Volkswagen GTI Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10128302July 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
STEAM COMINIG FROM DASHBOARD. EVENTUALLY, THE HEATER CORE EXPLODED CAUSING BURNS TO MY WIFES LEG. TALKED TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, AND SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO OWN THE SAME VW. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO! THE HEATER CORES WERE ALREADY RECALLED ON MK2 GOLFS, AND CORRADOS! WHEN THE HEATER CORE FAILS THE CAR FILLS WITH STEAM AND YOU HAVE NO DRIVING VISIBILITY! STILL TRYING TO TALK TO VW OF AMERICA, ITS TYPICALLY COVERED, HOWEVER, A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10118247July 8, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
BUMPED A CURB AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OTHER THAN SCRAPED WHEELS AND DEPLOYED AIR BAGS. ENGINE NO LONGER STARTS ON FIRST KEY TURN. TAKEN TO INSURER RECOMMENDED SHOP TO HAVE AIRBAGS AND ALL RELATED COMPONENTS REPLACED. ENGINE STILL NOT STARTING ON FIRST KEY TURN. *NM *SB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127726July 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
CERTIFIED PRE OWNED VW GOLF GLX VR6 2001, BOUGHT SEPT 2002 WITH 12K MILES. BEEN IN SERVICE AT LEAST 12 TIMES FOR STALLING, RELAY, CLICKING IN DASHBOARD, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. 3 YEARS STILL NOT FIXED, AND VW NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS IT TENDS TO STALL (NOT TO A COMPLETE STOP) BUT ENGINE HESITATES WHILE DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127235July 1, 2005
TIRES, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT: WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR LEFT TIRE WENT FLAT. THERE WAS A NAIL IN THE TIRE, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE FLAT TIRE. ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T SWERVE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURY, SHE HAS A BURN ON HER UPPER ARM. VEHICLE WAS A VOLKSWAGEN, GTI, 2001. SHE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING; SHE WOULD HAVE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10127042June 29, 2005
AIR BAGS
I WAS REAR ENDED IN NOV 2003. MY CAR WAS PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO SIGNAL THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID NOT FIND THIS OUT UNTIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE SIGNAL HAD GOTTEN SCRAMBLED AND LOST. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. IN APR 2005, DURING MY 60K SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT MY AIRBAG RESISTANCE WAS SET TOO HIGH AND THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER SAID THIS REPAIR WOULD COST $1000 IN PARTS PLUS THE LABOR WHICH IS INTENSIVE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR FAULTY SAFETY EQUIPMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10126980June 29, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
VEHICLE IS IN SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, BOTH STILL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY ARE EMISSION CONTROL. THE CULPRIT FOR THE FAILURE SEEMS TO BE THE COIL PACK HAS FAILED. THE COIL IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE CAR NOW HAS 43,000 MILES AND IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, COST IS ABOUT $800. THE COIL PACK FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT 19,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD BY DEALER TO EXPECT TO REPLACE THE COIL ABOUT EVERY 2 YEARS. IN ADDITION HAD THE DRIVERS WINDOW CLIPS FAIL TWICE AND THE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR, HORN SHORTED 3 SEPERATE TIMES, THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE RELAY THE 3RD TIME IT CAME IN AND THAT CORRECTED IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126655June 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1995 VW GOLF HEATERCORE BLEW. WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIWAY FOR NO REASON THE CORE BLEW. COULD HAVE CRASHED THE CAR OR INJURED HERSELF WHEN THE COOLANT SPILLED OUT THE CORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126436June 24, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
