Volkswagen GTI Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10725253June 15, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WAS DRIVING ALONG WITH TRAFFIC AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THE ENGINE RPMS JUMPED AND THERE WAS A MASSIVE LOSS IN SPEED AND POWER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR. PULLED OVER AS SOON AS WAS SAFE. I WAS CONCERNED AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS IN POWER AND SPEED WITH NO FAULT TO THE DRIVER, MYSELF. THE DASH SHOWED "ERROR: TRANSMISSION. REVERSE NOT POSSIBLE." THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR EVALUATION. UPDATED 09/01/2015*LJ UPDATED 10/20/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725005June 12, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES, WHEELS
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 34 FROM GREELEY CO TOWARDS LOVELAND CO AT SPEED LIMIT OF 65. I APPLIED THE BREAKS TO ADJUST MY SPEED FOR TRAFFIC, AS I APPLIED THE BREAKS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED CAUSING WHEELS TO LOCK UP CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. AFTER A MOMENT I WAS IN A DITCH WITH BENT WHEELS AND BODY DAMAGE TO MY GTI FROM THE SPEED LIMIT AND MILE MARKERS SIGNED I STUCK. MOST LIKELY THESE TWO POST WERE PROBABLY WHAT KEPT THE CAR FROM ROLLING AND KILLING ME. POLICE AND INSURANCE HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE CRASH.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722981June 2, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS WARNING LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. THEN A WARNING LIGHT THAT THE RIGHT, REAR TURN SIGNAL HAD FAILED. ONE WEEK LATER THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS COVERED IN WARNING LIGHTS, INCLUDING A "FAULTY ENGINE WORKSHOP" WARNING LIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, LEAVING ME WITH NO ABS BRAKING ON A WELL MAINTAINED, 50K MILE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THE TSI MKV GTI AT THIS MILEAGE. VW OF AMERICA OFFERED ME NO ASSISTANCE. VW SHOULD RECALL THIS PART BEFORE THEY SEE ANY ACCIDENTS LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES.
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
#10721387May 26, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE ABS MODULE FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES ONLINE. THE MODULE WILL FAIL CAUSING ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE LIGHTS TO ALL COME ON. MUCH OF THE DASHBOARD IS LIT NOW. THE CAR READS "ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP" AND THE SPEEDOMETER WILL DROP TO 0 MPH. THE FUEL GAUGE WILL CHANGE FROM EMPTY TO 3/4 TO 1/2 WHILE DRIVING. AUDIBLE BEEPS ARE HEARD FROM DASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717435May 20, 2015
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. VW VOTEX WEB PAGE (FOR VW ENTHUIASTS) LISTS THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A SEAT BELT SENSOR THAT TRIGGERS AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. I HAVE HAD IT RESET THREE TIMES AT 60.00 A SESSION...FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SOME TIME WITH THE LIGHT ON. I HAVE SOME CONCERN THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE WRITTEN VW ABOUT IT AND WAS GIVEN A LAME EXCUSE AND THEN IGNORED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10716470May 14, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715426May 8, 2015
POWER TRAIN
I LIVE IN CT AND WAS VISITING COUSINS IN NJ ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 25, 2014. I TAKE THE EXIT OF THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AND STOP AT THE FIRST LIGHT. I START TO GO AND THEN SEE THAT THE CAR WAS REVVING BUT NOT CHANGING GEARS. I SEE THE PRNDS LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASH SIMULTANEOUSLY NON STOP. I JUST BARELY PULL OFF TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT SINCE THERE WAS NO SHOULDER ON THE 50 MPH ROAD. I STOP THE CAR AND PUT IT IN PARK AND THE CAR DID NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER THAT. THE NEAREST DEALER HAD JUST CLOSED AND THEY SAID TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY! I CALLED MY COUSINS WHO STILL LIVED AN HOUR AWAY TO SEE IF THEY HAD AAA AND LUCKILY THEY DID. I THEN TOWED THE CAR HOME OVER 300 MILES! APPARENTLY THE MECHATRONICS UNIT DIED (THE BRAINS OF THE TRANSMISSION) WITHOUT ANY ERROR CODES OR WARNING. THERE SEEM TO BE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THESE UNITS WITH SOME FAILING WHILE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY!! I GUESS I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF 'LUCKY' THAT IT DIED WHEN IT DID?! VW DEALER CHARGED ME OVER $2400 TO REPLACE IT. WHAT'S EVEN WORSE IS THAT THEY ONLY WARRANT THE NEW PART FOR 12 MONTHS/12,000 MILES SO I GUESS I BETTER NOT TAKE ANY LONG TRIPS WITH THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714388May 4, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE
