2013 Volkswagen GTI

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.

Reported

Apr 2025

Incident date

Apr 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Mar 2021

Incident date

Feb 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Dec 2020

Incident date

Nov 2020

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED ON THE HIGHWAY.

Reported

Sep 2020

Incident date

Sep 2020

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Feb 2020

Incident date

Nov 2019

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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

Reported

Apr 2019

Incident date

Apr 2019

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Nov 2018

Incident date

Jun 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

CAR WAS DRIVEN IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. FIRST NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD, STOPPED THE CAR, MORE AND MORE SMOKE CAME OUT AND COULDN'T EVEN SEE ANYTHING IF ANYONE WERE TO BE IN THE CAR. NOTICE SOME FIRE START TO APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, CALLED 911. THE ENTIRE HOOD WAS ON FIRE BY THE TIME FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. IT SEEMED THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN EXPLOSION IF FIREFIGHTERS WERE TO ARRIVE A MINUTE LATER.

Reported

Nov 2018

Incident date

Nov 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Fire

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.

Reported

Sep 2018

Incident date

Jun 2017

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

HEADLINER IS SAGGING.

Reported

Sep 2018

Incident date

Aug 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL RAPIDLY AND SLOWED DOWN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF STEVENS CREEK (4490 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SAN JOSE, CA 95129) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED WITH A MEGATRONIC UNIT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE CONTACT CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN EARLIER VEHICLE MODELS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT ONLY OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH A PORTION OF THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,060. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Reported

Jun 2018

Incident date

Jun 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JIM WYNN VOLKSWAGEN (2021 W MAIN ST, NORRISTOWN, PA 19403) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A BUY BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,200.

Reported

Jun 2018

Incident date

Mar 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER, FRONT PASSENGER, AND SIDE PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS FATALLY INJURED DUE TO FRONTAL LOBE DAMAGE, DISLOCATION OF THE SPINE, AORTA DAMAGE, AND LACERATIONS OF THE LIVER. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS AND INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND EYES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DETERMINATION OF THE FAILURE THAT LED TO THE COLLISION. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE DEATH OF HER SON. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT THE TYPE OF AIR BAGS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

Reported

May 2018

Incident date

Apr 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash 1 injuries 1 deaths

AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT WENT ON. ALL ELECTRONICS ON STEERING WHEEL, INCLUDING HORN STOPPED WORKING. VW DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS SAY THAT CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND WANT $654 TO FIX IT. THIS VEHICLE WAS ALREADY SERVICED UNDER CLOCK SPRING FAILURE RECALL IN 2015 (NHTSA CAMPAIN NUMBER: 15V483000).

Reported

May 2018

Incident date

May 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THE VEHICLE WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND STARTED BEEPING WITH WARNING LIGHT THAT SAID "BRAKES SERVICE NOW" AND BOTH BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS WERE ON. I TOOK IT TO SHOULDER TO CHECK. THE CAR HAD ONLY 33000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE OKAY THOUGH. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO UPON INSPECTION SAID THE ABS CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY AND NEEDS REPLACING. HE QUOTED 3300 FOR THE REPAIR. UPON CHECKING, HE SAID THE IT FAILED NOT BECAUSE OF ANY USER ERROR, AND THE CONTROL UNIT SHOULD LAST A LONG TIME. LOOKS LIKE THERE WERE RECALLS FOR VW CAR FROM 2008-2009 FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE.

Reported

Feb 2018

Incident date

Feb 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I'VE STARTED TO NOTICE THAT AFTER DRIVING MY CAR AND USING THE DSG SHIFTER OR SPORT MODE, MY CAR WILL NOT START BACK UP FOR A WHILE AFTER PARKED. SEEMS ONLY TO HAPPEN AFTER WARM ENGINE. I WILL START THE CAR AND THEN IT WILL SPUTTER BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OR MAYBE LONGER, I AM ABLE TO CRANK IT AND DRIVE.

Reported

Feb 2018

Incident date

Feb 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEFTIN WESTLAKE VOLKSWAGEN (3550 AUTO MALL DR, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362, (805) 497-9404) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THAT AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

Reported

Jan 2018

Incident date

Jan 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

VEHICLE HAS 48K MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A P2015 ERROR. RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD. FOUND INFORMATION THAT VW EXTENDED WARRANTY OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO 10 YEARS/100K MILES IN MANY VEHICLES, BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT WARRANTY EXTENSION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON, RECURRING PROBLEM IN VOLKSWAGENS. THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO ALL VEHICLES.

