Volkswagen GTI Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10221063March 13, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR IMPACT. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 05/19/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED VOLKSWAGEN STILL HAS THE VEHICLE AFTER 3 MONTHS, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE PARTS. UPDATED 05/20/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10221090March 13, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS AND ASR SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED - EACH HAS ITS OWN DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT, WHICH IS ON. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY ABS CONTROLLER/PUMP MODULE, $1,025 TO REPAIR. VW HAS AN ABS RECALL, #02V031000, WHICH COVERS 2000-2002 NEW BEETLE, GOLF/GTI, JETTA. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219300February 27, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
VOLKSWAGEN GTI FAHRENHEIT 3RD BRAKE LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONING. TOOK THE CARE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CANNOT FIX IT . THEY NEED TO CUT THE SPOILER AND REPLACE THE ENTIRE SPOILER FOR JUST A LED. I ALSO FOUND THIS: S5.1.1.27 (A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION, EACH PASSENGER CAR MANUFACTURED ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 1985, AND EACH MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE, TRUCK, AND BUS, WHOSE OVERALL WIDTH IS LESS THAN 80 INCHES, WHOSE GVWR IS 10,000 POUNDS OR LESS, MANUFACTURED ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 1993, SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH A HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP WHICH:... (5) SHALL PROVIDE ACCESS FOR CONVENIENT REPLACEMENT OF THE BULB WITHOUT THE USE OF SPECIAL TOOLS. REMOVING THE REAR SPOILER REQUIRES SPECIAL TOOLS..." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218893February 22, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
(1) CAR OVERHEATED AUGUST 2007 (2) ORIGINALLY ASSUMED THERMOSTAT WAS THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER BOTH RADIATOR FANS WERE DETERMINED FAULTY (DID NOT OPERATE IN LOW SPEEDS) AND REPLACED (PARTS COVERED BY CORPORATE, LABOR BY CONSUMER). PROBLEM DETERMINED RESOLVED. NEXT MONTH (SEPTEMBER 2007), CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON, BUT CAR NOT OVERHEATING. SERVICE TECHNICAL SAYS THERMOSTAT SHUT OPEN AND ECT TEMP SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE ($546). ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD OVERHEAT IN HOT WEATHER. WILL DETERMINE OUTCOME WITH VW CORPORATE AND/OR SERVICE CENTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218649February 20, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A MEDIUM SIZED POTHOLE, AND THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE REAR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR CRASH INVOLVED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,580 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,570.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217746February 11, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REGARDING THE DSG AUTO. TRANSMISSION IN THE 2006 AND 2007 VW GTI: UNDER SOME CONDITIONS THE CAR WILL HESITATE ABOUT 1 TO 2 SECONDS WHEN QUICKLY SWITCHING BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL, SUCH AS WHEN MAKING A QUICK LEFT TURN TO BEAT THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VW SIMPLY SAYS THAT "THEY ALL DO THAT". THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE SET UP AS A RECALL BY VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212730December 26, 2007
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE HEATED LEATHER SEATS IN MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN GTI VR6 "OVERHEAT" AND BURNT THE SEAT MATERIAL. I OFTEN TURNED OFF THE HEATERS AS I FELT THEY WERE GETTING TOO HOT. THE HEATERS RUINED THE SEAT MATERIAL WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212575December 22, 2007
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WAS ON THE WAY HOME DRIVING DURING RAIN AND SNOW. TYPICAL MINNESOTA WINTER. IT WAS ROUGHLY 25-30 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I LOWERED WINDOW TO REMOVE RAIN AND SNOW BEFORE I STARTED DRIVING. WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING AND THE WINDOW WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH RAIN/SNOW POURING INTO MY CAR. AFTER THE 15 MINUTE DRIVE MY PASSENGER SIDE LEATHER SEATS WERE DESTROYED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THESE PARTICULAR CARS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211817December 13, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 75-80 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER. AS OF DECEMBER 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000. UPDATED 3/4/08 *CN THE DEALER DECIDED TO FIX THE VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10210227November 28, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH FAILED ON CAR AT ONLY 33,000 MILES. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY CONSIDERED NORMAL. WEAR AND TEAR. CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP FOR $2300. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209373November 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
