Volkswagen GTI Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10779932October 5, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE (31,000) VEHICLE. UNEXPECTED, COMPLETE FAILURE OF RADIO, CD, NAVIGATION SYSTEM, BLUETOOTH HANDS-FREE COMMUNICATION... EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. VW DEALER CHECK FUSES AND RADIO FUSE AND SAID THAT THEY WERE OK. RADIO AND ALL FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RADIO DEAD AND NOT WORKING. WILL NOT TURN ON. WHY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE? BECAUSE OF THE HANDS-FREE, BLUETOOTH PHONE CAPABILITIES NO LONGER WORK. VERY DANGEROUS. PLUS NAVIGATION DOESN'T WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778922October 1, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON ALL TOGETHER. THE ABS MODULE IS FAILING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH MANY 2009 GTI'S. THE BAD MODULE ALSO MAKES POWER STEERING GO OUT, AS WELL AS THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER NOT WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778216September 28, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. "ESP" LIGHT ON SOLID, "ABS" LIGHT ON SOLID AND "HANDBRAKE" LIGHT FLASHING. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND LIGHTS DISAPPEARED. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. THE PROBLEMS STEMS FROM A FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE WHERE REPAIRS COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. WHEN THIS PART FAILS THE VEHICLE HAS NO ABILITY TO USE ABS SYSTEM OR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY SYSTEM WITH IN THE CAR. THE NUMBER OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE WITH THE PART USED WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10777895September 27, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN BRAKING HARD TODAY (IT WAS RAINING AND I GOT CUT OFF BY A DISTRACTED DRIVER) MY CAR WENT INTO A (BARELY) CONTROLLED SKID. ABS, ESP. STEERING WHEEL LIGHTS ALL FLASHING WITH THREE BEEPS. THE LIGHTS WENT AWAY WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF/ON. MY WIFE IS 7 MONTHS PREGNANT, AND WAS WITH ME IN THE CAR. I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH WHAT I'M READING ONLINE REGARDING THE SHEER VOLUME OF OTHERS EXPERIENCING COMPLETE ABS FAILURE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF VW DOESN'T RECALL THE MALFUNCTIONING CONTROL MODULE. I'VE BOOKED MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE NEXT WEEK. I TRULY HOPE VW STEPS UP AND FINALLY ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS LIFE-SAVING REPAIR. PS I'M IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (VICTORIA).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10776477September 24, 2015
AIR BAGS
TODAY, WHILE BUYING A NEW CAR I WAS INFORMED OF AN OPEN PENDING RECALL ON THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING. I HAVE HAD NO NOTIFICATION ON THIS AND, AS A RESULT I LOST ABOUT $2000 ON MY TRADE-IN. AREN'T COMPANIES REQUIRED TO RESOLVE ISSUES QUICKLY? I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PART AFFECTS RELEASE OF THE AIR BAG AND THEREFORE COULD BE SERIOUS. I BELIEVE VW SHOULD COMPENSATE ME FOR AT LEAST PART OF THE LOST VALUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10767558September 22, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE AND THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10766672September 21, 2015
SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, WHEELS
THE DEALERSHIP LEFT THE SHIPPING BLOCKS/PUCKS/DISCS ON THE STRUTS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS EVIDENCED THROUGH MANY ONLINE FORUMS. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANY OTHERS CLAIM THAT THIS DOES NOT CAUSE A PROBLEM; HOWEVER, THE BLOCKS PREVENT THE SUSPENSION FROM DOING ITS JOB, WHICH IS ABSORBING IMPACT, IMPROVING BRAKING, AND HELPING THE WHEELS MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. I DROVE OVER 18000 MILES NOT REALIZING THAT THEY WERE ON (I JUST THOUGHT I HAVE A TIGHT SUSPENSION). I HAVE NOW LOST 4 TIRES (PREMATURE WEAR AND BUBBLES/PUNCTURES) AND HAVE DAMAGE TO THE STRUT AND STEERING KNUCKLE. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS MISTAKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749239August 17, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID OVER ICE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING A RAMP, THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE HEADLINER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10749131August 17, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI - ABS CONTROL MODULE OR PUMP FAILURE. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, SEVERAL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING "BRAKE" AND "ABS", AS WELL AS BEING ACCOMPANIED BY BEEPING. THE ABS SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ACTIVE AS SOON AS THIS HAPPENED. ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON, THE LIGHTS WERE GONE AND ABS WAS ACTIVE. NOW, IN ANY INCLEMENT WEATHER, THIS HAPPENS AND IMMEDIATELY DISABLES THE ABS, WHICH IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT CURRENTLY ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10748679August 14, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH HAD INTERMITTENTLY APPEARED ON SEVERAL OCCASION OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON UNTIL I TURNED THE CAR OFF. ONCE RESTARTED THE LIGHTS WOULD BE OFF. ON 12-AUG-15 THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. THEY REMAINED ON AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. THREE WARNING BEEPS WERE THEN HEARD AT SEVERAL MINUTE INTERVALS UNTIL I REACH MY DESTINATION. OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BRIEFLY THEN WENT OUT. I WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. BASED ON AN INTERNET SEARCH I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2009 VW GTI.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10748708August 14, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
UPON BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME OFF RESULTING IN MY ALMOST REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746220August 4, 2015
STEERING
