Volkswagen GTI Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10871123May 27, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI AND MY ABS LIGHTS ARE ON AS WELL AS ENGINE WORKSHOP FAULT, THREE BEEPS, CHECK ENGINE, EPC AND TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED UPON ASAP. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10865854May 19, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
I ENCOUNTERED A CLOSE RED LIGHT AND BRAKED HARD ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE ABS FROM 35 MPH IN DRY ROAD CONDITIONS ON A SUBURBAN HIGHWAY. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND APPLIED GAS AFTER THE GREEN LIGHT, THE CAR BEGAN TO TRAVEL BACKWARDS! I BRAKED AGAIN AND FOUND THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER HAD GONE INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. I BELIEVE THE BRAKING DECELERATION CAUSED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO TRAVEL FORWARD AGAINST ANY MECHANICAL RESTRAINT AND COME TO REST IN THE REVERSE SETTING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10861973April 28, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICEL DAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10855107April 12, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY ABS PUMP & MODULE WERE DETERMINED TO NEED REPLACEMENT. SEARCHING ONLINE, IT SEEMS A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE 2009 MODEL ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. I WAS QUOTED AT $2200 TO FIX IT. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET TO A RESTAURANT AFTER MY WEDDING AND THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. DAYS LATER THE CAR STARTED TO REV WEIRD AND THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854197April 7, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
JUST LAST WEEK MY GTI STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND SOON REALIZED MOST 2009 GTIS EVENTUALLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR ABS CONTROL MODULES. SOLID ABS, SOLID POWER STEERING LIGHT, SOLID CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SOLID TRACTION CONTROL, AND FLASHING "BRAKE" LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OCCASIONALLY UPON TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, ACCOMPANIED BY 3 AUDIBLE BEEPS. THEN, THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, EPC, STEERING, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON WHILE DRIVING. ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL STAY ILLUMINATED, WHILE THE EPC, STEERING, CHECK ENGINE, AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, ACCOMPANIED BY 3 AUDIBLE BEEPS. THE MESSAGE "ENGINE FAULT - WORKSHOP!" ALSO SHOWS UP ON THE MESSAGE DISPLAY CENTER IN THE DASH. STEERING FEELS A BIT STIFF. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE.
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
#10853599April 5, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, SOLID ABS, SOLID TRACTION CONTROL, AND FLASHING "BRAKE" LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OCCASIONALLY UPON TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, ACCOMPANIED BY 3 AUDIBLE BEEPS. THEN, THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, EPC, STEERING, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON WHILE DRIVING. ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL STAY ILLUMINATED, WHILE THE EPC, STEERING, CHECK ENGINE, AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, ACCOMPANIED BY 3 AUDIBLE BEEPS. THE MESSAGE "ENGINE FAULT - WORKSHOP!" ALSO SHOWS UP ON THE MESSAGE DISPLAY CENTER IN THE DASH. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL REPEATEDLY ALTERNATE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL SPEED READING AND A READING OF 0 MPH. WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER DROPS TO 0 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASE. FINALLY, THE CAR SPUTTERS AND BUCKS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY, AND STEERING FEELS A BIT STIFF. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852395March 30, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'VE RECENTLY HAD FREQUENT HEADLIGHT BULB FAILURES AND OTHER HEADLIGHT RELATED ISSUES DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR. PRIOR TO INSTALLING ANOTHER EXPENSIVE NEW BULB I DID SOME INVESTIGATION INTO THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING AND I WAS COMPLETELY STUNNED AND CONCERNED AT WHAT I FOUND. THE WIRING INSULATION/COVERING IS MISSING ON THE MAJORITY OF THE WIRES. ESPECIALLY AT THE MAIN CONNECTOR WHERE THE COVERING ON ALL WIRES IS MISSING. THE MAJORITY, APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE WIRES ARE BARE. ANY WIRE INSULATION REMAINING IS CRACKED AND FRAIL. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLES WIRING AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS ISSUE TO CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT OF THE CAR. THERE IS NO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AS AN OWNER THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM HAPPENING. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE (103,257) OF THE VEHICLE THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE AN ENGINEERING FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE INSULATION TO THE WIRING IN AN ENVIRONMENT PRONE TO HEAT AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A FORMAL INQUIRY OF OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE INDICATOR ON THE DASH CAME AS I STARTED THE CAR AND I VERIFIED THE LIGHT WAS OUT. THE WIRING ISSUE WAS FOUND WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY DURING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BULB.
