Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–77 of 77

2007 Volkswagen GTI complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2007 record →

Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 20, 200825,000 milesMD

THERE WERE NO SPECIFIC EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE, ONLY TIME. THE HIGH MOUNTED 3RD BRAKELIGHT ON MY 2007 VW GTI IS FAILING. IT'S FULL OF CONDENSATION, AND THAT'S CAUSING THE BULBS INSIDE IT TO FAIL. WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE THEM, THE OWNERS MANUAL INFORMED ME THAT ONLY THE DEALER COULD DO SO. UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE CAR SEVERAL DAYS AS THEY HAD TO DISMOUNT SEVERAL BODY PANELS, CUT THEM OPEN, THEN REPLACE THE BULBS AND GLUE EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER. I WAS ALSO WARNED TO ESSENTIALLY EXPECT BODY DAMAGE, AND THAT THE BILL FOR ALL THIS WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL. ALL THIS TO REPLACE A BULB? THAT'S INSANE, AND I FELT LIKE THAT WAS A POOR ENOUGH RESULT THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD DEAL WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 7, 200819,999 milesCA

I WANT TO COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 3RD HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT ON MY 07 VOLKSWAGEN GTI THAT I HAVE ONE OF THE LIGHT OUT AMONG THE LIGHT AND I TRY TO REPLACE THE LIGHT IN A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE ONE LIGHT OUT UNLESS I NEED FOUR LIGHT OUT WHICH I THINK IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE ALL LIGHTS ARE OUT WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I THINK THINK HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH ONE LIGHT IS OUT IT ALREADY NOT OUT OF THE FACTORY CONDITION. I HAVE NO IDEA THAT THEY NEED TO WAIT 4 LIGHTS ARE OUT TO FIXED IT. ALSO I WANT TO COMPLAIN THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE IT BY YOURSELF BECAUSE IT IS MOUNT INSIDE THE SPOILER, THEREFORE I THINK THE DEALERSHIP HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE EVEN THOUGH IT CHARGES. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 6, 200820,000 milesCA

ON WASHING THE CAR (2007 VW GTI 2.0 2H) THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT CRACKED AND FELL FROM ITS HOUSING IN SEVERAL PIECES. THE MAIN BODY OF THE PART REMAINS ATTACHED BY THE ELECTRIC CABLE. THE FACTORY RESOLUTION IS TO SEND THE CAR TO A BODY SHOP TO REMOVE THE FACTORY SPOILER AND REPLACE THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE FACTORY MANUAL WARNS THAT THIS IS A MULTI-DAY JOB AND MAY RESULT IN A BROKEN SPOILER AND POSSIBLE BODY DAMAGE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VIOLATION OF FMVSS 108 WHICH REQUIRES THAT REPLACING THE BULBS BE SIMPLE AND REQUIRE ONLY COMMON TOOLS. THE ADDED COSTS ARE BEYOND REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS AND WERE NOT SET FORTH AS PART OF THE PURCHASING DECISION. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 22, 200812,000 milesOH

THE 3RD BRAKE LIKE ON MY 2007 VOLKSWAGEN GTI FORMED CONDENSATION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE DEALER BY CUTTING OFF THE SPOILER SINCE IT WAS NOT REMOVABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE SURFACE. THE PROCESS OUTLINED BY VW WARNS OF POSSIBLE BODY DAMAGE DURING THIS PROCESS, WHICH I ALSO FOUND AFTER THE REPAIR. THIS PART IS NOT USER SERVICEABLE, AND IS VERY COSTLY IF IT HAS TO BE DONE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 22, 200830,000 milesCA

REAR HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP ASSEMBLY FAILED( LED'S BURNED OUT) DUE TO MOISTURE GETTING IN. WHEN ASKED ABOUT REPLACING THE LAMP, VW'S RESPONSE IS THAT THE OLD SPOILER CONTAINING THE STOP LAMP HAS TO BE CUT OFF OF THE HATCH. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF FMVSS 108 WHICH REQUIRES THAT REPLACING THE BULBS BE SIMPLE AND REQUIRE ONLY COMMON TOOLS. THE CAR IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY 700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A BRAKE LAMP. *TR

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Sep 19, 200810,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATES AND DISPLAYS "PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS OFF". THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT WAS MADE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE SEAT TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AS WELL. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WEATHER STRIPPING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, IN ADDITION TO THE SUNROOF ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 4, 200812,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. SPORADICALLY, THE AIR BAG AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TEN OCCASIONS AND THEY REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SENSORS, THE REAR SEAL IN THE TRUNK,THE SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY, AND THE SEAT BELT POSITION SENSOR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