Reported

Aug 2017

Incident date

Aug 2017

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

COOLANT PUMP LEAKING

Reported

Jul 2017

Incident date

Jun 2017

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

VEHICLE HAS JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS P2015, WHICH WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTAKE RUNNER POSITION. VW DEALERSHIP SAYS THE FLAP INSIDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS DISINTEGRATED. VW HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON 2.0T ENGINES FROM MODEL YEAR 2008 TO 2011. HOWEVER, 2013 IS NOT COVERED. VW HAS CLEARLY NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR ENGINES AFTER 2011.

Reported

Jun 2017

Incident date

Jun 2017

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TAKATA RECALL NORTH PARK VW DEALER IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS STATES THAT THE AIR BAG RECALL CANNOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. IS THIS TRUE?

Reported

Apr 2017

Incident date

Aug 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

AIRBAG INFLATOR IS NOT WORKING. RECEIVED RECALL LETTER, BUT DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING.

Reported

Mar 2017

Incident date

Mar 2017

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

VEHICLE DISPLAYING MIL LIGHT @ 68,948 MILES. DEALER DIAGNOSIS:TO CORRECT FAULT, REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY & FUEL FILTER, RECOMMENDED CLEANING OF INTAKE VALVES WHILE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REMOVED.

Reported

Nov 2016

Incident date

Nov 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

MY 2013 VW GTI HAS HAD DEFECTIVE WATER (COOLANT) PUMP. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THREE (3!) MAJOR REPAIRS TO REPLACE THE FAULTY WATER PUMP AND FIX THE LEAK OF COOLANT. THE ISSUE FIRST STARTED AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES AND REOCCURED AT 15,000 MILES AND THEN AT 25,000. I ALWAYS MAINTAINED AND REPAIRED MY CAR AT VW DEALERSHIPS. THE ISSUE WITH THE WATER PUMP USUALLY STARTED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A MAJOR ROAD OR A FREEWAY WITH MY FAMILY (INCLUDING 2 CHILDREN) INSIDE. THE LIGHT WOULD USUALLY TURN ON ON THE DASHBOARD. FORTUNATELY, IN ALL THE INSTANCES, WE'VE BEEN NOT FAR FROM THE HOME OR A SAFE LOCATION TO PARK AND REQUEST ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THESE INCIDENTS WITH WATER PUMP, WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION CAN LEAD TO CRASH OR OTHER SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

Reported

Oct 2015

Incident date

Oct 2013

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

MY 2013 VW GTI HAS AN ONGOING ISSUE-CONDITION WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A FUEL PUMP AND/OR LOW FUEL PRESSURE. IT USUALLY OCCURS RANDOMLY, WITHOUT ANY HINT. AFTER THE START UP THE CAR STALLS WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. AT THAT POINT THE CAR WOULD DIE AT EVERY ATTEMPT TO START UP AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE CAR WILL COME BACK TO LIFE AFTER STAYING IDLE FOR 40-60MINUTES (IN SEVERE CASES EVEN LONGER). IN ADDITION, WE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHEN THE CAR WOULD STALL WHILE IN SLOW MOTION ON A HILL. THE GAS TANK IN ALL INSTANCES WAS FULL OR NEAR FULL. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MAJOR AND MINOR INCIDENTS THAT HAVE STARTED SINCE APPROXIMATELY 7,000 MILES. WE HAD SOMEHOW TOLERATED SUCH RANDOMLY OCCURRING INCIDENTS UNTIL THE ISSUE BECAME (SUDDENLY) ALMOST A DAILY NORM IN DECEMBER 2014 AND JANUARY 2015. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY THE VW DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 2 TIMES WITHIN 2 WEEK PERIOD. THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS THESE DAYS, YET WITH LESSER FREQUENCY. THE ISSUE IS CAUSING SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS ON TOP OF THE MAJOR INCONVENIENCE AND ADDITIONAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES.