MY 2007 VW GTI DSG HAS TRANSMISSION SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT HAVE CAUSED ME TO NEARLY GET HIT NUMEROUS TIMES. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, LAGS, THEN GRABS GEAR AGAIN AND HAS TO RE-ACCELERATE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS OF 65 AS WELL AS IN CITY 30-45 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO A BUSY TURNPIKE AND SUDDENLY HAVING THE CAR HAVE NO ACCELERATION POWER ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT HAS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING AND SUDDENLY THE CAR DECELERATES AND THERE IS A SEVERAL SECOND LAG BEFORE IT GRABS AND DECIDES TO GO AGAIN. THIS CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES CONSECUTIVELY WHICH IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AT LEAST 8-10 TIMES AND EVERYTIME THEY TELL ME IT IS FIXED AND THEN I PULL OUT AND IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AGAIN. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE MECATRONIC UNIT, REFLASHED THE ECM, ADDED IN A MISSING LAUNCH CONTROL PROGRAM AND REPLACED INTAKE FLAP MOTOR. THESE PROBLEM HAVE TAKEN ALL MY FAITH OUT OF THE VEHICLE. EVERYTIME I DRIVE I AM AFRAID. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND LOSE POWER. I HEAR A LOUD THUNK FROM THE ENGINE AND IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR HAS BEEN HIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE TO CONTINUE THIS ON ANOTHER COMPLAINT FORM B/C OF LENGTH, PLS. SEE PAGE 2 OF CHRIS DUNN 2007 VW GTI *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209374November 19, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS IS A CONTINUATION FROM CHRIS DUNN 2007 VW GTI AFTER THE MOST "FIX" FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - ONE WEEK AGO - THE CAR HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND PRESSING ON THE GAS, YOU HEAR A LOUD THUNK AND FEEL HARD HIT AND THE CAR JERKS (LUNGES?) FORWARD ABOUT 5 FEET. SINCE THIS FIX, ONE WEEK AGO, THE CAR NOT ONLY DOES THE LUNGING FORWARD BUT NOW IS ALSO NEARLY STALLING. AFTER BEING AT A STOP AND YOU DEPRESS THE GAS THE CAR SHAKES AND HAS THE FEELING IT WILL STALL UNLESS YOU GIVE IT MORE GAS. IT THEN BEGINS TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY AT ABOUT 1/3 REGULAR POWER. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED AS I WAS CROSSING AT A FOUR-WAY STOP AND BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION I NEARLY GOT HIT AGAIN. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES CAUSED EVERY TIME IT WAS HOT THAT CAUSED LACK OF INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND ALL DISPLAY INFO WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE. YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR YOU WERE IN,NO RADIO,MILES PER GALLON,OR ANY WARNINGS, ETC. HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN UNRELATED PROBLEM NOT THE TRANS PROBLEM WHICH WILL GET ME KILLED. I HAVE EXHAUSTED MY OPTIONS, HAVE RECEIVED NO COOPERATION FROM DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICED THE CAR WHICH IS CLOSER THAN THE DEALER I PURCHASED FROM. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, I TOOK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THERE WAS A MAJOR DELAY BETWEEN THROTTLE INPUT AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION. THEY DROVE THE CAR AND DUPLICATED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OF THROTTLE DELAY. THEY SAID THE CAR SHIFTED AT 1000-1500 RPM'S PAST REDLINE AND ASKED IF I HAD DONE PERFORMANCE ENHANCING TUNING TO THE ECU. ---- I HAD NOT, ----THIS WAS A BRAND NEW CAR. THEY HAD ME SIGN A PAPER TO THAT EFFECT, WHICH I HAVE. THEY SAID THERE WAS PROBABLY TRANSMISSION DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR THERE "WOULD BE FUTURE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE" AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I CALLED VWOF AMERICA AND GOT A "TOO BAD GOODBYE". SINCE THEN THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR AT LEAST 8-10 TIMES, SEVERAL DAYS AT A TIME ---AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I AM GETTING NO HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209102November 16, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY RIGHT CV JOINTS, ON MY 2000 GTI, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THE PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE REPLACED IT 4 TIMES AND IM ABOUT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF ITS THE PART OR IF ITS THE LABOR WHO PUT IT IN, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT AFTER I DO SOME WORK I WOULDN'T WANT TO REPLACE IT FOR FREE ONCE MUCH LESS 4 MORE TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208601November 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2007 VOLKSWAGEN GTI IS OFF BY ABOUT 10 PERCENT OR TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER IS READING 90 MPH, ACTUAL SPEED IS 81-82 MPH ACCORDING TO MY GERMAN NAV SYSTEM. THE CAR IS AS IT LEFT THE FACTORY WITH FACTORY TIRES AND WHEELS. I BELIEVE MY ODOMETER MIGHT BE OFF A SIMILAR AMOUNT AS WELL. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ON THE MATTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE OFF BY THAT MUCH. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS AS MY 1995 FORD F-150 WORK TRUCK READS EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD !!! (AGAIN MEASURED BY MY PORTABLE NAV SYSTEM. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS ALWAYS GETTING PASSED ON THE FREEWAY AND SOMETIMES GETTING RUDE VERBAL AND HAND GESTURES EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRAVELING ABOVE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. THIS HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND HAVE ONLY JUST DISCOVERED THE DISCREPANCY VERY RECENTLY (WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS). I HAVE LISTED THE NUMBER OF FAILURES AS 365 BECAUSE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW AND BELIEVE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER HAVE BEEN INCORRECT SINCE NEW. IM NOT EVEN GUESSING AS TO HOW MUCH THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR MIGHT BE OFF YET. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 11000 MILES. THIS IS A CONCERN WHICH SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT WILLING TO DO A THING ABOUT IT APPARENTLY, SO I TURN TO YOUR ORGANIZATION IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING MIGHT BE DONE ABOUT THIS DISCREPANCY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER IN ADVANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208162November 7, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY CAR IS INACCURATE AND DISPLAYS A SPEED THAT IS 10% FASTER THAN I AM ACTUALLY TRAVELING. MY LOCAL DEALER APPLIED A PROGRAMMING FIX (TSB), BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207433October 30, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ROUTINE USAGE FROM ADJACENT SEAT MECHANISM CAUSED WIRE TO FAIL INSIDE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HARNESS, CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR 2-DOOR GOLFS AND GTIS. WAS TOLD THAT AIR BAGS WILL NOT INFLATE IN A CRASH UNTIL THE SEAT BELT HARNESS WAS REPLACED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR SUCH A SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW OF THE AUTOMOBILE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207349October 29, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THE RESISTANCE IN THE IGNITER WAS TOO HIGH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205886October 16, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
I HAVE OWNED THE 2000 GTI SINCE 10/2001. PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 13,000 MILES ON IT FROM THE ORGINAL OWNER. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS 80,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED FROM CAMPBELL/NELSON 24329 HWY 99, EDMONDS WA, 98026. IN NOV. 2005 THE AIR BAG ICON APPEARED ON THE DASH. I TOOK IT IN AND AFTER DEALER DIAGNOSIS, A $101.28 CHARGE IT WAS RECOMMED DRIVER'S SIDE-AIRBAG WITH HARNESS BE REPLACED. CALLED VW AMERICA AND THEY COVERED REPLACEMENT. IN OCT. 2007 THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE SAME DIAGNOSIS WAS GIVEN BUT NEITHER THE DEALER OR VW AMERICA WOULD COVER. SINCE THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER ACTIVATED THE RESPONSE OF COMPONENTS WEARING OUT MAKES NO SENSE. I KNOW OF NO OTHER CASES ON AIRBAG PROBLEMS WITH OTHER MODELS. EITHER THE DEALER FIX IN 2005 OR THE COMPONENT FROM VW HAS PROBLEM. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SYSTEM FOR $645.02 SEEMS UNREASONABLE FOR A SAFETY ITEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205660October 15, 2007
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE-AIR-BAG ATTENUATOR ON MY 1999 VW GTI (NEW GTI) HAS NEEDED SERVICE. FIRST TIME WAS JUST AFTER CAR WENT OFF WARRANTY. VW REGIONAL AGREED TO PAY. ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM -- HAD TO CALL VW REGIONAL TO MOUNT THE CASE FOR THEM TO PAY, AND THEY DID. 11 MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP PAID FOR REPAIR SAYING IT WAS COVERED BY THEIR 12MO/12K MILE SERVICE WARRANTY. 11 MONTHS LATER -- SAME PROBLEM, DEALER PAID. NOW, 5 MONTHS LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205127October 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND VEHICLE STILL IDLED VERY ROUGH. WHILE CALLING VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD I FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHAT LOOKED AND SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WITHIN ONE MINUTE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. 911 WAS CALLED AND A FIRE TRUCK CAME OUT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER IN TRAVERSE CITY, MI, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND VW OF AMERICA CONTACTED ME AND SAID IT WAS AN IGNITION COIL FIRE. THEY HAVE MADE AN OFFER TO BUY BACK THE CAR. THIS VEHICLE HAD A PREVIOUS IGNITION COIL FAILURE (FEB., 2007/10,686 MILES) RESULTING IN MELTED WIRING. THERE WERE ALSO FAILURES OF THE TURBOCHARGER, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IGNITION SWITCH PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE. SERVICE REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THE FAILURES PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE ON 10/03/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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