque of the new tdi engine. Lujak's VW in davenport, ia told me the repair would cost $1300 to $2500 and that generally speaking VW will not warranty this problem after 12,000 miles.

- Worden, IL, USA

: the contact stated while driving 50mph and approaching a yield, the clutch was depressed. The clutch stuck to the floor of the vehicle causing the vehicle to loose all transmission function. The vehicle coasted to the side of the road and was towed to the dealer. The dealer determined the transmission failure was due to driver error. The vehicle was then towed to an independent repair shop for further inspection. The repair shop personnel determined the flywheel had broken causing the clutch pressure plate to break. The manufacturer was alerted and no repairs were made.

- Sewell, NJ, USA