There are 17 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2006 Volkswagen Passatin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH THE CAR IN REVERSE. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND STARTED TO APPLY THE ACCELERATOR AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO FULL SPEED AND HIT A STAIRCASE RAIL BEHIND ME. I THEN SLAMMED THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE TO AVOID REVERSING INTO ANYONE. I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR AND ONCE AGAIN IT ACCELERATED FORWARD AT FULL SPEED, THIS TIME HITTING A CONCRETE COLUMN WHICH DISABLED THE VEHICLE.
ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2017 MY STEPDAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT ON I-75 N. IN MACON, GEORGIA. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2006 VW PASSAT, 3.6 L. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON ITS OWN. THE ACCELERATOR QUICKLY, AND WITHOUT NOTICE, ENGAGED BY ITSELF. THIS RESULTED IN HER CRASHING INTO THE GUARDRAIL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERSTATE, IN MACON, GA. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND SURVIVED. SHE SUFFERED LACERATIONS, BRUISES, NECK AND ARM INJURY, AND SOME IMMEDIATE SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS WHEN SHE HIT HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. VOLKSWAGEN SAID THEY WOULD COME TO EXAMINE THE ACCELERATOR TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND JERKED AS THE RPMS REVVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FORCE WAS CONSTANTLY APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
MY CAR WAS SIMPLY IDLING IN PARK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THE IDLE REV UP AND THE TACHOMETER WENT UP A FEW 100 RPM'S. I THOUGHT, HMM THAT'S STRANGE. THEN IT STARTED AFFECTING THE WAS MY CAR SHIFTS AND MAKES IT HARD TO STOP. WHILE AT A STOP IN DRIVE I CAN FEEL THE IDLE IS ROUGH. I REPLACED MY MAF SENSOR, WHICH WAS REALLY EXPENSIVE, HOPING IT WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEN WHILE RESEARCHING RECALLS ON THIS MODEL, I CAME ACROSS THIS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM ON THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I NEVER GOT A NOTIFICATION OF ANY RECALL. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANT AND I HAVE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS TIME. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE VERY MUCH, APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHEN AIR IIS ON AND WE ARE DRIVING FOR ONLY 10 MINUTES THE CAR RACES WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT AND FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL ACCELERATE BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. VERY SCARY AND HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR IDLING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE ABNORMALLY AND THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN RPMS. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
THE VEHICLE HAS A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED FROM A STOP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER AND TO OTHERS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND OTHERWISE. THE DELAY IN THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED IS TROUBLING ON NEW VEHICLES IN PROPER OPERATING CONDITION. *TR
THERE IS AN UNSAFE THROTTLE LAG ON THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3.6 LITER. APPROX 4 SEC DELAY WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE CAR COMES TO A STAND STILL OR IN THE EVENT OF AN EVASIVE MANEUVER, MERGING, PASSING AND STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU'VE DEPRESSED THE PEDAL APPROX. 3/4 TO AN INCH OF PEDAL TRAVEL, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR LURCHES AND ACCELERATES AT WHAT FEELS LIKE HALF TO FULL THROTTLE. *TR
ON HOT WEATHER DAYS (90 DEGREES OR MORE) THE ENGINE WILL INTERMITTENTLY RUN AT A HIGH IDLE OF APPROXIMATELY 1,000 RPM AT STOPS. THE ENGINE NORMALLY IDLES AROUND 600 RPM AT STOPS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS IT IS AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION, THE DRIVER WILL BE CAUGHT UNAWARE OF HOW MUCH PRESSURE TO APPLY TO THE BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE ANTICIPATED DISTANCE. THIS HAS LED TO NEAR ACCIDENTS WITH VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. *TR
I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A SLIGHT UPHILL GRADE WHEN THE CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED TO RACE. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD BEFORE I COULD BRAKE AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO PRACTICALLY STAND ON THE BRAKE TO STOP IT. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AND EVEN MORE FORTUNATELY THERE WASN'T A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IN FRONT OF ME. THE TEMPERATURE THAT AFTERNOON WAS 98 DEGREES WHICH, I UNDERSTAND FROM THE VW FORUMS IS RELEVANT. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN VERY HOT TEMPERATURES AS WELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE BEFORE BUT I ALREADY HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ONLY HAD TO STAND ON IT TO RESTRAIN THE CAR. *JB
DURING HEAVY USAGE OF THE A/C SYSTEM (ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS), THE CAR INCREASES RPM'S, PRESUMABLY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE INCREASED LOAD ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO SURGE FORWARD THROUGH ANY NORMAL BRAKING OR THE OEM "AUTOHOLD" FEATURE. THIS HAPPENS MOST OFTEN DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I ASKED THE REGIONAL VW REPRESENTATIVE, THOMAS KERR ABOUT THE ISSUE THIS MORNING WHO SAID IT IS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR THIS CAR." *TR
ENGINE IDLE INTERMITTENTLY SITS HIGHER THAN NORMAL (900-1000RPM) PERMITTING CAR TO WANT TO LURCH FORWARD (LIKE AT TRAFFIC STOPS) WHICH CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF THEM. *TR
THROTTLE LAG AT STOP PRESENTS DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC. MANUFACTURE IS AWARE OF ISSUE, BUT HAS NOT PRESENTED FIX. MY VEHICLE IS 3.6L 4 MOTION. *AK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE UNINTENDED ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE WAS OCCURRING, THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED BEING DEPRESSED WITH BOTH FEET IN ORDER TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000.
CONTINUING DANGEROUS SLOW ROLL HESITATION WHEN APPLYING THROTTLE. 1-2 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN THROTTLE APPLICATION AND ACCELERATION. TSB PCM UPDATE FOR SAID ISSUE APPLIED AND RESULTING LITTLE NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT. CAN LEAD TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN EMERGENCY MANEUVERS INVOLVING SLOW ROLL ACCELERATION. *AK
THROTTLE LAG. WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC, SOMETIMES THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD INSTEAD OF EASING FORWARD. THE THROTTLE SHOULD BE ADJUSTED SO THAT SOFTLY PRESSING THE PEDAL MOVES THE CAR INSTEAD OF HAVING TO PRESS THE PEDAL HARD (WHICH LEADS TO THE DANGEROUS LURCHING). *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE INCREASED TO 900 RPMS OR MORE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO 20 MPH AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THE RPM'S WERE NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.M UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026