24 of the
97 complaints about the 2001 Volkswagen GTI are about the
electrical system — 25% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
50,000 miles.
D
24
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Ignition
1250.0%
Electrical System
520.8%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers
28.3%
Switch
28.3%
Horn
14.2%
Wiring
14.2%
Module
14.2%
Electrical System across every Volkswagen GTI year
THE COIL PACK FAILS, I HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE AND NO MATTER WHAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON IN NO TIME AT ALL AND IT'S COIL PACK FAILURE, WHICH ALSO TRIGGERS OTHER SENSORS LIKE THE COOLANT SENSOR WHICH I HAVE REPLACED AS WELL. I THINK THE LONGEST TIME MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF WAS 3 WEEKS! THIS CAR COSTS A FORTUNE TO FIX AND IT'S NEVER FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10318605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,268 milesSanta Maria, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON THE MORNING OF 27 APRIL 2007, I STARTED MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN GTI 1.8T. THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING VERY ROUGH AND DID NOT SOUND NORMAL. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS COLD. AT THIS POINT IT BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND DROVE DOWN THE ROAD. APPROXIMATELY A MILE OR TWO DOWN THE ROAD I CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND AFTER STOPPING AND THEN PROCEEDING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION MY VEHICLE SEEMED LIKE IT HAD LITTLE OR NO POWER TO THE ENGINE. AT THIS POINT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING SO I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF MY ENGINE. I THEN OPENED MY HOOD AND SMOKE POURED OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT THIS POINT I CHECKED MY OIL TO SEE IT IT SMELT BURNT WHICH IT DID NOT. I THEN CHECKED MY COOLANT LEVEL AND IT WAS FULL AND WASN'T EVEN WARM. I THEN HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT 1 OF THE 4 COILS IN MY ENGINE HAD STOPPED WORKING AND HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THAT'S WHAT HAD CAUSED THE SMOKE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HE ALSO SAID THE ALL FOUR NEED TO BE REPLACED OR THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. AT THIS POINT ALL FOUR COILS WERE REPLACED AND THE OLD ONES WERE GIVEN TO ME TO KEEP AS PROOF THAT THE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10188759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 34,064 milesBrookfield, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SINCE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN 2001 MIL LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON IN RAINING CONDITIONS. VW SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REPLACED IN AT NO CHARGE IN MARCH OF 2003. SINCE REPLACEMENT LIGHT STILL COMES ON, AND IS NOW PERMANENTLY ON. WHEN CAR IS WET YOU CAN SEE SPARKS COMING FROM THE IGNITION COIL. THERE ARE NOTICEABLE CRACKS IN THE COIL HOUSING. *******EPA REFERENCE INFORMATION(IHTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/OTAQ/CERT/RECALL/420B04018.PDF) *******EPA STATES THE FOLLOWING: CYLINDER IGNITION COIL FAILURE. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND ILLUMINATE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL). TWO SEPARATE FAILURE MODES MAY EXIST WITHIN THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS TESTED, (1)COIL HOUSING DAMAGE CAUSED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS AT THE APPLICABLE VW OR AUDI FACTORY, (2)COIL DESIGN SHORTCOMINGS BY THE SUPPLIER. *****************NOTE: THE 2002 GOLF GTI VR6 (ENGINE CLASS 2VWXV02.8224) AND THE 2001 EURO VAN VR6 (ENGINE CLASS 1VWXV02.8225)USE THE SAME IGNITION COILS AS MY CAR, THE 2001 GOLF GTI VR6 (ENGINE CLASS 1VWXV02.8224). PLEASE HELP TO INCLUDE MY CALL THE 2001 GOLF GTI (VR6). MY CAR IS NOW AND HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES, EXCESS FUEL CONSUMPTION, EMISSIONS FAULTS, LOSS OF POWER ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING, EXCESS OIL COMSUMPTION ETC.
NHTSA complaint #10155392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 113,000 milesParkersburg, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE MISFIRES ON DAMP MORNINGS CREATING SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND INTERMITTENT STALL CONDITION. MIL LIGHT MAY FLASH BUT DOESN'T REMAIN LIT AFTER EPISODE. DIAGNOSED AS SECOND COIL FAILURE IN JUST 2 YEARS TOTALING OVER $1,200 IN REPAIRS. THIS IS THE VR6 ENGINE WITH A SINGLE COIL UNIT - THE "GOOD" COIL NOT SUBJECT TO VOLKSWAGEN'S SECRET WARRANTY AS OFFERED ON COILS OF OTHER 2001 MODELS AND ON THE 2002 MODEL OF THE VR6. IT WOULD SEEM THE SECRET WARRANTY MAY HAVE BEEN ARBITRARILY LIMITED IN SCOPE.
