Volkswagen GTI Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#11064483January 23, 2018
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEFTIN WESTLAKE VOLKSWAGEN (3550 AUTO MALL DR, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362, (805) 497-9404) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THAT AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11062173January 11, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE ABS LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT, STEERING WHEEL FAULT WARNING LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING PROMPTING A FAULT DESCRIPTION ON MY CENTER DASH SAYING "FAULT: ABS/ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION CONTROL". FROM MY RESEARCH THIS FAULT WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE 2009 (MK5) GTI WHICH SHARES THE SAME ENGINE, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND DRIVETRAIN AS THE 2010-2014 (MK6). ON THE DIFFERENT VOLKSWAGEN FORUMS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IT IS STILL AN APPARENT FAULT WITH THE CAR WITH HUNDREDS OF INQUIRIES ABOUT HOW TO REPAIR AND FIX THIS PROBLEM ON OUR OWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11060695January 5, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR ENDED SOMEBODY FRONT CAR IS SMASHED AND AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11058173January 3, 2018
ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON MY VW GTI 2012 EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO INSTRUCTION FROM VW TO REPLACE THE CHAIN AT 97 K MILES. IT IS ESTIMATED TO COST ME $7000.00 TO FIX THIS CAR. I SEE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE VW GTI CARS AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THE MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11057665December 30, 2017
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WENT AND DESTROYED THE ENTIRE ENGINE THAT HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH VW THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT AFTER THE FACT. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11057230December 28, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHILE DRIVING LIGHTS FLASHING,SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING ,FUEL GAUGE STOPS WORKING. STEERING WHEEL MOVES FUNNY. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE PROGRAM THAT THEY INSTALLED BUT NOW THEY JUST SAY THAT THE UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY ARE ASKING 2400.00 FOR THE REPAIR BUT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FROM MANY OWNERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056719December 26, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON MY USUAL HIGHWAY ROUTE WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NOT CARS IN PROXIMITY TO MINE, NONE IN FRONT, TO THE SIDE OR REAR. I WAS ON A BRIDGE, ABOUT MID-SECTION WHEN THE IT HAPPENED. IT WAS LOUD AND SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. LUCKILY MINIMAL GLASS DROPPED INTO THE INTERIOR. I HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY IT HAPPENED, IT SEEMED SPONTANEOUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11055586December 19, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL THE WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ESC). THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO GUNTHER VOLKSWAGEN OF FORT LAUDERDALE (1660 S STATE RD 7, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33317, (954) 797-1660) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED PER THE RECALL BECAUSE INSUFFICIENT PCU GROUND CONNECTION WAS NOT DETECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MODULE COULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11055282December 18, 2017
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. THE STERLING WHEEL WILL MAKE A CRUNCHING NOISE WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS. AT POINT OF FAILURE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THEN ALL THE SUDDEN THE CRUNCHING NOISE STOPPED, AND I GOT ERROR AIR BAG, ERROR TRANSMISSION, AND THE HORN STOPPED WORKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11054568December 13, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
MY VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED EXACTLY WHAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 16V913000 AND IT IS THE MODEL AND YEAR AS LISTED IN THE CAMPAIGN. WITH IGNITION ON AND WHILE DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN 4-5-POSSIBLY 6 LIGHTS COME ON MY DASHBOARD A CHIME STARTS DINGING AND THE ABS,ESC,AIRBAG,EPC, BARKE PEDAL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON DASH ALONG WITH EITHER THE SPEEDO OR TACHOMETER START JUMPING. VEHICLE CAN BE STATIONARY OR DRIVING BUT VEHICLE MUST BE RUNNING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11053440December 8, 2017
