2006 Volkswagen Rabbit

No photo available — body style shown for reference.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Engine

Engine leads by volume: 5 of 13 complaints (38%) mention it.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 3 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category200620072008vs. 2006 Compact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)2,8502,8502,600
Combined MPG222224
City / Highway MPG19 / 2819 / 2821–22 / 29
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)404404370
Complaints filed135423Not compared
Recalls issued122Not compared
Crash-involved complaints042Not compared
Fire-involved complaints224Not compared
Injuries reported022Not compared
Deaths reported000Not compared
Configurations compared222

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit have?

1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit?

Engine: 5 of 13 NHTSA complaints (38%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit get?

EPA rates it 22 MPG combined across 2 configurations.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Volkswagen Rabbit?

EPA estimates $2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

EPA-Rated Configurations (2)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Manual 5-spd52.5LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars19 mpg28 mpg22 mpg$2,850404 g/mi
Configuration 2Automatic (S6)52.5LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars19 mpg28 mpg22 mpg$2,850404 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine50100
Transmission & Drivetrain20000
Fuel System20000
Electrical30100
Brakes00000
Steering00000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires00000
Airbags & Restraints10000
Driver Assistance & Speed Control10000
Body, Seats & Latches20100
Visibility & Lighting10000
Other00000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (1)

  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · Campaign 07V442000 · Sep 19, 2007

    Defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.

    Consequence: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.