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
#10850389March 18, 2016
AIR BAGS
I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH VW OF AMERICA, AND THE DEALERSHIP MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM. BUT YESTERDAY 03/17/2016 AT APPROX 420AM MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE GTI TO WORK. IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. A TXDOT LIGHT POLE FELL ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY HUSBAND HAD NO TIME TO STOP UNTIL HE WAS JUST ABOUT TO HIT IT. AFTER HITTING THE LIGHT POLE HE WENT AIR BORN, LANDED ON ALL 4 TIRES AND FISH TAILED. AFTER HE TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT FLIPPED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ROLLED TO THE ROOF, WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IT WAS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. HE WAS GOING ABOUT 30-40 MPH IF THAT. WHAT BLOWS MY MIND IS THE MINUTE THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AND LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH CRUSHED THE DOORS AND FRAME NEAR WINDSHIELD. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. NOT SIDE, NOT FRONT. NOTHING. HE WALKED AWAY AFTER CRAWLING OUT THE SUNROOF. BUT HIS HANDS ARE CUT UP AND HE IS EXTREMELY SORE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. AND MIND YOU THE RADIATOR AND INTERCOOLER FELL OUT AFTER HE HIT THE POLE AND LANDED!!!!!!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
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
#10845772March 9, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DURING RAIN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHICH TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED, IT WOULD DELAY IN RETURNING TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS BRAKE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10845565March 8, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, SOLID ABS, SOLID TRACTION CONTROL, AND FLASHING "BRAKE" LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OCCASIONALLY UPON TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, ACCOMPANIED BY 3 AUDIBLE BEEPS. THEN, THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, EPC, STEERING, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON WHILE DRIVING. ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL STAY ILLUMINATED, WHILE THE EPC, STEERING, CHECK ENGINE, AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, ACCOMPANIED BY 3 AUDIBLE BEEPS. THE MESSAGE "ENGINE FAULT - WORKSHOP!" ALSO SHOWS UP ON THE MESSAGE DISPLAY CENTER IN THE DASH. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL REPEATEDLY ALTERNATE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL SPEED READING AND A READING OF 0 MPH. WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER DROPS TO 0 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASE. FINALLY, THE CAR SPUTTERS AND BUCKS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY, AND STEERING FEELS A BIT STIFF. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839805March 4, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS MODULES ARE FAILING ON 2009 GTI'S AND POSSIBLY MORE YEARS. ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ESP LIGHTS UP AND STAYS ON FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE, AND THE CAR HAS NO TRACTION CONTROL OR ABS. ITS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT HAPPENS WHILE TURNING OR BRAKING, AND HALFWAY THROUGH THE BRAKES LOCK UP SENDING THE CAR INTO A TWIRL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839958March 4, 2016
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO MAKE NOISE OCCASIONALLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN APRIL OF 2014. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839381March 2, 2016
WHEELS
THE TPMS SYSTEM FAILED TO WARN OF LOW PRESSURES, INCLUDING FLAT TIRES AND DRIVING ON A SPARE. TPMS FAILURES SHOULD "FAILSAFE" AND NOT FAIL SILENTLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10823372February 1, 2016
ENGINE
SECONDARY AIR INJECTION HOSE FOUND TAPED AFTER VW WARRANTY EXPIRED. HAD TAKEN CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES TO THE WOODLAND HILLS VW DEALERSHIP AFTER THE UPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED TO NO AVAIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10820953January 19, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE ABS PUMP AND MODULE DIED ON MY '09 VW GTI AT JUST OVER 50000 MILES. WHEN ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL IS CALLED UPON, THE SYSTEMS FAIL, CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL. IN MY CASE, IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I HIT A SNOWY OR ICY PATCH WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THE ABS, ESP, AND BRAKING INDICATOR ALL LIGHT UP ON THE DASHBOARD WITH THE BRAKING LIGHT FLASHING AND DINGING. ALL MAINTENANCE WAS CURRENT ON MY CAR. I WAS NOT DRIVING EXCESSIVELY WHEN THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED. VW WANTS OVER $2100 TO FIX THE ISSUE. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DENIES THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE '09 GTI ABS SYSTEM, DESPITE NUMEROUS REPORTS ACROSS THE INTERNET, AND HAS REFUSED MY REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CORRECT A PROBLEM THEY SAY MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE TO OPERATE.
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
#10820125January 14, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS MODULE IS GOING OUT, CAUSING THE TRACTION CONTROL TO TURN OFF , ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON, ASSISTED STEERING TO TURN OFF AND ABS TO TURN OFF. IT IS ALL INTERMEDIATE TURING OFF AN ON. THESE WILL ALL TURN ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AND OR PARKED. HIGHWAY OR IN TOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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