CONSUMER BUMPED A CURB CAUSING MINOR WHEEL SCRAPING AND DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS (DRIVERS CURTAIN AND SEAT). RESULTING REPAIR TOTAL IN EXCESS OF $4,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126366June 23, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2001 VW GOLF GTI. IT IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENGINE'S BLOCK HEAD GASKET. BEING THAT IT IS UNDER A 100K MILES WARRANTY I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WAS ALARMED THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE LEAK WAS A "SMALL AND NORMAL LEAKAGE, JUST SIPPING." THE PERSON AT THE COUNTER TOLD ME I HAD NOTHING TO WORRY BECAUSE I WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND "WOULD GET A NEW ENGINE IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THE ONE I HAVE NOW." CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE VW EXPLAINED TO ME HOW IS THAT AN ENGINE BLOCK THAT LEAKS OIL IS "NORMAL". IN THE END, I LEFT B/C THEY WOULD NOT SERVICE THE CAR SINSE IT WAS "SIPPING" OIL, THUS ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126236June 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CAR ALARM WOULD GO OFF WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE AND THE HORN WOULD GO OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, THE ALARM HORN ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES OF CONTINUOUS HONKING THE WIRES TO THE ALARM HORN STARTED TO MELT. I ATTEMPTED TO DISCONNECT THE POWER TO THE HORN AND WAS BURNED BY THE WIRES. EVENTUALLY THE HORN DIED BUT SMOKE CONTINUED TO POUR OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE COWLING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10125260June 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH PREVENTS NORMAL FUNCTIONING OF MANY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THIS PROBLEM IS A FIRE HAZARD. OVERHEATING OF THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY MELTS PLASTIC HOUSING AND DAMAGES INSULATION AND CONDUCTOR OF WIRES CONNECTED TO THE SWITCH. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN DRIVING LIGHTS (I.E. HEADLAMP SWITCH PULLED OUT) ARE ON. NO PROBLEM OCCURS WITH DRIVING LIGHTS OFF. PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY INADEQUATE SWITCH DESIGN. DEALER SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE DASH WIRING HARNESS, WHICH WAS UNACCEPTABLE DUE TO COST. OWNER REPAIRED DAMAGED WIRE WITH VOLKSWAGEN REPAIR KIT AND REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, AND NO LONGER USES DRIVING LIGHTS. PHOTOS OF FAILED SWITCH AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121095May 16, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE REVERSE GEAR IS VERY WEAK IN STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS.THE GEAR CHIPS THEN BREAKS OFF AND FALLS INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL CAUSING AN EXPLOSION OF THE HOUSING AND THE LOSS OF ALL THE GEAR FLUID. REPLACEMENT OF COMPLETE UNIT IS THEN NECESSARY. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TRANSMISSION IN 56000 MILES. LOCAL DEALERS JUST POINT FINGERS TO THE DRIVER OF THE CAR. I ALSO KNOW OF THREE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE MORE THAN A MERE COINCIDENCE. FURTHERMORE, ALL THESE INCIDENCES OCCUR ON VOLKSWAGEN GTI'S, JETTAS AND GULFS BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1993-1998. IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE DRIVER. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT SAFE NOR RELIABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118637April 28, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I OWN A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. I WAS AT AFULL STOP ON AN INTERSECTION MAKING A RIGHT TURN, AND AS SOON I TURNED,MY PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG AND SEAT AIRBAG EXPLODED. THEY DID NOT EVEN DO WHAT IT SUPPOSE TO DO, THE AIRBAGS JUST EXPLODED! I TOOK IT TO HAMMER LANE VOLKSWAGEN HERE IN STOCKTON BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY FOUND A SMALL DENT UNDER MY CAR. THEY WERE TRYING TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS THE CAUSE WHY THEY DEPLOYED. THEY WERE TELLING ME THAT I RAN OVER SOMETHING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT 107 COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA ON 2001-2003 GOLF, GTI, AND JETTA THAT SIDE-IMPACT AIRBAGS WERE ACTIVITED IMPROPERLY. I PRINTED THAT PAGE, SHOWED IT TO THEM AND ASKED THEM FOR AN EXPLAINATION, BUT COULD NOT GIVE ME ANY SPECIFIC ANSWER THAT I NEED. I WAS ALSO ASKING FOR AN EXPLAINATION WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I RAN OVER SOMETHING ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO BEFORE THE INCIDENT, ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHICH CAUSED A BIG DENT UNDERNEATH? THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. THEY ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME ABOUT $4,000.00 FOR THE DAMAGE AND LABOR. THEY SUGGESTED TO JUST CALL MY INSURANCE "MAYBE " THEY WILL PAY FOR THE DAMAGE. I HOPE THIS WON'T HAPPEN TO THOSE PEOPLE WHOSE DRIVING THESE CARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME READING MY COMPLAINT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118214April 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NO PROBLEMS UNTIL MAY 2002. CAR STALLED, RAN ROUGH, FELT