NHTSA complaint #10149314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 51,999 milesLoudonville, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON OCTOBER 4, 2005 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED ON MY 2001 VW GTI, UPON BRINGING IT TO MY REPAIR SHOP - THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT MY IGNITION COIL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, THIS REPAIR COST ME NEARLY $1,000. UPON LEARNING THAT THE IGNITION COIL ON 2001 VW'S WAS DEFECTIVE AND READING A PRESS RELEASE FROM VW THAT STATED IN PART ALL 2001 VW CARS INCLUDING GTI'S EQUIPPED WITH 2.8 LITER VR6 WOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST" AND ALL CUSTOMERS WILL BE NOTIFIED THAT THIS PART DOESN'T MEET OUR HIGH STANDARDS AND WILL BE REPLACED, I CONTACTED VW AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY REPAIR. THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT, CONTRARY TO THE INFO CONTAINED IN THEIR PRESS RELEASE, MY CAR WASN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS THE PART REFERENCED IN SERVICE BULLETIN 0401 AND 0402, 10007016 AND 10007205 ON THIS WEBSITE. IT APPEARS THAT VW ISN'T LIVING UP TO THEIR COMMITMENT, THEY NEITHER NOTIFIED ME INITIALLY OR AGREED TO REIMBURSEMENT OR OTHER REMEDY WHEN I CONTACTED THEM TODAY.
NHTSA complaint #10138680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,000 milesElgin, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE IS IN SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, BOTH STILL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY ARE EMISSION CONTROL. THE CULPRIT FOR THE FAILURE SEEMS TO BE THE COIL PACK HAS FAILED. THE COIL IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE CAR NOW HAS 43,000 MILES AND IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, COST IS ABOUT $800. THE COIL PACK FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT 19,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD BY DEALER TO EXPECT TO REPLACE THE COIL ABOUT EVERY 2 YEARS. IN ADDITION HAD THE DRIVERS WINDOW CLIPS FAIL TWICE AND THE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR, HORN SHORTED 3 SEPERATE TIMES, THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE RELAY THE 3RD TIME IT CAME IN AND THAT CORRECTED IT.
NHTSA complaint #10126980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,000 milesElgin, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
VEHICLE IS IN SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, BOTH STILL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY ARE EMISSION CONTROL. THE CULPRIT FOR THE FAILURE SEEMS TO BE THE COIL PACK HAS FAILED. THE COIL IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE CAR NOW HAS 43,000 MILES AND IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, COST IS ABOUT $800. THE COIL PACK FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT 19,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD BY DEALER TO EXPECT TO REPLACE THE COIL ABOUT EVERY 2 YEARS. IN ADDITION HAD THE DRIVERS WINDOW CLIPS FAIL TWICE AND THE WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR, HORN SHORTED 3 SEPERATE TIMES, THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE RELAY THE 3RD TIME IT CAME IN AND THAT CORRECTED IT.
NHTSA complaint #10126980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesBirmingham, ALFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH PREVENTS NORMAL FUNCTIONING OF MANY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THIS PROBLEM IS A FIRE HAZARD. OVERHEATING OF THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY MELTS PLASTIC HOUSING AND DAMAGES INSULATION AND CONDUCTOR OF WIRES CONNECTED TO THE SWITCH. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN DRIVING LIGHTS (I.E. HEADLAMP SWITCH PULLED OUT) ARE ON. NO PROBLEM OCCURS WITH DRIVING LIGHTS OFF. PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY INADEQUATE SWITCH DESIGN. DEALER SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE DASH WIRING HARNESS, WHICH WAS UNACCEPTABLE DUE TO COST. OWNER REPAIRED DAMAGED WIRE WITH VOLKSWAGEN REPAIR KIT AND REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, AND NO LONGER USES DRIVING LIGHTS. PHOTOS OF FAILED SWITCH AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10125260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,126 milesSouth Plainfield, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FIVE OF THE 6 ENGINE CYLINDERS WERE MISFIRING SO THE VEHICLE FAILED THE STATE EMISSION TEST. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE IGNITION COILS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY DIDN'T INDICATE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE COILS. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE A RECALL ON THIS PART ON THIS MODEL BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE RECALL.(NOT FOUND IN ARTEMIS).
NHTSA complaint #10097150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5 milesLong Beach, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IGNITION COIL FAILED ON MY 2001 VW GTI VR6. THIS FAILURE ALSO TRIGGED OXYGEN SENSOR, COOLANT SENSOR, MAF SENSOR AND ECU TO FAIL. AS MENTIONED ABOVE ENGINE MISFIRES, A FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, REDUCED POWER AND BUCKING ARE ALL SYMPTOMS OF A FAILED IGNITION COIL.
NHTSA complaint #10090585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,000 milesNEW York, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN GTI 1.8T IN 2001. IT HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES ON ME. IGNITION COIL FAILURE, WINDOW COLLAPSED SUDENTLY, SHIFT IS STUCK IN PARKING, CATALYST CONVERTER FAILURE, REAR BRAKE PADS WORNED OUT VERY FAST WHILE THE FRONT PAD WAS LIKE NEW. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN VOLKSWAGEN. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS HORRIBLE. ALLLTHEIR RESPONSES WERE THIS IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY, IT'S NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ETC.