PREMATURE FAILURE OF ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING RACK. STEERING RACK SHOWING SIGNS OF WEAR AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT WITHIN 5 YRS OF PURCHASE DATE AND NEAR 50,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10743484July 25, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 08 GTI WITH THE FSI MOTOR, I WAS SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR COMMON ISSUES TO WATCH OUT FOR. THE CAM FOLLOWER WHICH SITS BETWEEN THE CAMSHAFT AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS SEEN MULTIPLE TIMES ONLINE AS AN ISSUE DUE TO WEARING THROUGH ALLOWING THE CAM SHAFT TO INTERACT WITH THE PUMP. I ASKED A VW DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT EARLIER MODELS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT 2008 WAS NOT DUE TO THE PROBLEM BEING FIXED BY THE FACTORY FOR THIS YEAR. I DECIDED TO CHECK ANYWAY AND FOUND THAT THE FOLLOWER WAS COMPLETELY WORN THROUGH ALLOWING THE CAM SHAFT TO INTERACT WITH THE PUMP. THIS WAS AT 56K MILES. WHEN I RETURNED TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS SHOWS THAT THE PROBLEM WASN'T SOLVED, AND WHILE EARLIER MODELS ARE COVERED FOR THEIR DAMAGE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS IN MY ENGINE, OR OTHER ISSUES I'LL BE FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I AM NOW REPLACING THE FOLLOWER MYSELF EVERY 15K JUST TO BE SURE, BUT THE FACT THAT ONE YEAR ISN'T COVERED IS NOT RIGHT. SINCE THE ISSUE PERSISTS THEY SHOULD COVER IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10736006July 23, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN THE FIRST INCIDENT DATED 1/27/2014, THE BLADE HOLDER BROKE OFF THE IGNITION KEY. MY VW DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION KEY UNDER WARRANTY. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT DATED 7/23/2015 (62800 MILES), THE KEY BLADE HOLDER BROKE OFF AGAIN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. OBVIOUSLY, THE KEY BLADE REMAINED INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHILE THE REMOTE PART OF THE KEY FELL OFF. I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME SO I COULD DRIVE BACK AND EXTRACT THE KEY BLADE EASILY WITH NOSE PLIERS. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED I HAVE TO TALK TO VW AMERICA FOR A KEY REPLACEMENT. I WAS HINTED THAT OTHER OWNERS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE THE STEEL USED FOR THE BLADE HOLDER (IT'S LIKE A CASING) IS BRITTLE AND FATIGUES ABNORMALLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10736011July 23, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE STARTED SHAKING / RUNNING ROUGH. SIGNIFICANT POWER LOSS DURING ACCELERATION / TAKEOFF. I WAS NOT FAR FROM THE DEALER WHEN IT HAPPENED - I DROVE IT IN RIGHT AWAY AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS BAD IGNITION COIL. SINCE THEN, OVER THE NEXT 6 MONTHS, I REPLACED (ON MY OWN) THE REMAINING 3 IGNITION COILS AS THE ORIGINALS WOULD FAIL. IT COSTS ~$18 TO BUY A NEW IGNITION COIL (VERSUS $50 FROM THE DEALER). HOWEVER, I WAS DRIVING WITH SPARE COILS IN THE TRUNK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10733880July 14, 2015
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
THE CAR SPUTTERED, SHOOK, AND MADE AN AWFUL SOUND SIMILAR TO A TON OF MARBLES IN A DRIER MACHINE. THE TIMING CHAIN WENT AT ROUGHLY 82,000 MILES. ACCORDING TO VW LITERATURE THEY STATED THAT THE REASON THEY WENT BACK TO A TIMING CHAIN IS THAT IT IS A LIFETIME, NONSERVICEABLE PART. THE TIMING CHAIN GOING ON AN INTERFERENCE TYPE ENGINE DESTROYED MY ENGINE TO THE ORDER OF ALMOST $4000. VW DID NOT WANT TO ASSIST WITH ANYTHING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10732055July 6, 2015
ENGINE
HAD CAR FOR NOT EVEN TWO YEARS AND BEEN THROUGH TWO WATER PUMPS THAT HAVE WENT FOR NO REASON AT ALL. THE DEALER WHEN ASKED AM I THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THE ANSWER HAS BEEN ONLY ONE OTHER PERSON HAD THIS ISSUE BUT I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS BEEN BACK FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR FAULTY WATER PUMPS AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730845June 28, 2015
SEAT BELTS
WHEN BUCKLING THE DRIVERSIDE SEATBELT BEFORE BACKING UP, IT WOULD NOT LATCH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726886June 23, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
AS I AM DRIVING OR ACCELERATING, NOT BRAKING OR OTHERWISE SLOWING DOWN, I GET A WARNING BEEP AND THEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE 'BRAKE' LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD STARTS FLASHING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. THE LIGHTS GO OFF WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. WHEN I REPORTED THE SECOND INCIDENT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPORTED THAT THE ABS MODULE IS FAILING AND THAT LACK OF REPAIR COULD CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK OR OTHERWISE FAIL IN THE CASE OF A SHARP OR SEVERE STOP. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE IS ENDEMIC AMONG 2009 VWS, PARTICULARLY GTIS AND THERE ARE KNOWN INSTANCES OF CRASHES AS A RESULT OF BRAKE FAILURE. VW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PART (MADE BY BOSCH) AND THEY HAVE IN SOME CASES REPLACED THE PART AT NO COST TO THE OWNER, BUT THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION/ADMISSION FROM THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE ISSUE EVEN EXISTS! I HAVE A FILED A COMPLAINT ONLINE WITH VW DIRECTLY AND HOPE THAT THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT IN THIS CASE--THAT IT WILL BE COVERED AND THAT THERE WILL BE SOME PUBLIC MENTION OF THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725256June 15, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ONE OR MORE OF THE BREAKS LOCKED UP ON THE CAR. THE ABS, EPC, TRACTION CONTROL, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER LIGHTS ON THE CAR LIT UP AND BEGAN FLASHING. THE CAR'S SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GUAGE STOPPED WORKING. AFTER THE CAR WAS RESTARTED MOST OF THE ERRORS WENT AWAY BUT HAVE SINCE REAPPEARED. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF POSTS I'M FINDING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 09'S.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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