Suspension › Front
Filed Jun 20, 200812,000 milesIL

I OWN A 2007 GTI WHICH HAS WHAT I BELIEVE AND MANY OTHER OWNERS, A DEFECTIVE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. MY INCIDENT BEGAN SUMMER OF 2007 AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP MY VEHICLE STARTED SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF CLUNKING AND SNAPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR IN THE FRONT. I WENT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR IT AND OUT OF ALL THE VISITS OF WHICH I ONLY GOT 5 RECEIPTS AND 2 ATTEMPTS AT REPAIRS THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. IT HAS BEGUN TO BE HARDER TO REPLICATE IN SOME INSTANCES AND WHEN I DID I FINALLY DECIDED TO MAKE A VIDEO OF THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE DEALERSHIPS REFUSED TO USE THE TAPE AS PROOF SO I MOVED ONTO CONTACTING VWOA OF WHICH IT DID NOT GET ME FAR. I SUPPLIED THE VIDEOS AND REPAIR BILLS AND UNLESS I CAN REPLICATE THE SOUND AT THE DEALER THEY CANT HELP. SO I FINALLY REPLICATED MY DEFECT AT ANOTHER VW SERVICE CENTER AND A SERVICE MANAGER WHO IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND WILLING TO WORK WITH ME AND VWOA. I CONTACTED VWOA AFTER THE VISIT AND HAVE YET TO HEAR A RESPONSE. WHAT THE SERVICE MANAGER SHOWED ME WAS PRETTY MUCH WHAT ME AND THE SEVERAL PEOPLE PRESUME IS MANUFACTURED WRONG. THE SUBFRAME ON THE VEHICLE SEEMS DEFECTIVE. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT THE SUBFRAME PUTS SOME EMPHASIS ON THE STEERING COMPONENTS ON THE VEHICLE WHICH MAY CAUSE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS EVEN HAZARDS IF INVESTIGATED FURTHER. AS OF RIGHT EVEN AFTER GIVEN REPAIRS, MY CAR IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, SNAPPING SOUNDS DURING THE VEHICLE TURNING OR CLUNKING SOUNDS UNDER ENGINE LOADS AND T

Air Bags
Filed Jun 5, 200837,000 milesNJ

AS TYPICAL OF VWS, MY COMPLAINT IS NOT A SINGLE MAJOR ONE, BUT A LAUNDRY LIST OF MINOR FAILURES AND INCOMPETENCE OF DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THE LARGEST TWO COMPLAINTS DEAL WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND THE SUBFRAME. *TR

Power Train › Manual Transmission › Column Shift Assembly
Filed Apr 24, 20086,100 milesNY

ENGINE AND/OR TRANSMISSION IS MAKING THIS "METAL CLASHING SOUND", LIKE GEARS AREN'T MESHING PROPERLY. THE CAR IS PRACTICALLY NEW, ONLY 8K MILES ON IT. IT'S BEEN BACK TO VW DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE TOOK THE TRANSMISSION DOWN AND REPLACED A COMPONENT. ONCE THEY PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND TESTED, NOTHING CHANGED - THE CAR STILL MAKES THE SAME METAL GRINDING SOUND. I'M ACTUALLY ANNOYED BECAUSE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I WAS GOING TO TRADE IN MY GTI FOR AN R32 BUT NOW, I THINK I'LL GO WITH ANOTHER CAR ALTOGETHER. *TR

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed Feb 27, 2008AZ

VOLKSWAGEN GTI FAHRENHEIT 3RD BRAKE LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONING. TOOK THE CARE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CANNOT FIX IT . THEY NEED TO CUT THE SPOILER AND REPLACE THE ENTIRE SPOILER FOR JUST A LED. I ALSO FOUND THIS: S5.1.1.27 (A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION, EACH PASSENGER CAR MANUFACTURED ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 1985, AND EACH MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE, TRUCK, AND BUS, WHOSE OVERALL WIDTH IS LESS THAN 80 INCHES, WHOSE GVWR IS 10,000 POUNDS OR LESS, MANUFACTURED ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 1993, SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH A HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP WHICH:... (5) SHALL PROVIDE ACCESS FOR CONVENIENT REPLACEMENT OF THE BULB WITHOUT THE USE OF SPECIAL TOOLS. REMOVING THE REAR SPOILER REQUIRES SPECIAL TOOLS..." *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 11, 2008CO

