Volkswagen GTI Complaints
1,407 consumer complaints on file.
- #10147429January 11, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
REPLACED, AGAIN, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB. I JUST REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE THREE WEEKS AGO, AGAIN. THIS IS GETTING TO BE TOO EXPENSIVE AS THE BULBS COST $14 EACH. NOT TO MENTION THAT I MAY GET STOPPED BY THE POLICE AND CITED FOR NOT HAVING A WORKING LIGHT. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE HEADLIGHT UNIT BECAUSE I HAVE CHANGED THE BULB TOO MANY TIMES. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10145644December 19, 2005VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING DUE TO LINKAGE FAILURE AT 55,000 MILES. LINKAGE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10145253December 14, 2005POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GTI WITH APPROXIMATELY 42000 AND DISCOVERED MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN EVERY GEAR. AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO LINDSAY VOLKSWAGEN IN STERLING, VA, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BAD CLUTCH AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED SEVERAL IDENTICAL SITUATIONS OF OTHER OWNERS OF 2002 VOLKS GTI 1.8T MANUAL AND THE COMPANY'S REFUSAL TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY OR INVESTIGATE WHY A CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT UNDER 45,000 MILES. ACCORDINGLY, I CAN ATTEST THAT I OPERATE MY VEHICLE IN A SAFE AND LEGAL MANNER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD CONSIDER COMPETENCE AND CARE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10144553December 6, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH SEAT COVER AND MY PANTS, WAS ABLE TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF WITHOUT CRASHING. VOLKSWAGEN SAYS I CAN PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR AS THE ITEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY APPARENTLY AS MY CAR IS A 2001, NEWER MODELS WITH SAME SEATS ARE COVERED. I WILL BE LOOKING AT REPAIRING IT MYSELF IF NOT COVERED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10143774November 28, 2005POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
EARLY CLUTCH FAILURE. THE CLUTCH IN MY VW 2002 GTI FAILED AT 23000 MILES. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10143695November 26, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL RETURN LINE DEVELOPED A PINHOLE LEAK APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES PAST THE EXIT OF THE PROTECTIVE CHANNEL ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10143669November 25, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT (VELOUR NOT LEATHER) W/ VW COLD WEATHER PACKAGE (HEATED SEATS), WHEN HEATED SEAT WAS TURNED ON IT WOULD SHOCK ME, THE DRIVER. THIS HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF 3 OR 4 DAYS AND NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10143391November 21, 2005SEATS
I PURCHASED A 2000 GOLF GTI/VR6 IN MAY OF 2005. A FEW WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING, MY SEAT (DRIVER'S) BROKE AWAY FOR NO APPEARANT REASON. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141965November 7, 2005POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
JUST BEFORE 8,000 MILES, THE CLUTCH OF MY 2003 VW GTI SLIPPED AND WENT BAD. AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL AT NO COST TO ME. WHEN ASKED WHY THE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH OCCURED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO WEAR. NOW AT 35,000 MILES, THE CLUTCH HAS FAILED AGAIN, UNFORTUNATELY THIS TIME, NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND WITH A $2000 REPAIR BILL BY VW, I WILL HAVE PAID FOR THE CAR TWICE IN TEN YEARS. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT VW BUILDS A CLUTCH THAT WILL FAIL DUE TO LIGHT TO MODERATE WEAR AS THEY CLAIM. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141659November 3, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MY INTAKE MANIFOLD CHANGE OVER VALVE ARE RATTLING. ALTHOUGH I HAVE A 10 YR "DRIVE TRAIN" WARRANTY VW TOLD ME THAT THE MANIFOLD IS COVERED IN THE WARRANTY BUT THE "INSIDE COMPONENTS" ARE NOT. EVEN WORSE THE VW MECHANIC SAID THAT "THIS IS COMMON WITH THE VR6 ENGINES." THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141578November 2, 2005AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS A MAJOR HIGHWAY. PULLED INTO THE LANE OF TRAFFIC WHEN AN ONCOMING CAR MOVED INTO MY LANE. I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 20 MPH, AND CONSEQUENTLY SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. IN AVOIDING THE CAR I TURNED LEFT AND THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR HIT A CURB. THE CAR DROVE UP ONTO THE CURB AND THEN QUICKLY OFF OF IT. IT WAS NOT A DIRECT IMPACT, THE CURB WAS HIT AT AN ANGLE. THE CURTAIN AND SIDE AIRBAGS BOTH FIRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DECELERATION, AND I HAVE HIT POTHOLE HARDER THAN THIS IMPACT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEGIN EVALUATED BY MY LOCAL DEALER. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140591October 24, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE ON A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140642October 24, 2005POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHEN I PASSED 24000 MILES, AFTER HAVING DRIVEN MY CAR EXTREMELY CAREFULLY (2001 VOLKSWAGEN GTI GLS 1.8T), THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE, AND I HAD TO BUY A REPLACEMENT CLUTCH AS WELL AS THE INSTALLATION WHICH COST AROUND $700. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL OTHER VW OWNERS (SAME MODEL) AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THINK THAT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140454October 21, 2005VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TWO MONTHS AGO MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BROKE - IT WAS THE REGULATOR (COST ME $400 +), THAT GOT FIXED AND TWO WEEKS AGO MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BROKE, I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO GET FIXED UNTIL I CHECKED ON RECALLS BUT I DID NOT LOCATE ANY. I AM SURE IT IS THE REGULATOR AND WILL PROBABLE COST ANOTHER $400. HAVE ANY OTHERS SUBMITTED THIS ISSUE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10138680October 5, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON OCTOBER 4, 2005 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED ON MY 2001 VW GTI, UPON BRINGING IT TO MY REPAIR SHOP - THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT MY IGNITION COIL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, THIS REPAIR COST ME NEARLY $1,000. UPON LEARNING THAT THE IGNITION COIL ON 2001 VW'S WAS DEFECTIVE AND READING A PRESS RELEASE FROM VW THAT STATED IN PART ALL 2001 VW CARS INCLUDING GTI'S EQUIPPED WITH 2.8 LITER VR6 WOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST" AND ALL CUSTOMERS WILL BE NOTIFIED THAT THIS PART DOESN'T MEET OUR HIGH STANDARDS AND WILL BE REPLACED, I CONTACTED VW AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY REPAIR. THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT, CONTRARY TO THE INFO CONTAINED IN THEIR PRESS RELEASE, MY CAR WASN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS THE PART REFERENCED IN SERVICE BULLETIN 0401 AND 0402, 10007016 AND 10007205 ON THIS WEBSITE. IT APPEARS THAT VW ISN'T LIVING UP TO THEIR COMMITMENT, THEY NEITHER NOTIFIED ME INITIALLY OR AGREED TO REIMBURSEMENT OR OTHER REMEDY WHEN I CONTACTED THEM TODAY.