ENGINE
ON THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 29, 2017 I FOUND THAT MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN GTI WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAS 73,530 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013. I DROVE THE VEHICLE AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 28 WITH NO ISSUES OR INDICATIONS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BETTEN IMPORTS IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN, KEVIN, FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD JUMPED TIME DUE TO A FAILED TENSIONER WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE NOT ONLY TO THE TIMING CHAIN BUT ALSO THE HEAD. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THIS REPAIR IS $3700. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CARE AND SPOKE WITH PAUL ON THE AFTERNOON OF DECEMBER 4, 2017. HE INFORMED ME THAT SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM AN AUTHORIZED VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT OFFER TO COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR EXPENSES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND HAVE ACTUALLY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE PROBLEM. AT NO POINT DURING MY MAINTENANCE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP DID THEY EVER INFORM ME OF THE ISSUE OR POSSIBILITY OF PART FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR A NEW TIMING CHAIN WHICH IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON DECEMBER 18, 2018.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051333November 29, 2017
POWER TRAIN
ROUGH UP AND DOWN SHIFTS WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. I COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 4-5 YEARS TO VW DEALERSHIPS CLAIMING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING HORRIBLE CLUNKING AND CLANKING SOUNDS IN LOWER GEARS, AND WOULD HAVE ROUGHER THAN USUAL SHIFTS NORMALLY IN REVERSE TO DRIVE, AND SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR, OR FIRST GEAR TO NEUTRAL. THEY ALL BUT IGNORED IT AND BLAMED IT ON BEING THE "NATURE OF THE CAR" AND TO "GET USED TO IT". THIS POSES AN ISSUE THOUGH AS THE TRANSMISSION IS SOMETIMES SLOW OR HESITANT TO GIVE POWER OR IT'LL CUT POWER UNEXPECTEDLY... SO FROM A STOP SOME POWER IS PRESENT, BUT CAN CUT OUT FOR A SECOND OR TWO... LEAVING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN A DANGEROUS POSITION. IT ALSO LURCHES FORWARD FROM A COLD START WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. IF SOMEONE DID NOT HAVE THEIR BRAKES FULLY APPLIED, THEY COULD EASILY HIT SOMEONE OR SOMEONE'S PROPERTY FROM THIS TRAIT. NOW THAT THE CAR IS WELL OUT OF THE 5 YEAR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, VW TECHS ONLY NOW RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM WITH THE DSG MECHATRONICS UNIT, THE SAME PART THAT HAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR 10YR/100K ON PREVIOUS MODELS OF THE GTI (2006-2010), AND ALSO REPORTED PROBLEMS ON NEWER MODELS AS WELL (2014+). VW REFUSES TO EXTEND ANY COVERAGE TO THE MK6 GENERATION, AND WANT A TOTAL OF $2400 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT. ONCE AGAIN, VW REFUSES TO LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES AND USES FAULTY PARTS ON NEWER CARS AND WHEN THEY TOO BEGIN TO SHOW ISSUES, THEY TURN THEIR BACK ON THEIR CUSTOMERS. VW MIGHT AS WELL ADD MECHATRONICS REPLACEMENT ON DSG EQUIPPED VEHICLES AS PART OF THEIR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I HAVE LOST ALL FAITH IN THIS CAR BRAND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051329November 29, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS IS MY THIRD VOLKSWAGEN GTI IN THREE YEARS, AND FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE 6 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS CAR, THE HEADLINER HAS DETACHED AND FALLEN DOWN ONTO PASSENGER. THREE TIMES IF YOU COUNT THE SUNROOF VISOR SHADE CLOTH. THIS HAPPENED ON BOTH PREVIOUSLY OWNED VW MODELS AS WELL. VOLKSWAGEN IS INCAPABLE OF MAKING A QUALITY CLOTH LINER FOR THE DOORS, ROOF, AND OTHER COMPONENTS COVERED BY THEIR FABRICS/UPHOLSTERY. VW CLAIMS THIS IS TYPICAL WEAR AND TEAR AND NOT A FAULT OF THEIR COMPONENTS, BUT THEN WHY DOES IT OCCUR EVERY THREE YEARS ON EVERY SINGLE MODEL THEY PRODUCE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051326November 29, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS IS MY THIRD VOLKSWAGEN MODEL, PARTICULARLY GOLF GTI MODEL IN TEN YEARS, AND FOR THE THIRD TIME, LIKE CLOCKWORK, THE AIR CON HAS DIED BEFORE 48K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ALL SIGNS POINT TO A FAULTY SENSOR ON THE COMPRESSOR THAT DIES, AND TYPICALLY SHRAPNELS THE COMPRESSOR, DRY, AND OTHER CRITICAL AIR CON SYSTEMS, CAUSING ZERO COLD AIR TO BLOW. VW HAS A RECALL OR AN OPEN TSB FOR THIS FAULTY SENSOR AND THE PARTS AFFECTED BY IT ON PREVIOUS MODELS AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT REFUSES TO EXTEND ANY COMPENSATION OR ASSISTANCE FOR THE FACELIFTED MK6 GENERATION. VW IS CHEAPENING OUT AND USING THE SAME EXACT PARTS AS BEFORE, AND HOPING TO SLIDE UNDER THE RADAR TO AVOID HAVING TO SHELL OUT COSTS TO FIX AND REPAIR FOR THE NEWER GENERATIONS. THIS IS ABSURD. VW SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR PUTTING SUCH A FLAWED COMBINATION OF INEPT SYSTEMS TOGETHER AND CALL IT "THE PEOPLE'S CAR". WHAT A JOKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11047953November 22, 2017
ENGINE
I TRIED TO START MY CAR, WHICH WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY; THE BATTERY WAS WORKING FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED TO A VW MECHANIC THE NEXT MORNING, 11/9/17. THE VW MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT MY TIMING TENSIONER CHAIN HAD BROKE CAUSING MY PISTONS TO CRASH INTO ONE ANOTHER, CAUSING MY ENGINE TO NOT WORK AND NEED A TOTAL REBUILD. MY CAR HAD GIVEN NO WARNING, NO ENGINE LIGHTS, NOTHING TO ALLUDE TO AN IMPENDING CATASTROPHIC ISSUE INVOLVING MY ENGINE. MY CAR ONLY HAS 59,000 MILES ON IT, PREMATURE FOR THIS ISSUE - ESPECIALLY WITH NO WARNING. THIS ISSUE IS NOT PROTECTED BY WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11047132November 18, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES
CAR WITH 9000 MILES HAD BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BARELY STOPPED. TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD MASTER CYLINDER ON A CAR WITH 9K MILES, AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THERE ARE MULTIPLE CASES OF THIS SIMILAR ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11047206November 18, 2017
ENGINE
MY VW GTI HAS A FAILING TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER THAT CAUSED MY VALVES TO COLLIDE WITH PISTONS AND REQUIRED A REBUILD OF THE ENGINE (EXCLUDING TIMING CHAIN). THE ENGINE IS NOT TIMED CORRECTLY AND HAS LOST A TON OF POWER AND IS RATTLING, IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT WILL MOST LIKELY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND INITIALLY BROKE UPON TURNING IT ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11046659November 16, 2017
ENGINE
60K MILES TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AT IDLE IN MY GARAGE CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. VWOA DECLINED ASSISTANCE DESPITE TSB EXISTING FOR UPDATED PART. VWOA CITED REASON OF FAILURE AS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. ALL MY MAINTENANCE WAS DONE ON TIME OR EARLY AT VW DEALERS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 3 OIL CHANGES I PERFORMED MYSELF WITH RECOMMENDED OIL. THE RATE OF FAILURE IS EXTREMELY HIGH AND CUSTOMERS ARE NOT BEING INFORMED THAT AN UPDATED PART EXISTS. I BROUGHT THIS CAR INTO THE DEALER TWICE FOR CAMSHAFT CORRELATION CODES WHICH WERE VERIFIED AND I WAS TOLD IT'S NORMAL OPERATION. THIS COST ME $3000 TO REPAIR. ALSO WARRANTY EXTENSIONS ON OTHER PARTS ARE NOT DISCLOSED WHEN YOU RUN YOUR VIN ON VW'S WEBSITE. FRAUDULENT CONCEALMENT IS BEING COMMITTED. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED AS ALL POWER WAS LOST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11043353November 5, 2017
ENGINE
WATWR PUMP IS LEAKING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2011-2014 AND OBVIOUSLY STILL NOT FIXED MY VEHICLE HAS 63K AND NOW WATER PUMP IS LEAKING IN SAME MANNER THE 2011-2014 ARE WHICH WAS RECALLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11042128November 1, 2017
ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER SLIPPED AND BLEW THE CAMS. THE CLUTCH WAS ALSO BAD. EVERY PERSON I TALKED TO WHEN I HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE KNEW THAT VW GTI OR GOLFS HAD THIS NOTORIOUS ISSUE. WE HAD ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 9 MONTHS AND HAD TO BUY AN ENTIRE NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE IN THE CAR INDUSTRY KNEW ABOUT ALREADY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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