REGARDING THE DSG AUTO. TRANSMISSION IN THE 2006 AND 2007 VW GTI: UNDER SOME CONDITIONS THE CAR WILL HESITATE ABOUT 1 TO 2 SECONDS WHEN QUICKLY SWITCHING BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL, SUCH AS WHEN MAKING A QUICK LEFT TURN TO BEAT THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VW SIMPLY SAYS THAT "THEY ALL DO THAT". THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE SET UP AS A RECALL BY VW. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Nov 19, 20072,000 milesVA

MY 2007 VW GTI DSG HAS TRANSMISSION SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT HAVE CAUSED ME TO NEARLY GET HIT NUMEROUS TIMES. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, LAGS, THEN GRABS GEAR AGAIN AND HAS TO RE-ACCELERATE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS OF 65 AS WELL AS IN CITY 30-45 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO A BUSY TURNPIKE AND SUDDENLY HAVING THE CAR HAVE NO ACCELERATION POWER ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT HAS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING AND SUDDENLY THE CAR DECELERATES AND THERE IS A SEVERAL SECOND LAG BEFORE IT GRABS AND DECIDES TO GO AGAIN. THIS CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES CONSECUTIVELY WHICH IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AT LEAST 8-10 TIMES AND EVERYTIME THEY TELL ME IT IS FIXED AND THEN I PULL OUT AND IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AGAIN. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE MECATRONIC UNIT, REFLASHED THE ECM, ADDED IN A MISSING LAUNCH CONTROL PROGRAM AND REPLACED INTAKE FLAP MOTOR. THESE PROBLEM HAVE TAKEN ALL MY FAITH OUT OF THE VEHICLE. EVERYTIME I DRIVE I AM AFRAID. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND LOSE POWER. I HEAR A LOUD THUNK FROM THE ENGINE AND IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR HAS BEEN HIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE TO CONTINUE THIS ON ANOTHER COMPLAINT FORM B/C OF LENGTH, PLS. SEE PAGE 2 OF CHRIS DUNN 2007 VW GTI *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 19, 2007VA

THIS IS A CONTINUATION FROM CHRIS DUNN 2007 VW GTI AFTER THE MOST "FIX" FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - ONE WEEK AGO - THE CAR HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND PRESSING ON THE GAS, YOU HEAR A LOUD THUNK AND FEEL HARD HIT AND THE CAR JERKS (LUNGES?) FORWARD ABOUT 5 FEET. SINCE THIS FIX, ONE WEEK AGO, THE CAR NOT ONLY DOES THE LUNGING FORWARD BUT NOW IS ALSO NEARLY STALLING. AFTER BEING AT A STOP AND YOU DEPRESS THE GAS THE CAR SHAKES AND HAS THE FEELING IT WILL STALL UNLESS YOU GIVE IT MORE GAS. IT THEN BEGINS TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY AT ABOUT 1/3 REGULAR POWER. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED AS I WAS CROSSING AT A FOUR-WAY STOP AND BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION I NEARLY GOT HIT AGAIN. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES CAUSED EVERY TIME IT WAS HOT THAT CAUSED LACK OF INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND ALL DISPLAY INFO WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE. YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR YOU WERE IN,NO RADIO,MILES PER GALLON,OR ANY WARNINGS, ETC. HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN UNRELATED PROBLEM NOT THE TRANS PROBLEM WHICH WILL GET ME KILLED. I HAVE EXHAUSTED MY OPTIONS, HAVE RECEIVED NO COOPERATION FROM DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICED THE CAR WHICH IS CLOSER THAN THE DEALER I PURCHASED FROM. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, I TOOK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THERE WAS A MAJOR DELAY BETWEEN THROTTLE INPUT AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION. THEY DROVE THE CAR AND DUPLICATED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OF THROTTLE DELAY. THEY SAID THE CAR SHIFTED AT 1000-1500 RPM'S PAST REDLINE A