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10136844September 17, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT, IN THE RAIN, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY WIPERS AND MY FAN ALSO STOPPED WORKING. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AGAIN, ALL WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 10 SEC., THEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I NOTICED THAT WHEN I TOUCHED THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION THAT IT WENT BACK ON AGAIN, AND I HELD THE KEY FORWARD AND HELD IT THERE, AND THE HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS, AND THE FAN STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. WHEN I LET IT GO, IT STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FORWARD ALL THE WAY HOME TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS TO SEE MY WAY HOME. THE NEXT DAY I CHECKED AGAIN AND KNEW FOR SURE THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE PROBLEM, IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON ON VOLKSWAGEN GOLF'S OR GTI'S AND THAT THERE WASN'T A RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THANK YOU, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED TO VOLKSWAGEN AND A RECALL WERE TO BE MADE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HEARD IT COST'S A LOT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134515August 16, 2005UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SAFETY RECALL UU 1999-2000 MODEL VOLKSWAGEN GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A GASOLINE ENGINE INSPECT FUEL SUPPLY MODULE FOR LEAKS AND INSTALL CONNECTOR ON FUEL LINE; REPLACE FUEL SUPPLE MODULE IF NECESSARY. *MR WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CONSUMER FELT A BUMP AND HEARD A CRACKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER THEN SMELLED GAS. THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, LINE AND FITTING ON THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED. RECALL CAMPAIGN #05V154000. *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10133042August 16, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
DT: THE ENGINE WILL BUCK OR STALL AND THEN COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THIS HAPPENED AT ALL SPEEDS AND EVEN AT AN IDLE. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSTICALLY TESTED. ALSO, FUEL INJECTION WA SCLEANED. AT ANOTHER TRIP TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER, AND DID ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME REASON AWAITING REPAIRS. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AN AREA REPRESENTATIVE CAME TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, NO INFORMATION ON HIS FINDINGS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132543August 11, 2005AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
SPONTANEOUS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT 8-10-05 I WAS DRIVING ALONE DOWN A BOULEVARD AT 35 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE A GUNSHOT FROM MY RIGHT SIDE. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LEAVING ME WITH AN EAR ACHE, AS WELL AS INTERIOR FULL OF SMOKE AND DEBRIS. WORST OF ALL, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I COASTED ABOUT 200 FEET THEN TURNED ONTO A SIDE STREET. I'M FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT COME INTO CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS. I DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE, RUT, CURB OR ANYTHING ELSE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A WELL-TRAVELED SMOOTH ROAD IN DENVER (SOUTH BROADWAY). THE AIRBAGS JUST DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AFTER GATHERING MY WITS AND AIRING OUT THE CAR, I RESTARTED IT AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO MY LOCAL VW SERVICE FACILITY. THE NEXT DAY, MY SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THE MECHANIC SAW EVIDENCE OF AN IMPACT ON THE SIDE OF THE FRAME. I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR WAS ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I ALSO MENTIONED THAT 18 MONTHS AGO I HAD HIT A SQUARE-EDGED RUT IN THE ROAD THAT CAUSED SOME RIM DAMAGE TO THE FRONT-RIGHT WHEEL AND ALSO CAUSED A TIRE IMPACT SEPARATION (BUBBLE). PERHAPS THIS IS THE IMPACT MARK THAT THE MECHANIC DETECTED. I GAVE THIS STATEMENT TO VWOA AT MY ADVISOR'S REQUEST. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE CAR IS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD AND UNDER 50,000 MILES. MY LOCAL SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED ME BACK TO SAY THAT A SUPERVISOR WILL DETERMINE HOW TO PROCEED WITH REPAIRS. EVIDENTLY, THIS IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY A WARRANTY ITEM. VWOA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FULLY INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AND TAKE PREVENTIVE ACTIONS IMMEDIATELY. THERE ARE SEVERAL VW OWNERS IN MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY. WE ARE ALL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRBAG SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE EVEN AFTER REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10128283July 11, 2005AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT
I WAS DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND HIT A POTHOLE. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ALONG WITH THE PASSANGER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR WHAT SO EVER. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY IMAGINE AIRBAGS DEPOLYING EVERY TIME SOMEONE RAN OVER A POTHOLE. THE DEALERSHIP (WWW.REYDELVW.COM) REFUSES TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRENTY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0