Volkswagen GTI Complaints (2011)

55 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#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
#11022247September 8, 2017
POWER TRAIN
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME SUDDENLY CAME ON. ENGINE HAD A HARD TIME STARTING. THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE ROUGHNESS TO THE MOTOR WHILE RUNNING. BROUGHT IT TO THE MECHANIC THE FOLLOWING DAY AND FOUND MANY CODES WERE UP. DIAGNOSIS IS BROKEN TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. RESULTING IN AN. ENGINE FAILURE . MECHANIC SAID IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. ODOMETER IS ONLY 76K
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11015007August 14, 2017
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE. STARTED THE CAR ONE MORNING AND RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH AND WOULDN'T STAY RUNNING. DEALER WANTS %6000 TO REBUILD ENGINE OR $7000 FOR A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. CAR HAS 80K MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11005451July 15, 2017
POWER TRAIN
(DSG AUTOMATIC) HARSH SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, AND FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. HESITATION FROM A STOP TO GO. CAR FEELS LIKE IT SHUDDERS OR JERKS FROM A STOP TO GO, AND WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP. DEALER STATES IT'S A FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SAME ISSUES THAT PLAGUED THE LAST GENERATION OF VEHICLES, AND VW WAS FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. DEALER TRIED TO GET VW TO COVER COST OF REPAIR, BUT THEY REFUSED. DEALER WANTS $2500 TO REPAIR. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 47,346 MILES. CURRENTLY DISCUSSING LEGAL ACTION WITH AN ATTORNEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10971449April 8, 2017
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT ROLLER FAILURE. CAME HOME FROM RUNNING A FEW ERRANDS, CAR HAS ABOUT 43K MILES ON IT, AND I NOTICED THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT FULLY. I TRIED TO PULL IT AND GET IT TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY, BUT IT WOULDN'T BUDGE IN OR OUT. AFTER A FEW TRIES, I MANAGED TO GET IT TO RELEASE FULLY, BUT IT STILL WILL NOT RETRACT FULLY. SEEMS LIKE REPLACEMENT OF THE ROLLER IS NEEDED TO REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10896082August 15, 2016
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT APPEAR, NOR DID ANY FAULT CODES. THE DISCOVERED CAUSE WAS AN OIL SCREEN IN THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER BRIDGE THAT CAME APART INSIDE THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO COME OUT OF TIMING. THIS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD, LEADING TO A REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $7400. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF AN HAS ISSUED A REDESIGNED REPLACEMENT PART FOR. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE NOT INFORMED THE OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES OF THE PROBLEM AND THE POTENTIAL DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH IT IF THE PART FAILS. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65-70 MPH IN TRAFFIC, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854218April 7, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR BUCKED AND SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DROVING VEHICLE. WAS DETERMINED IT WAS DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851689March 25, 2016
ENGINE
WHILE ACCELERATING OFF THE RAMP THE CAR STALLED AND STARTED TO SHAKE. IT CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. BESIDES, BEING IMMOBILIZED ON THE SIDE OF THE VERY BUSY HIGHWAY IS DANGEROUS AS WELL. IT TURNED OUT THAT ONE OF THE COILS HAVE FAILED AND CAUSED CAR TO SHAKE AND LOOSE THE POWER. COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR VWS. IN MY CASE THEY WENT AT 54K MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10846153March 11, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE PARKED, IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10821039January 19, 2016
ENGINE