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Nov 10, 2007CA

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2007 VOLKSWAGEN GTI IS OFF BY ABOUT 10 PERCENT OR TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER IS READING 90 MPH, ACTUAL SPEED IS 81-82 MPH ACCORDING TO MY GERMAN NAV SYSTEM. THE CAR IS AS IT LEFT THE FACTORY WITH FACTORY TIRES AND WHEELS. I BELIEVE MY ODOMETER MIGHT BE OFF A SIMILAR AMOUNT AS WELL. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ON THE MATTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE OFF BY THAT MUCH. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS AS MY 1995 FORD F-150 WORK TRUCK READS EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD !!! (AGAIN MEASURED BY MY PORTABLE NAV SYSTEM. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS ALWAYS GETTING PASSED ON THE FREEWAY AND SOMETIMES GETTING RUDE VERBAL AND HAND GESTURES EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRAVELING ABOVE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. THIS HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND HAVE ONLY JUST DISCOVERED THE DISCREPANCY VERY RECENTLY (WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS). I HAVE LISTED THE NUMBER OF FAILURES AS 365 BECAUSE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW AND BELIEVE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER HAVE BEEN INCORRECT SINCE NEW. IM NOT EVEN GUESSING AS TO HOW MUCH THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR MIGHT BE OFF YET. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 11000 MILES. THIS IS A CONCERN WHICH SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT WILLING TO DO A THING ABOUT IT APPARENTLY, SO I TURN TO YOUR ORGANIZATION IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING MIGHT BE DONE ABOUT THIS DISCREPANCY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER IN ADVANCE. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Nov 7, 2007MO

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY CAR IS INACCURATE AND DISPLAYS A SPEED THAT IS 10% FASTER THAN I AM ACTUALLY TRAVELING. MY LOCAL DEALER APPLIED A PROGRAMMING FIX (TSB), BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jul 9, 20071,500 milesCO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE PERIODICALLY LOSES POWER, BUT HAS NOT SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW FUEL SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENSOR ARE NOT MADE FOR HIGH ALTITUDES. IF THEY ARE REPLACED, THE SAME FAILURE WILL OCCUR. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,500.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 2, 20072,100 milesCA

I HAVE TAKEN MY 2007 VOLKSWAGEN GTI IN 3 TIMES FOR AIRBAG RELATED ISSUES. AFTER 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS AND REPLACING THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STILL COMES ON AT RANDOM OCCASIONS. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, ALL AIRBAG SYSTEMS ARE DISABLED AND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM CURRENTLY FILING FOR ARBITRATION WITH THE BBB BECAUSE MY CAR IS A LEMON. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 16, 20072,486 milesVA

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE JUST ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO WITH 146 MILES ON IT. NOW HAS JUST OVER 2400 MILES. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IN 3RD GEAR AND WENT TO SHIFT INTO 4TH, A POP SOUND WAS HEARD. HE DELAYED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN WENT INTO 4TH GEAR. ONCE HE DID THE ENGINE STARTED CLINGING. HE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED DUE TO EXTENDED REDLINE. YET MY HUSBAND WAS ONLY AT 5000 RPMS WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOR ANY OTHER INDICATOR EVER CAME ON AFTER IT HAPPENED. SINCE THE CAR HAD 146 MILES ON IT WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, I THINK THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS DONE PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE. HOWEVER I HAVE NO WAY TO PROVE IT. THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DAMAGE ON THE VEHICLE UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, THEY SAID I NEEDED TO HAVE THE ENGINE TORN DOWN, AND IF THEY FIND IT TO BE A DRIVER'S ERROR, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TEAR DOWN AND THE REPAIRS. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 18, 200711,450 milesNY

(1) I HIT A POTHOLE IN THE RAIN. THE TIRE BURST OUT THE SIDEWALL. (2) THE JACK FAILED TO SUPPORT THE CAR TWICE DESPITE FOLLOWING THE VEHICAL'S OWNERS MANUAL. THE CAR FELL ONTO THE AWAITING SPARE THUS CRUSHING THE FENDER FROM INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL (3) BODYSHOP QUOTE (OLD PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE INCLUDING PICTURES)

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Apr 10, 20073,700 milesPA

ICE FORMED IN THE BOTTOM FRONT CORNER OF BOTH FRONT DOORS, CAUSING THE CORNER OF THE DOOR TO BEND . THIS HAPPENED TWICE THIS WINTER. ONE AFTER I WAS ALREADY IN THE CAR, AND I COULDN'T GET OUT WITHOUT FORCING THE DOOR TO OPEN, CAUSING THE CORNER TO BEND. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Apr 1, 2007OR

