Volkswagen GTI Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE ABS LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT, STEERING WHEEL FAULT WARNING LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING PROMPTING A FAULT DESCRIPTION ON MY CENTER DASH SAYING "FAULT: ABS/ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION CONTROL". FROM MY RESEARCH THIS FAULT WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE 2009 (MK5) GTI WHICH SHARES THE SAME ENGINE, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND DRIVETRAIN AS THE 2010-2014 (MK6). ON THE DIFFERENT VOLKSWAGEN FORUMS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IT IS STILL AN APPARENT FAULT WITH THE CAR WITH HUNDREDS OF INQUIRIES ABOUT HOW TO REPAIR AND FIX THIS PROBLEM ON OUR OWN.

VW HAD A RECALL IN EARLY OCTOBER ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM IN MY CAR. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT AND VW, ON THE TENTH DAY VW RESPONDED AND SENT ONE OF THEIR PEOPLE OUT TO LOOK AT MY CAR. I HAD BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF THE COOLANT LEVEL (I HAVE PICTURES) AND IT HAD GONE DOWN ABOUT AN INCH IN THREE WEEKS TIME. THEY FILLED IT BACK UP AND TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS FINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD TOLD ME THAT THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS PLASTIC AND THE PART OF THE CAR IT RESTS ON IS WARPED SO IT IS LIKE TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR MORE THAN TEN MILES FROM MY HOME. IF THE COOLANT LIGHT GOES OFF YOU HAVE TO STOP AND CANNOT DRIVE ANY FURTHER. I AM ON VACATION NEXT WEEK AND WAS PLANNING ON DRIVE TO VISIT MY PARENTS IN NAPLES, FL AND NOW I CANNOT GO BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THE COOLANT WILL GO BAD AGAIN. MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A GOOD 3-3 1/2 WEEKS AND I MADE MY PAYMENT ANYWAY EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT HAVE USE OF THE CAR DURING THAT TIME. VW IS REFUSING TO ASSIST ANY FURTHER IN THIS MATTER. AS I MENTIONED, I HAVE PICTURES BUT I AM AT WORK AND CANNOT UPLOAD THEM AT THIS TIME. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THOSE PICTURES.

SUBMITTAL TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA 04/08/2014 4:03AM I WOULD LIKE THIS EMAIL TO BE THE BEGINNING OF DOCUMENTATION OF A SERIOUS ISSUE I'M EXPERIENCING WITH THE NEW VW GTI I PURCHASED ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO. SAID ISSUE INVOLVES OCCASIONAL ZERO THROTTLE RESPONSE, WHICH HAS HAPPENED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE DELIVERY. FOR YOUR REFERENCE, THIS MODEL GTI IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. MY COMPLAINT: OCCASIONALLY AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS (APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 20MPH) WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL (EVEN TO THE FLOOR) THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESPOND FOR THREE FULL SECONDS, IN OTHER WORDS, THE ENGINE SPEED INDICATOR (TACHOMETER) SHOWS THE ENGINE SITTING AT IDLE SPEED FOR THE ENTIRE THREE SECONDS. THIS UNWANTED CHARACTERISTIC HAS PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION MORE THAN ONCE OUT OF FOUR EPISODES I'VE EXPERIENCED THUS FAR. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT SOMETHING WHICH MAY INTEREST THE VOLKSWAGEN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM, AND THAT IS, THIS EXACT ISSUE WAS EXPERIENCED, DOCUMENTED AND REPAIRED IN MY 2010 VOLVO C-30 R-DESIGN AUTOMOBILE WHICH I STILL OWN TODAY. I MENTION THIS BECAUSE I WONDER IF THERE'S SOME COMMON ELECTRONICS, SOFTWARE, OR OTHER ENGINE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES BEING USED IN THESE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS DESIGNS. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I AM RETIRED ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORIES DIRECTOR/SUPERVISOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. I'VE HAD MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE BUILDING CUSTOM SHOW WINNING AUTOMOBILES AND NASCAR CLASS ENGINES AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST VOLKSWAGEN IN ANY WAY TO HELP GET THIS ISSUE FULLY RESOLVED. LASTLY AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS ISSUE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHICH NEITHER VW NOR I WOULD WANT TO SEE COMPLICATED IN A RESULTING AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR WORSE. SINCERELY, [XXX] 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TT

DSG automatic transmission started going into neutral at various speeds and driving conditions. It feels as though the clutch disengages momentarily, causing the vehicle to slow down and engine to rev. This is definitely not safe when trying to merge or drive on the highway. This is a know issue with VW DSG transmissions and warranted a safety recall on earlier vehicles. My vehicle is newer than the recall so VW has no obligation to help me. They inspected the car and told me it needed a transmission replacement, but that the transmission is no longer produced or available. I would need to source a used transmission and try my luck. It is unacceptable that VW has no liability in this issue that is known, common and a real safety issue.