I PURCHASED MY 2009 GTI FEB 2015 AND THE CARFAX WAS GREAT; HOWEVER, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE RANDOMLY FAILED ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER CAUSING LOSE OF STEERING AND CONTROL, THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND IT WAS VERY SCARY. LOUD WARNING BEEPS WENT OFF AND WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. THE WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED FLASHING UNTIL I TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER LIT AND DROVE IT HOME. I TESTED MY CAR AGAIN MINUTES AFTER ARRIVING HOME. IT SEEMED FINE, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER JUST A MINUTE OF DRIVING IT. I TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER SERVICE CENTER. THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE TO BE THE ABS MODULE. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST IS $2,260. I CALLED VW AND THEY DO NOT COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY CONSIDERING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND THE DANGER THIS MALFUNCTION IMPOSES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705516April 14, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING AT SPEED, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE RANDOMLY FAILS, CAUSING ABS BRAKES TO SKID UNDER HARD BRAKING. LOSE OF STEERING AND CONTROL IS THE RESULT. IN ADDITION THE PARTIAL STEERING IS AFFECTED. THIS IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN, I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAN DOES NOT REPLACE FAULTY UNITS AS THIS CAN CAUSE FATALITIES AND INJURIES. MANY PEOPLE ARE REPLACING THESE UNITS THROUGH NON-CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS, OR DIY. THIS SHOULD BE INSTALLED BY A VW CERTIFIED TECH. NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE A RECALL OR SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIE. THERE ARE SO MANY CASES OF THIS FLOATING AROUND THE INTERNET FORUMS AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR PEOPLE TO FINALLY LISTEN????? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10702866March 31, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON DRY CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY A LOUD WARNING TONE WENT OFF AND 3 WARNING LIGHTS (ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE) STARTED FLASHING. THIS WAS IN HEAVY TWO-WAY TRAFFIC AND IT WAS TERRIFYING TO THINK THESE SYSTEMS HAD FAILED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP SAFELY. THE WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED FLASHING UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER LIT, SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME TYPE OF FLUKE. BUT TO BE SAFE I BROUGHT IT TO MY VW DEALER SERVICE CENTER. INITIALLY THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS THE DSG MECHATRONIC UNIT, WHICH THEY REPLACED. HOWEVER SHORTLY AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK, THE SAME SYMPTOMS OCCURRED AGAIN UNDER NORMAL DRIVING. THIS TIME WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO VW THEY INDICATED THAT THE ABS MODULE AND PUMP NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT THE COST OF $3,600. VW REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. DUE TO THE HIGH COST INITIALLY I POSTPONED THE REPAIR, BUT SINCE THEN THE SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 6 MORE TIMES AND I HAVE READ ABOUT NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE, SO I AM GETTING THE WORK DONE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR. WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED IT HAD ONLY 29,000 MILES AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER AND DRIVEN RESPONSIBLY. EVERY TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED DURING MILD DRIVING CONDITIONS AND I WAS NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES. IT JUST FAILS AT RANDOM. USUALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS THIS OCCURS WHILE TURNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10702691March 30, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WE PURCHASED AND WE WERE SERVICING OUR VW GTI 2010 AT AUTOBARN MT. PROSPECT/IL. IN THE LAST 2 YEARS WE REPLACED ALL IGNITION COILS AT DIFFERENT TIME INTERVALS AND TWICE FOR CYLINDER #2. THERE ARE ACTUALLY MULTIPLE ISSUES HERE. FIRST, THIS KIND OF PROBLEM CAN EASILY GENERATE AN ACCIDENT, IF ONE IGNITION COIL FAILS AT THE WRONG TIME AND THE WRONG PLACE (WHEN PASSING OR DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD). SECOND, THE IGNITION COILS ARE POORLY DESIGNED AND THEY GO BAD WAY TOO FAST MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. COSTLY TOWING WAS REQUIRED ALMOST EVERY TIME. THIRD, THE VW DEALERSHIP SHOULD ADVISE CUSTOMERS TO REPLACE ALL COILS IN THE SAME TIME AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE. INSTEAD THEY CHOOSE TO REPLACE THEM ONE BY ONE, CHARGING BETWEEN $180.00 AND $220.00 EVERY TIME JUST FOR LABOR, WHEN THE PART ITSELF COSTS JUST $32.00 AND THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY FOR THIS TASK IS VERY LOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10691598March 2, 2015
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS MORNING ON THE WAY TO WORK, I EXPERIENCED SHAKING AND HESITATION UPON ACCELERATING. I TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK HOME AND IMMEDIATELY GOT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE NUMBER 2 IGNITION COIL WAS FAILING, WHICH WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THIS LINK: HTTP://WWW.VWPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/IGNITION-COIL/ WHICH SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTS TO CONTACT YOU TO FILE THE COMPLAINT. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 9/30/2011 BRAND NEW. I AM NOT SURE THE LIFE OF THE IGNITION SWITCHES, BUT THE CAR IS TECHNICALLY OUT OF WARRANTY, AND REPAIRS ARE BEING FILED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689703February 20, 2015
