Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–67 of 67

2016 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 2016 record →

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 10, 201840,000 milesFL

SOMETIMES, AFTER THE CAR HAS WARMED UP AND UNDER HARD ACCELERATION THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE LOWER ENGINE AREA. THE VW DEALER INVESTIGATED AND CONFIRMED IT IS THE FUEL LINES RATTLING THAT IS MAKING THE NOISE. THEY TRIED TO INSERT SOME DAMPENING MATERIAL TO SECURE THE FUEL LINES BUT THE NOISE PERSISTS.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Oct 15, 201862,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUN ROOF LEAKED WATER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS CLOSED COMPLETELY, YET THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WATER INTRUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER RAINY CONDITIONS AND RECURRED DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. FAIRFAX VOLKSWAGEN (11050 FAIRFAX BLVD, FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA 22030, (703) 359-4500) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND VERIFIED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS LEAKING WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BASED UPON THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PER NHTSA I.D. 10133484. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 3, 201841,000 milesOH

CLOCKSPRING FAILURE ON 2016 VW GTI RESULTING IN NON FUNCTIONING AIRBAG

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Aug 30, 20186,000 milesWA

THIS CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED UP, STATIONARY, WITH PARKING BRAKE ON, I SHIFT INTO REVERSE TO EXIT MY GARAGE. THE REAR-VIEW CAMERA SWINGS INTO POSITION, BUT THE VIDEO IMAGE SOMETIMES FAILS TO APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD MONITOR. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 28, 201814,000 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 15MPH IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN I HEARD THE LOUD SOUND LIKE A GUNSHOT. I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND WENT OUTSIDE TO FIND THAT MY SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. THAT WAS NOTHING ON THE GROUND THAT COULD'VE HIT THE SUNROOF OR WAS THERE ANYTHING HIGH NEARBY (TREES, BUILDINGS, ETC.) THAT SOMETHING COULD'VE FELL FROM.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jun 18, 2018OH

FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS "SPARKLES" /" SCRATCHES" IN IT. THIS IS EXTREMELY VISIBLE IN THE SUN AND THIS HAS BEEN PROMINENT SINCE 10,000 MILES. CAR AHS 31,000 NOW. TALKED WITH VW SERVICE MANGER ABOUT THIS ISSUE, NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED. I USE THE SAME BRAND CLEANERS FOR MY OTHER CARS AND NO ISSUES. THIS IS A FACTORY DIRECT PROBLEM. WINDSHIELD GET WORSE WITH AGE.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 10, 201832,162 milesMI

RANDOM POP OUT FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN DRIVING, AND IT STAY ON NOW

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 26, 20177 milesWA

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON MY USUAL HIGHWAY ROUTE WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NOT CARS IN PROXIMITY TO MINE, NONE IN FRONT, TO THE SIDE OR REAR. I WAS ON A BRIDGE, ABOUT MID-SECTION WHEN THE IT HAPPENED. IT WAS LOUD AND SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. LUCKILY MINIMAL GLASS DROPPED INTO THE INTERIOR. I HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY IT HAPPENED, IT SEEMED SPONTANEOUS.

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 9, 20175,000 milesCO

VEHICLE MAKES LOUD CREAKING NOISES FROM BODY-VW CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL BUT MY PREVIOUS GTI DID NOT DO THAT. THE WHEELS AND SUSPENSION ALSO MAKE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 9, 2016NJ

I GOT A RECALL LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN REGARDING SUCTION PUMP IN EARLY NOVEMBER 2016. I IMMEDIATELY ASKED FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND FIRST DEALER IN FAIR LAWN, NEW JERSEY GAVE ME THE APPOINTMENT 2 WEEKS LATER THEN AGAIN RESCHEDULED TO 12/10/2016. UNFORTUNATELY, TODAY I CALLED AGAIN BUT PART IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE IT. I EVEN ASKED VOLKSWAGEN TO SWAP MY CAR WITH ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN BUT THEY ASKED MORE MONEY AND REJECTED MY OFFER. WE STILL SMELL GAS IN THE CAR AND WE ARE SCARED. NOW, MY AND MY FAMILY'S LIFE UNDER RISK. WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE IF CAR GOT FIRE AND WE ALL DIE..PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO GIVE THIS CAR BACK WITHOUT ANY COST TO ME?

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 21, 20167,500 milesMD

DEALER PERFORMED RECALL SERVICE FOR SAFETY RECALL 16V647 - SUCTION PUMP. FOLLOWING SERVICE SERVICE STATION PUMP TRIPS OFF AFTER FILLING SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS AND GAS GAUGE IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECTLY PROBLEM IN 3 SERVICE VISITS. COMPLAINT IS 2-FOLD: (1) DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CARRY OUT SAFETY RECALL SERVICE CORRECTLY. (2) INABILITY TO MEASURE FUEL LEVEL IS A SAFETY HAZARD.

Wheels
Filed Nov 16, 201620,000 milesMO

CONTINENTAL TIRES 225/40R18'92H TIRE WALLS TEARING CRACKING AND CAUSING TIRE TO MELT A HOLE

Air Bags
Filed Oct 20, 20162,500 milesLA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A NEW OR USED MODULE TO FIX THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO DO OUT ON THE SPEEDOMETER. UPDATED 7/9/18*JB *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 16, 20161,000 milesME

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 14, 2016100 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WERE ABNORMAL NOISES COMING FROM THE TOP PART OF BOTH REAR DOORS AND THE HATCHBACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE FRAME AND EXPANDING STRUCTURAL FOAM NEEDED TO BE SPRAYED IN THE HOLLOW PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jul 19, 20168,000 milesAZ

WINDSHIELD SEEMS VERY WEAK. HAD 3 BAD CRACKS WITHIN 6 MONTHS (8000 MILES) OF BUYING CAR, DRIVING THE SAME ROADS I HAD ZERO CRACKS OVER 4 1/2 YEAR AND 60K+ MILES IN MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE.

Power Train
Filed Jul 19, 20168,000 milesAZ

IN VERY HOT WEATHER (OVER 110 F) THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. IT STAYS IN LOW GEARS AND REV'S THE ENGINE FAR TOO MUCH. AT COOLER TEMPS IT DRIVES FINE. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER IN JULY 2016 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE.

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 2016 Volkswagen GTI → · Every GTI year → · How the figures are calculated →