LIKE IT WAS GETTING NO GAS, THEN WOULD SURGE, THEN STALL. VW IN CHARLESTON, SC, HAS HAD CAR DOZEN PLUS TIMES, AND NEVER FOUND PROBLEM. MECHANIC CHECKED FUEL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CODES PRESENTED, WENT THROUGH TECHNICAL MANUALS. ALSO MANY ELECTRICAL PARTS, I.E., DISTRIBUTOR, FUEL PUMP, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, ECG, ETC., WERE REPLACED. CAR HAS BEEN TOTALLY UNRELIABLE SINCE THAT POINT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO DIE OUT. HAPPENED TO US ON I-95; 18-WHEELER HAD TO SWERVE TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. CAR NOW SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. FROM WHAT I CAN FIND ON THE INTERNET, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115871March 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE SERVICED AT CONSUMER'S COST. ALSO, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112741March 8, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I WANT TO REPORT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT REGARDING THE CLUTCH ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN GTI GLX. THE CAR HAS ONLY 34,000 MILES ON IT AND THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALREADY. I HAVE DRIVEN A STANDARD TRANSMISSION FOR NEARLY 9 YEARS. VW SAYS THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED EARLY DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. TYPICALLY CLUTCHES LAST AROUND 100,000 MILES. MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE HAD 110,000 MILES ON THE SAME CLUTCH. SO I DON'T BELIEVE WEAR AND TEAR IS THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, SINCE VW IS CLASSIFYING THE FAULT AS WEAR AND TEAR, THEY ARE HOLDING ME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $2000 REPAIR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS FAIR. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AS WELL. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD IF IT IS NOT CAUGHT EARLY AND THE BREAKDOWN OCCURS WHILE IN MOTION. ONE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF DANGER IF NECESSARY AND WOULD EXPOSE HIM OR HERSELF TO UNNECESSARY RISKS OF BEING BROKEN DOWN IN RUSH HOUR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111449March 8, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM WHICH BROKE WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BODY. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THAT OWNER TO CONTACT THE DEALER , AND WAIT TO SEE WHAT THERE RESPONSE WILL BE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD POP WHEN PULLING FROM A STOP LIGHT. THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT AND NOTICED THE BODY AROUND THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM BUSHING HAD CRACKED. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112594March 6, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
A RECALL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR MY SON'S AUTOMOBILE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY IF THE DEFECT HAD BEEN ADDRESSED IN A PRIOR REPAIR FOR A PRIOR OWNER. THE RECALL NUMBER IS "92V050000" . NO INCIDENT HAS OCCURED YET. I AM TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS BEFORE IT BECOMES A PROBEM. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112158February 25, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CLUTCH SLOWLY STARTED TO SLIP WHEN TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WOULD REV AT VERY HIGH RPMS WITH VERY LITTLE FORWARD MOVEMENT IN THE CAR. AFTER MUCH READING, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. MY CAR ONLY HAD 26,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS A DAILY COMMUTER DRIVEN MOSTLY ON THE FREEWAY WHICH SHOULD MEAN VERY LITTLE CLUTCH WEAR. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO REPLACE IT WITH A MORE "STURDY" CLUTCH MADE OF CERAMIC SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY ALREADY. APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS AFTER THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED THE SUDDENLY STUCK IN FIRST GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN, THEY DETERMINED IT WAS MOST LIKELY THE TRANSMISSION, ONCE THEY PULLED IT APART THEY SAID THE CLUTCH WAS BAD AGAIN. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE DESIGN OF THE CAR IS CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS, NOT MY DRIVING OR NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR". *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111254February 9, 2005
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND STRUCK A POT HOLE AND SIDE DOOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED, AND SEAT RECLINER BROKE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1

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