I'M ON MY WAY TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY GOING UPHILL AND THE TEMPERATURE RED LIGHT STARTS FLASHING. I DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THE FLASHING LIGHT HAD ME CONCERNED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STAYED AT NORMAL POSITION SO I WAS ABLE TO BRING IT HOME. I WAITED AWHILE AND THEN CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR COOLANT LEVEL AND IT WAS DOWN TO THE BOTTOM BARELY ANY LEFT. SO I BOUGHT THE RECOMMENDED COOLANT BY VW AND FILLED IT UP TO LEVEL. I DROVE THE NEXT DAY AND PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY AND LATER THAT DAY I SAW COOLANT PUDDLE ON CONCRETE DRIPPED FROM ENGINE. I SUSPECT IT'S THE WATER PUMP AGAIN. I HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR BEFORE WITH COOLING SYSTEM TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP DEALT WITH IT BY REPLACING WATER PUMP WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLACE WATER PUMP AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE FIND THE LEAK AND TAKE PICTURES. IT SEEMS TO BE LEAKING NEAR THE WATER PUMP. SO RIGHT NOW I'M FILLING COOLANT ALMOST EVERYDAY UNTIL I CAN GET TO THE DEALERSHIP.

I WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN I WENT TO SLOW DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT MY BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGING UNTIL MY PEDAL WAS PUSHED WELL OVER HALF WAY DOWN. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. I STARTED NOTICING THAT IF I PUMPED MY BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE REALLY WAS NOT SAFE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL TIRES PLUS REPAIR SHOP WHO BELIEVED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS BAD AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ONCE THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES STILL WERE NOT EFFECTIVELY ENGAGING. AT THAT POINT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAD GOTTEN REPLACED AND EVEN AFTER THAT, NOTHING HAD IMPROVED. TIRES PLUS DECIDED THE CAR NEEDED TO GO TO VOLKSWAGEN BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND INSISTED THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH MY BRAKES AND THAT THE WAY MY BRAKE PEDAL FELT WAS NORMAL. I KNOW FOR A FACT THIS ISN'T TRUE AND THE SERVICE CENTER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY CONCERNS. IN RESPONSE I WAS TOLD THAT I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK AND THAT MUCH DEAD PEDAL TRAVEL IS NORMAL. I PICKED MY CAR UP AND AFTER A WEEK MY BRAKES HAD GOTTEN WORSE AND THEY CONTINUE TO GET WORSE. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL NOT ENGAGING MY BRAKES UNTIL OVER HALFWAY THROUGH THE PEDAL TRAVEL AND ONCE THE BRAKES DO ENGAGE THE PEDAL IS VERY STIFF. I AGAIN EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR SIMPLY YELLED AT ME AND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THAT I NEEDED TO JUST LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS. AND YET THEY HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY CAR BECAUSE THEY DENIED TO DO SO. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO TWO OTHER REPAIR SHOPS WHO INSIST THERE IS AN ISSUE BUT COULD NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND INSIST VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO DEEPLY LOOK INTO MY CARS BRAKING SYSTEM BUT VOLKSWAGEN WON'T DO FURTHER INVESTIGATING INTO THE BRAKES.

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED ON THE HIGHWAY.

INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2015. IN LATE 2019 THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A SERVICE ENGINE WARNING WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AGAIN. OUT OF WARRANTY THE SERVICE COST ME IN EXCESS OF $1000. I SEE THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED ON OLDER YEARS FOR THE SAME EXACT REASON BUT NOT THE 2013. THIS NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE PUTS ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL WAS TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNLESS IT'S ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPLICATED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON EARLIER MODELS THAT RESULTED IN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS. DID CONTACT DEALER AND VOA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND COMMUNICATION WAS LOST WITH THE GEAR BOX. ALSO, THE RPMS INCREASED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK, SHUT OFF, AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY AUTO WORLD VOLKSWAGEN (910-867-7000, LOCATED AT 3810 SYCAMORE DAIRY RD, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28303) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH ANYONE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

MY CAR'S ENGINE MAKES A TICKING SOUND WHEN I START IT AND WHEN IT'S IN IDLE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES WITH THAT WITH THE 2013 MODELS. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL MY ENGINE IS RUINED. TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER SHOULD NOT BE GOING BAD OR SHOWING SYMPTOMS WITH ONLY 71,500 MILES YET. I CAN'T SHOW YOU PICTURES, SINCE IT IS HARD TO REMOVE THE CAP COVERING THE TIMING CHAIN.

HEADLINER IS SAGGING.