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WITHIN SECONDS OF STARTING, THE ENGINE STALLS (MAKING A SPUTTERING SOUND) AND DIES. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ON WARM STARTS, NOT HOT, NOT COLD. I'M TYPICALLY ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR (ONLY A FEW FEET) BEFORE THE STALL OUT OCCURS. THE TEMPERATURE GAGE SEEMS TO BE AROUND THE 11 O' CLOCK MARK WHEN THIS OCCURS. SPECIFICALLY, IT'S HAPPENED AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 20-40 MINUTES, THEN LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR 1-2 HOURS. THE CAR STARTS UP AGAIN AND RUNS ANYWHERE FROM 30 MINUTES TO 1 HOUR AFTER THE INCIDENT - CLOSER TO THE 30 MINUTE MARK, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR SEEMS TO HELP THE CAR FROM STALLING. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE THIS BEHAVIOR, THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE, AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS EITHER NO FAULT CODE GENERATED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR IT IS BEING ERASED PERIODICALLY. THIS HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO HAVE THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY DEALER SERVICE CENTERS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, CONSIDERING IT MAY CAUSE THE CAR TO STOP IN TRAFFIC LEADING TO AN INCREASED RISK OF CRASH. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED REPORT, THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND ON SEVERAL VW FORUMS POSTED ONLINE (THESE ACCOUNTS INCLUDE SEVERAL VIDEOS THAT CONFIRM THIS IS A CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCED PROBLEM). POTENTIAL ISSUES COMMONLY IDENTIFIED INCLUDE THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, OR THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. ANOTHER VW VEHICLE - VW TIGUAN, MODEL YEAR 2007-2014, HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672759January 15, 2015
ENGINE
I WAS TOLD THAT THE IGNITION COIL SHOULD LAST UP UNTIL 100K MILEAGE AND THIS GAVE OUT AT 65K AND CAUSED ENGINE MISFIRING AND ALMOST ENGINE FAILURE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS SIMILAR RECALLS FOR THEIR IGNITION COILS AND I THINK THE 2010 VW GTI SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671470January 9, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
THE VW DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. WHILE DRIVING A CAR WITH A FAILED CONTROL MODULE, THERE A NO SYMPTOMS, BUT IF YOU HIT THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE ABS SYSTEM, THE ABS SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. THE TIRES LOCK, AND THE CAR SLIDES. THEREAFTER, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, BUT POWER CYCLING THE CAR TURNS THE LIGHTS OFF, GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PROBLEM HAS RESOLVED. I WASN'T INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE RISK OF SOMEONE BEING IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF AN ABS FAILURE IS HIGH. YOU WOULD ONLY FIND OUT THE PART HAD FAILED AFTER YOU NEEDED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670411January 6, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CRUISE CONTROL'S ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE BUTTONS OCCASIONALLY PERFORM THE OPPOSITE FUNCTION: PRESSING DECELERATE WILL ACCELERATE THE CAR, PRESSING ACCELERATE WILL DECELERATE THE CAR. THIS ONLY HAPPENS FOR THE FIRST 1-2 BUTTON PRESSES, THEN THE BUTTONS RETURN TO THEIR NORMAL FUNCTION. THIS HAS OCCURRED 6-7 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669505January 1, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
THE VEHICLE SEVERELY WONDERED UNDER HARD BRAKING WITHOUT ANY ALARM BEING TRIGGERED BEFORE THE INCIDENT. ONLY AFTER THE INCIDENT, ABS AND RED BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON. AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE DESIGNED AS A FAIL-SAFE SYSTEM WHICH DOES NOT SEEM GOOD ENGINEERING PRACTICE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668528December 27, 2014
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I REACHED A SPEED OF 55 MPH WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE GUY TOLD ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD GONE BAD. I'VE READ MULTIPLE THREADS ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FACTOR IN 2009 GTI'S IT ALSO SAYS THEY MAY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 10YR/120K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668146December 24, 2014
ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. HARD TO START. HAD IT TOWED TO NORTH PENN VW. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. TWO MANAGERS AND A TECH SAID THE PART FAILED AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE. THEY SAID IT WAS OF NO FAULT OF MY OWN. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT VW SINCE IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. I DID AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HELP ME SINCE IT OUT OF WARRANTY. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON ALL 2010 VW'S. THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED IT AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN(TSB) ADDRESSING THE EXACT PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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