Reported

Oct 2015

Incident date

Jan 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Jul 2015

Incident date

Feb 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

REPORTED RECURRING COOLANT SMELL TO DEALER AT FIRST POST-PURCHASE MAINTENANCE VISIT (5,000 MILES), BUT DEALER FAILED TO FIND A CAUSE. AT 14,000 MILES, PULLED INTO MY GARAGE. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE AND DISCOVERED A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID WHERE THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED, AS WELL AS TRAILS OF FLUID IN THE DRIVEWAY FROM PULLING IN PREVIOUSLY. DEALER DIAGNOSIS: THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED. WHEN I NOTED MY PREVIOUS COOLANT ODOR COMPLAINT, THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISOR REPLIED THAT "THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT WE CAN'T FIX IT UNTIL IT FAILS." THE CAR NOW HAS 18,000 MILES, AND THE RECURRING COOLANT SMELL HAS STARTED AGAIN. *TR

Reported

Sep 2014

Incident date

Apr 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

OVER-40 DRIVER, DECADES OF EXPERIENCE DRIVING CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAR SINCE NEW. CAR HAD 13,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY, NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD...BUT WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH, THE GEAR SELECTOR LEVER HAD BECOME DIFFICULT TO MOVE. SUBSEQUENT SHIFTS FROM 4TH TO 5TH AND 5TH TO 6TH AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH (NO LONGER ACCELERATING) WERE EVEN MORE CHALLENGING. I EXITED THE FREEWAY, SHIFTING AS NEEDED WITH EVER-INCREASING DIFFICULTY. AT REST, WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN 1ST GEAR AND THE CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED, THE CAR CONTINUED TO CREEP FORWARD AS IF THE CLUTCH WERE NOT DISENGAGED. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO 2ND AND LIMP THE CAR TO A NEARBY DEALER. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS: A CLUTCH SPRING BROKE OFF, "BOUNCED AROUND AND DESTROYED THE CLUTCH PLATE." *TR

Reported

Sep 2014

Incident date

Mar 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THIS IS MY SECOND GTI. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR OR THE TIRES BUT IN 15000 MILES I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 7 TIRES WITH BUBBLES OR DAMAGED VERY EASILY. (AT THE SAME TIME I LEASED THIS CAR I LEASED A SECOND ONE THAT HAS 30000 MILES AND HAS HAD ONLY 1 TIRE PROBLEM. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH VW AND I AM WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSE. I WILL TAKE THE CAR TODAY AGAIN AS THEY RETURNED IT ON FRIDAY AND AS SOON AS I DROVE A FEW MILES IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC THE TIRE LIGHT WENT OFF. I AM NOT DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN UNTIL VW ASSURES ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM . THEY BLAME IT ON THE LOW PROFILE TIRES BUT I HAD THE SAME CAR AND TIRE SIZE IN MY PREVIOUS GTI AND DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TIRE INSURANCE SO I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TIRES BUT THERE IS A LOT OF TIME WASTED BESIDES THE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Reported

Sep 2014

Incident date

May 2013

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I DROVE 4 MILES AND NOTICE MY COOLANT LIGHT COME ON AND DECIDE TO PARK MY VEHICLE. THE VERY NEXT DAY I NOTICE COOLANT WAS VERY LOW AND HAD BIG LEAK. I JACKED THE CAR UP AND NOTICE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM ENGINE AND NOT THE RADIATOR. HAVING MUCH EXPERIENCE WORKING ON CARS. I DISSEMBLE THE ENTIRE FRONT TO MY ENGINE AND NOTICE THE WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT HOUSING PROFUSELY LEAKING. IT WAS NOT A GASKET JOB, BUT A WARP AND HAIRLINE FRACTURE COMING FROM UNDER THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. I PURCHASE A NEW WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT HOUSING FOR $317 AT THE DEALER ALTHOUGH IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS VERY METICULOUS WORK AND DID NOT WANT THE DEALER (TEDDY VOLKSWAGEN) TO DO A SLOPPING JOB. THEY ALREADY DID A SLOPPY JOB ON PREVIOUS RADIATOR INSPECTION. I DEMAND A REFUND AND THE SERVICE LADY ( [XXX]) STATED THEY HAVE TO DO THE WORK. I SAID FORGET IT AND STORM OUT OF THE DEALER. I AM 100% SURE THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN, IT IS A BAD DESIGN TO USE PLASTIC IN A HIGH HEAT AREA IN THE BELLY OF A TURBO ENGINE THAT WARPS AND CRACKS THE PLASTIC HOUSING -- METAL DESIGN WITHSTAND THE HEAT MUCH BETTER!!!!! BAD ENGINEERING!! WHY PLASTIC ????? THIS NEEDS INVESTIGATION AND RECALL ASAP ON VOLKSWAGEN BEHALF! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Reported