I HAVE BEEN ENJOYING MY 2007 GTI BUT THERE IS ONE FEATURE THAT I THINK IS DANGEROUS AND INCONVENIENT AND REQUEST YOU CHANGE ON FUTURE MODELS. IF THE VEHICLE STALS, I FIND THAT I MUST TURN THE KEY COMPLETELY OFF BEFORE I CAN RESTART IT. WHEN I STALL IT ON RARE OCCASIONS, IT PUTS ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. YOUR FEATURE 1. REQUIRES EXTRA TIME. 2. IT IS ILLOGICAL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT TOOK ME AT LEAST 20 SECONDS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SINCE I HAD TO FIGURE OUR THIS FEATURE. DURING THIS TIME I WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC! 3. I LOOSE OTHER VEHICLE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS POWER STEERING WHEN I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY OFF. (THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE MOVING). AS A RESULT IT INCREASES THE DRIVERS DANGER IN THESE SITUATIONS. PLEASE CHANGE THE ELECTRONICS SO THAT THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED BY SIMPLY TURNING THE IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Mar 18, 20079,000 milesVA

THE MIL OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON REPEATEDLY. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE ERROR CODE WAS "FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR." AFTER 5 SEPERATE TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME ISSUE, THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, THE FUEL FILTER, THE FUEL REGULATOR, THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR, AND MOST RECENTLY THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR. I BELIEVE THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR WAS AT FAULT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jan 7, 2007100 milesNY

VEHICLE: 2007 VW GTI W/DSG TRANSMISSION SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE CONSISENTLY OVERSTATES ACTUAL SPEED ABOVE 20 MPH. THE OVERSTATEMENT VARIES FROM 1 MPH (AT 30 MPH) TO 5-6 MPH (AT 65 MPH). THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE ALSO DISAGREES WITH THE SPEED REPORTED BY THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC TRIP COMPUTER. BASED ON ALL MY TESTS IN OPEN-ROAD DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE ELECTRONIC TRIP COMPUTER IS PROVING ACCURATE INFORMATION-- THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE (WHICH GETS ITS INPUT FROM THE ELECTRONIC TRIP COMPUTER) HAS BEEN DELIBERATELY DESIGNED OR DELIBERATELY CALIBRATED TO OVERSTATE VEHICLE SPEED. THE DEALER HAS CHECKED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OUT, FINDING NO RECORDED FAULTS IN THE SYSTEM. ALL KNOWN TSB'S HAVE BEEN APPLIED. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THEY CHECKED OUT OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES AND FOUND IDENTICAL SPEED OVERSTATEMENT ISSUES. THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THEY HAD CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND WERE TOLD THAT THE OVERSTATEMENT OF SPEED WAS "WITHIN OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS". THE FUNCTION OF A SPEEDOMETER IS TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE DETERMINATION OF ACTUAL VEHICLE SPEED. WHILE A 1-2 MPH VARIANCE IS REASONABLE, A 5-6 MPH VARIANCE IS NOT. AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DRIVERS ARE UNABLE TO REASONABLY DETERMINE THEIR SPEED WITHOUT MENTALLY ADJUSTING FOR A CORRECTABLE DESIGN DEFICIENCY

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 16, 2006800 milesNY

ENGINE FAILURE AT ONLY 800 MILES. *NM

Electrical System
Filed Oct 11, 2006SC

2007 GTI 2.0, PACKAGE2, DSG. VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT ACCURATE. IN ORDER TO TRAVEL 60 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER MUST READ 65 MPH. THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THE CORRECT SPEED, IS WITH THE CLIMATRONIC. HOLD DOWN ECON AND AIR UP BUTTONS AT SAME TIME. TURN DRIVER'S SIDE KNOB TO 19.0, TURN MIDDLE KNOB UNTIL SAYS 19.1. THE UNCORRECTED SPEED IS SHOWN IN THE PASSENGER SIDE CLIMATRONIC WINDOW. THE UNCORRECTED SPEED MATCHES UP TO OTHER VEHICLES AND IS ACCURATE FROM ALL TESTS. VOLKSWAGEN IS TAKING THE ACTUAL SPEED, AND MAKING IT WRONG, AND SENDING TO THE SPEEDOMETER. THE SAME HOLDS TRUE IN EVERY 2007 GTI WITH 18" WHEELS. A VEHICLE COSTING OVER $25,000 SHOULD AT LEAST BE ABLE TO GIVE ACCURATE SPEED. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO LOOK DOWN TO CLIMATRONC TO GET ACCURATE SPEED. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 13, 2006CA

SPEEDOMETER IS ABOUT 9% OFF. (SPEEDOMETER READS 70 MPH, ACTUAL SPEED IS 63-64 MPH). *JB

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2007 Volkswagen GTI → · Every GTI year → · How the figures are calculated →