WALKING OUT TO MY VEHICLE IN SUB-FREEZING WEATHER TO RETURN HOME, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT IT MADE A LOUD RATTLE AND DIED QUICKLY. THIS SAME SITUATION OCCURRED ON SUBSEQUENT IGNITION CYCLES ALL WITH THE SAME RESULT. VW HAS RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN PERTAINING TO THIS COMMON ISSUE WHICH IS TO CHECK THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. WHEN THIS TENSIONER FAILS IT CAN RENDER THE ENGINE USELESS. I HAVE REMOVED THE TIMING CHAIN COVER AND THE TENSIONER HAS FAILED AND DOES NOT HOLD TENSION TO THE CHAIN. VW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS ISSUE IN CUSTOMER VEHICLES AS IT IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO REPAIR OR AID IN REPAIRING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819196January 10, 2016
ENGINE, SUSPENSION
I'VE HAD QUITE A FEW PARTS ON THIS CAR REPLACED. 2 DEFECTIVE WATER PUMPS, 2 DEFECTIVE CLUTCHES, 1 FLYWHEEL, 1 TURBO OIL LINE, DOOR SEALS AND VARIOUS ELECTRONIC SWITCHES. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN THE DEALERSHIP DUE A BLOWN UPPER TIMING BELT COVER GASKET, A LOWER TIMING BELT COVER GASKET AND A SUSPECTED FAULTY OIL PAN GASKET AS WELL. ALL 3 SEALS SEEM TO HAVE SUDDENLY FAILED AT THE SAME TIME AND YET VW DOES NOT WANT TO REPLACE THESE UNDER THE FACTORY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THE OTHER REASON MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP IS FOR "STRETCHED" SUB-FRAME BOLTS. ACCORDING TO VW IT IS PERFECTLY NORMAL FOR THE BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE SUB-FRAME TO THE CAR FOR THESE BOLTS TO STRETCH WITH TIME AND CAUSE THE SUBFRAME TO SHIFT AROUND. THERE ARE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE CC, PASSAT AND VARIOUS AUDI MODELS TO HAVE THESE BOLTS REPLACED WHEN A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS AND YET GTI, GOLF AND JETTA DO NOT HAVE TSB AND THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE 400$ TO REPLACE THESE BOLTS... AGAIN ITEM NOT UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10811803December 22, 2015
POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH MAKES A LOUD METALLIC GROANING SOUND WHEN ENGAGING FIRST GEAR OR REVERSE. LOUDEST ON COLD DAYS AND WHEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVERY DAY. HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE PAST YEAR. MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND VW HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THIS ISSUE IS DUE TO A FAULTY CLUTCH ASSEMBLY/THROWOUT BEARING AND HAVE ISSUED A REDESIGNED PART TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY ARE STILL VERY INCONSISTENT IN COVERING THE COST OF REPLACEMENT FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10810589December 15, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERMITTENT, PARTIAL OR FULL LOSS OF OF EXTERIOR LIGHTING. WARNING LAMP INSIDE DID PROVIDE THE NAMES OF MULTIPLE, RANDOM LIGHTS THAT HAD FAILED, SOMETIMES ACCURATE, OTHER TIMES INACCURATE. LIGHTS WOULD FAIL AT RANDOM WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. FUSE F16 OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE FUSE BOX EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V569000, AND VW SAFETY RECALL 97Z9. VOLKSWAGEN ASSURED ME THE PARTS ARE NOT RELATED AND THAT THE TIGUAN RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT MY MODEL, BUT COME ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722036May 28, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662178December 4, 2014
ENGINE
VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN SPUTTERING, AND STRUGGLING TO MAKE POWER AFTER BEING STARTED AND DRIVEN DOWN A STREET AT LOW SPEEDS. ECM AND ECU BOTH THREW CODES PERTAINING TO A CYLINDER MISFIRE. REPLACED SPARKPLUGS. MISFIRE REMAINED. IDENTIFIED AS IGNITION COIL PACK, WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE ON THIS MODEL. PREVIOUS GENERATIONS OF THE SAME CAR REPORT RECALL NOTICES. THIS GENERATION UNFORTUNATELY MISSED THE RECALL SO FAR, AND HAS SEVERAL THREADS ON NOTED FORUMS PERTAINING TO OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AS WELL WITH THE FAULTY COIL PACKS. VWOA ALLUDED TO BEING AWARE OF THE ISSUE WHEN CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT OFFER FULL COMPENSATION. VEHICLE IS OUT OF BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. NOT COVERED AS "ENGINE COMPONENT" UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen GTI