Volkswagen GTI Complaints (2003)

53 consumer complaints on file.

#10202995September 14, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197565July 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
(1) CAR ENGINE OVERHEATED WITH AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ON WITH 35K MILES (4 YEAR OLD CAR). (2) DEALER REPAIR SERVICE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED BOTH AUXILARY FANS (290" AND 345") FAILED TO SPIN AT LOW SPEEDS AND OPERATE ONLY AT HIGH SPEEDS CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT WHEN CAR IS BETWEEN 0 TO 30 MPH. DEALER DIRECTED CONSUMER PARTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY (4 YEARS, 50,000 MILES) AND CONSIDERED ELECTRICAL PARTS AND TO REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE ($918). CORPORATE OFFICE EVENTUALLY COVERED PART AND CONSUMER COVERED LABOR EXPENSES. SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAVE OCCURED WITH THE CAR INCLUDING BULB REPLACEMENTS ON A/C CONSOLE, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND BATTERY FAILURE AFTER 4 YEARS POINTING TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL DESIGN OR INTEGRATION FLAW. (3) FANS WERE REPLACED AND PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190955May 16, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A POTHOLE AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE EMULATED A CRASH AND ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185788March 21, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:BELL HOUSING, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE), POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF CLUTCH HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ON 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD TO MOVE IT BACK UP WITH MY HAND. I THEN DEPRESSED IT AGAIN WITH MY FOOT AND THE SAME RESULTS. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON VW ENTHUSIAST WEB SITES SEEING IT''S A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION .FROM THAT CONCLUSION I FIGURED IT WAS EITHER THE MASTER CYLINDER OR SLAVE CYLINDER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DISCOVER A BAD SLAVE CYLINDER. OBVIOUSLY IT IS A TREND AND A COSTLY ONE AT THAT. SINCE THE SLAVE CYLINDER IS LOCATED IN THE BELL HOUSING, IT LEAKED HYDRAULIC FLUID ALL OVER MY CLUTCH. SO NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE A PERFECTLY GOOD CLUTCH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175984December 12, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT DOWN INTERSTATE 5 IN WASHINGTON, ADHERING TO THE SPEED LIMIT. WHEN MY PASSENGER CURTAIN AIRBAG AND SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT IS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. MY FRIEND SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS BRUISED UP RATHER NEATLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10169756October 2, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAULTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166555August 25, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THE CLUTCH FAILED ON MY '03 VW GTI AFTER ONLY 48,000 MILES LEADING TO AN $1,800 REPAIR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY, THE CLUTCH IS NOT COVERED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155885April 22, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I HAVE TAKEN MY '03 GTI VR6 TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT. WHEN IT IS RAINING, THERE IS A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM EACH TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THEM. THEY SAID THAT IT COULD BE THE BELT BUT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I REPLACED THE BELT MYSELF AND I STILL GET THE SQUEALING NOISE, EVEN WITH BELT DRESSING. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED A DECREASE IN ENGINE POWER WHEN THE SQUEALING NOISE IS OCCURRING. MY MOST RECENT PROBLEM NOW IS MY SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THE SPEEDO WILL BE READING MY CURRENT SPEED AND THEN DROP TO ZERO, BOUNCE BACK UP AND BACK DOWN TO ZERO, UP A LITTLE BIT MORE AND THEN STAY AT ZERO UNTIL THE NEXT TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. SEEMS TO DO THIS ONLY ON TRIPS GREATER THAN 20 MINUTES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141965November 7, 2005
POWER 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
#10141578November 2, 2005
AIR 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
#10128283July 11, 2005
AIR 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
#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
#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
#10104208December 21, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
AS I WAS GETTING INTO MY CAR AT NIGHT (2003 VW GTI) I NOTICED IT WAS VERY COLD. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TRY TO TURN THE CAR ON BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT GIVE, THEN TO NO AVAIL I NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. ROADSIDE ASSITANCE THROUGH VW WAS CONTACTED AND STATED UNFORTUNATLY UNDER THE EXTREME COLD AND DUE TO IT BEING SO LATE AT NIGHT THEY COULD NOT CONTACT A TOW TO ASSIST ME . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102562December 10, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI VR6 WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A SUV AND AS A RESULT WAS TOTALED THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. IT SEEMS THERE MAY BE MORE FAULTY AIG BAGS OUT THERE IN THE 2003 YEAR MODEL GTI'S. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. PEOPLE, YOU'RE SAFETY IS AT RISK.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10102461December 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
REAR BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. DEALER COULD FIND NO FAULT CODES OR PROBLEM. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THERE, THEY JUST COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. VW CUSTOMER CARE- DOESN'T CARE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103469December 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH, BUT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DID DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. THE CONSUMER REFUSED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED T BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10102480December 9, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE WAS A FRONT END COLLISION, IN WHICH MY CAR WAS IN A FRONT IMPACT ACCIDENT WITH A SUV. MY CAR IS A LITTLE 2 DOOR VW GTI VR6 2003. THE SUV WAS A HONDA PILOT. THE FAILURE WAS THAT MY CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND BY THE BODY SHOP MY CAR WAS TOWED TO AND THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WENT OFF, BUT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON AND MY AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT MY NECK AND BACK HURT DAILY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE THAT I KNOW OF TO THIS DAY TO CORRECT THE ACTION. I WOULD SUGGEST LOOKING AT THE ENGINEERING OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM DEALING WITH THE AIR BAG.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10096314October 24, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED. FIRST TIME AT 4500 MILES IN DECEMBER 2003. VW DEALERSHIP REPLACED CLUTCH. CLUTCH ASSEMPLY AGAIN BECAME SPONGY AND RPMS INCREASED TO DANGEROUS LEVELS. VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA REFUSED TO REPAIR MALFUNCTUION IN EQUIPMENT. MANY SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOPS ARE SAYING THIS IS CAUSED BY THE DUAL MASS FLY WHEEL STICKING OPEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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