Aug 2014

Incident date

Aug 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THE RIGHT SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS MOUNTED DEEPLY IN ITS PLASTIC HOUSING. WHEN THE MIRROR IS PROPERLY ADJUSTED, APPROXIMATELY 20% OF THE REFLECTED IMAGE IS OF THE MIRROR'S HOUSING ITSELF, LEAVING A SIGNIFICANT BLIND SPOT. *TR

Reported

Feb 2014

Incident date

Nov 2012

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THE WINDSHIELD HAS MANY CHIPS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE GLASS IS HIGHLY AFFECTED BY SMALL ROAD DEBRIS (ROCKS, SALT) WHICH CAUSES THE GLASS TO CHIP EASILY. IT IS BECOMING A DISTRACTION WHILE I DRIVE. *TR

Reported

Jan 2014

Incident date

Nov 2013

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I PURCHASED MY VOLKSWAGEN GTI MARCH OF THIS YEAR. DURING OWNERSHIP, I HAD THE WINDOWS TINTED AND EACH TIME IT WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP SUBCONTRACTOR, THE WINDOWS WERE SCRATCHED. THE DOOR GLASS AND REAR WINDOW WAS REPLACED WITH THE REAR GLASS QUARTER BEING REPLACED TWICE. THIS WAS NOT THE SAFETY CONCERN, BUT IT LEADS TO MY MAIN CONCERN; THE WINDSHIELD. THE GLASS OF THE WINDSHIELD HAS NOW STARTED TO CHIP EXCESSIVELY. THERE ARE AT LEAST 40 CHIPS THAT REFRACT LIGHT DURING DRIVING AND IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATE THAT IT IS "NORMAL WEAR". I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WITH NO RESPONSE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF GLASS ISSUE WITH ANY VEHICLE I'VE OWNED, AND I HAVE OWNED NEARLY EVERY MAKE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

Reported

Nov 2013

Incident date

Nov 2013

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TOOK CAR FOR FIRST DRIVE. AFTER TRAVELING 145 MILES INTO THIS TRIP WHEN TROUBLE STARTED. AMBIENT TEMP WAS 101F. DRIVE TIME WAS JUST OVER 2.5 HOURS. GAS TANK WAS SLIGHTLY OVER HALF EMPTY. CAR STALLED TAKING OFF FROM STOP. ENGINE RUNNING BUT CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ENGINE THEN STOPPED. CRANKED OVER (STARTED) AND WENT ABOUT 2 BLOCKS. CAR STALLED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET STARTED AGAIN. HAD TO CRANK IT 3-4 TIMES. STARTED THEN STALLED. ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. EVENTUALLY STARTED. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH ENGINE TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I POINTED CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND BRAKED TO A STOP. TWO MORE STOP LIGHT INCIDENTS WHERE CAR STALLED AND QUIT RUNNING AT AND IN INTERSECTIONS. PULLED OVER AND CALLED DEALER. TALKED TO SERVICE CONSULTANT. DISCUSSED OPTIONS. ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. EVEN THOUGH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED, SERVICE CONSULTANT STATED THAT SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STEADY AMBER IT SHOULD BE OK TO DRIVE IF I WAS COMFORTABLE DOING IT. I DETERMINED MY BEST OPTION WAS TO DRIVE IT BACK TO TUCSON. WAITING FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ON HWY 191 BETWEEN SAFFORD AND WILLCOX IN 100F+ SUNSHINE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNACCEPTABLE, IF NOT MORE DANGEROUS THAN DRIVING THE CAR - BECAUSE OF THE REMOTE LOCATION AND THE EXTREME HEAT. MADE IT BACK TO TUCSON. DROVE STRAIGHT TO SERVICE AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF. TOTAL MILEAGE ON CAR 353 MILES. NOTE THAT I HAD NOT ADDED ANY GAS TO THE VEHICLE, AND WAS STILL USING THE GAS PROVIDED BY DEALER UPON DELIVERY. (I MENTION THIS BECAUSE A TECH ASKED IF DIESEL FUEL WAS PUT IN THE TANK INSTEAD OF GAS. NO!) DEALER SERVICE CONFIRMED FUEL PUMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND REPLICATED PROBLEM. NOTED FUEL PUMP EXTREMELY HOT AND DISCOVERED ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO FUEL CONTROL MODULE WITH STRONG POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

Reported

Aug 2013

Incident date

Aug 2013

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.