2006 Volkswagen Golf

Defect. The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.

Risk. A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy. Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

Defect. CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.

Risk. LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Risk. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG WOULD NOT TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH DUE TO LACK OF ELECTRICITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCHUMACHER VOLKSWAGEN (3001 OKEECHOBEE BOULEVARD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTED CLOCKSPRING REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR WAS COVERED FOR A THREE YEAR WARRANTY AND 36,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,390.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR HATCH DOOR STOPS WORKING. HATCH WILL NOT CLOSE. IS A COMMON ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE.

THE FRONT HOOD LATCH AND LOCKING MECHANISM HAS A DESIGN ERROR THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CLOSE AND LOCK THE HOOD. THE HOOD LATCH AND LOCKING MECHANICAL PARTS IN MY OPINOIN NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED TO WORK CORRECTLY. CAR HOODS NEED TO BE SECURED AND LOCK PROPERLY FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF A VEHICLES. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVER THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE HOOD WILL NOT CLOSE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE UNLATCHED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD, HOOD, AND OTHER UNKNOWN COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT STITCHING BEGAN TO UNRAVEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 08/15/11 *BF UPDATED 08/24/11

2006 VW GOLF TDI 70K MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN ILLINOIS. FAILURE OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS WITHIN 6 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. IN EACH CASE THE COIL SPRING BROKE TOWARDS THE END. AT THE TOP ON ONE SIDE, ON THE BOTTOM ON THE OTHER SIDE. COIL SPRINGS ARE GENERALLY FAIRLY STURDY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. COULD THERE HAVE BEEN A MANUFACTURE DEFECT? (THE FAILED SPRINGS TO NOT APPEAR TO BE CORRODED AT THE FAILURE POINT, LOOKS MORE LIKE CLEAN SNAP.) *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IDLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE FUEL INJECTION. THE DEALER HAS NOT OFFERED MUCH ASSISTANCE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 21,000.

I WAS REAR ENDED WHILE MY CAR WAS AT A DEAD STOP. THE PICK UP TRUCK BEHIND ME HIT ME GOING AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 50 MPH CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH MY FRONT AND REAR END OF MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGES, BUT MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT CAME UNLOCKED AND CAUSED ME TO SMASH INTO MY STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD. *JB

(1) INTERCOOLER LEAKING OIL @ 16K MILES ON A 2006 VW GOLF TDI. FAILURE IS DUE TO CHAFFING OF THE ALUMINUM INTERCOOLER PIPES BY THE PERPENDICULAR PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT EXTENDS TO IT FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE GRILL AND TOUCHES THE INTERCOOLER. DURING NORMAL DRIVING, OVER TIME, THE PLASTIC MOVES AND RUBS AGAINST THE INTERCOOLER AND EVENTUALLY CREATES HOLES WHERE OIL LEAKS OUT AND PUDDLES ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. (2)AS SOON AS I SAW THE OIL PUDDLING IN SMALL 3-5" CIRCLES, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY VERIFIED MY CONCERN. IF LEFT UNCHECKED, THIS WOULD LEAD TO CONTINUED LOSS OF OIL, LOSS OF BOOST AND EVENTUALLY FAILURE OF THE TURBO. (3)DEALER IS FIXING UNDER WARRANTY, BUT TOLD ME THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE INTERCOOLER AND WILL DO NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS THAT THE HARD PLASTIC RUBS AGAINST THE SOFT ALUMINUM METAL OF THE INTERCOOLER PIPES AND CAUSES A HOLE. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO TSB FROM VW WHICH IS ABSURD. NUMEROUS INTERNET SEARCHES AND LOOKING ON WWW.TDICLUB.COM SHOW MANY OCCURRENCES OF THIS PROBLEM. IT IS SPECIFIC TO THE TDI VERSION OF THE GOLF SINCE IT HAS A TURBO. AT A MINIMUM, THE PLASTIC NEEDS TO BE TRIMMED AND A PIECE OF FOAM OR SOMETHING SOFT NEEDS TO BE INSERTED SO NOTHING HARD CAN RUB AGAINST THE ALUMINUM INTERCOOLER PIPES. IF THE ROOT CAUSE IS NOT ADDRESSED THEN THIS WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL. IT IS A RELIABILITY CONCERN, A SAFETY CONCERN (LOSS OF BOOST, TURBO FAILURE), AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN (LEA

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VW GOLF 16000 AND STOPPING AND PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE REVVED UP, BUT DID NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT SAID THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME, AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS HAVE NOT BEEN A FACTOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY MADE AN ADJUSTMENT, BUT THE CONTACT FELT THAT ITWAS WORSE NOW. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE (ONLY 14,500 MILES) ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS A LOSS IN POWER AND A WHINING SOUND. THE WHINING SOUND INCREASED SPEED AND PITCH WHEN STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THEN SOON AFTER, SMOKE CAME FROM THE TAIL PIPE. PARKED CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER OF PURCHASE. DEALER WILL NOT INSPECT CAR FREE UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS I CAN PROVE THAT I USED THE VW APPROVED MOTOR OIL. CALLED DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND GOT SAME REPLY. CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE NUMBER AND GOT THE SAME REPLY. BY THIS TIME, CAR WAS NOT OPERABLE FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS JUST SITTING IN THE DEALER SERVICE LOT. DEALER SERVICE AND VW OF AMERICA REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD INSPECT THE CAR FOR $625.00. IF FOUND TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, I WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THE $625.00 NOW I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALER SERVICE TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS NOT A DEFECT AND THAT SOMEHOW THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS MY FAULT. *JB

SPEEDOMETER PROVIDES AN INCORRECT READING BY GERMAN LAW. THIS READING IS OFF BY 1-10 MPH, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IT IS ALSO EASILY FIXED. *JB