NHTSA complaint #10088252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,000 milesNEW York, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN GTI 1.8T IN 2001. IT HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES ON ME. IGNITION COIL FAILURE, WINDOW COLLAPSED SUDENTLY, SHIFT IS STUCK IN PARKING, CATALYST CONVERTER FAILURE, REAR BRAKE PADS WORNED OUT VERY FAST WHILE THE FRONT PAD WAS LIKE NEW. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN VOLKSWAGEN. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS HORRIBLE. ALLLTHEIR RESPONSES WERE THIS IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY, IT'S NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ETC.
NHTSA complaint #10088252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,000 milesNEW York, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
I BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN GTI 1.8T IN 2001. IT HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES ON ME. IGNITION COIL FAILURE, WINDOW COLLAPSED SUDENTLY, SHIFT IS STUCK IN PARKING, CATALYST CONVERTER FAILURE, REAR BRAKE PADS WORNED OUT VERY FAST WHILE THE FRONT PAD WAS LIKE NEW. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN VOLKSWAGEN. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS HORRIBLE. ALLLTHEIR RESPONSES WERE THIS IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY, IT'S NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ETC.
NHTSA complaint #10088252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A WIRE BURNT OUT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE WIRE. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE.
NHTSA complaint #10076007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,500 milesParkersburg, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION COIL FAILED AT 30 MONTHS. $636 REPAIR TERMED NORMAL MAINTENANCE BY VOLKSWAGEN. MASSIVE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM IN PROCESS FOR FAILED COILS ON OTHER MODEL YEAR GTIS AND SAME MODEL YEAR WITH DIFFERENT ENGINE, NONE OF WHICH HELPS YOU IF YOU OWN A 2001 GTI VR6. CAR HAS ALSO SUFFERED MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR FAILURE, 2 POWER WINDOW FAILURES, 2 BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURES WITH RELATED INOPERABLE CRUISE CONTROL, BODY WEATHER STRIPPING QUICKLY DEVELOPED HOLES, FAILED GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT MODULE, REAR CUPHOLDER FAILURE. I'VE LOST COUNT OF DEALER SERVICE VISITS.
NHTSA complaint #10064173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesCamp Hill, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THE DEALER DETERMINED ONE OF THE IGNITION COILS MUST BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10048686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2001 VR6 IGNITION COIL FAILURE, HAD PART REPLACED TODAY FOR $550, MADE IT 1/4 MILE DOWN THE ROAD, LITERALLY TO THE FIRST STOP SIGN AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, MISFIRING, LOSS OF POWER, CEL LIGHT CAME BACK ON, I AM DRIVING A LOANER RIGHT NOW. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10014390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,000 milesDunwoody, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING IN AUGUST 2002. DEALER REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. JANUARY 2003 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR OFF WARRANTY; TURBO CUT OFF VALVE REPLACED AND COOLANT TEMP SENSOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE WEEKS LATER. TOOK GTI TO DEALER AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY. NOW, 3 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10014099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Auburn, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ABOUT EVERY MONTH. EACH TIME THERE IS A DIFFERENT REASON FOR IT COMING ON. IT''S BEEN REALLY ANNOYING DRIVING TO THE DEALER EVERY MONTH.
NHTSA complaint #10005570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 34,000 milesANN Arbor, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MULTIPLE COILPACK PROBLEMS. 3 OUT OF 4 FAILED IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. ONE COILPACK FELL APART IN MY HAND AS I REPLACED IT WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART. I PURCHASED AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENTS BECAUSE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE PART DUE TO OVERWHELMING FAILURES. THEY HAD 25 CARS ON THE LOT THAT WERE UNDRIVEABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10003600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,500 milesHolmdel, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION COILPACK FAILURES IN FOUR CYLINDER 1.8 TURBO ENGINES. MODEL YEAR 01+, ENGINE CODE AWW. VW IS WELL AWARE OF THIS EPIDEMIC CONDITION AND IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL, NOR HAVE THEY COMMUNICATED ANYTHING TO THEIR COUSTOMERS. VW HAS NEW REDESIGNED PARTS BUT ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY SO VW IS ONLY REPLACING PARTS IN CARS THAT HAVE FAILED, AND THEN ONLY TO THE COILPACK THAT HAS FAILED NOT IN ALL FOUR. THIS IS UNNACEPTABLE. THEY ARE BASICALLY WAITING FOR EVERYONE THAT ONES A CAR WITH THAT ENGINE TO BREAK DOWN ON THE ROAD AND THEN ONLY REPLACE 1 OF THE 4 COILPACKS WITH THE NEW DESIGN. SO AFTER 3 MORE BREAKDOWNS AND ENDLESS DAYS WAITING FOR PARTS WILL YOUR CAR BE "TRUSTWORTHY" AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10000837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,200 milesChicago, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE IGNITION COIL FAILED. TS
NHTSA complaint #10001734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parkersburg, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
VEHICLE FUSE CARD CONTAINS 44 PICTURE SYMBOLS WITH NO WORDS, A FEW SYMBOLS BEING OBVIOUS (HORN, SIGNALS), MOST SYMBOLS BEING INDECIPHERABLE (5 IDENTICAL ENGINE BLOCKS WITH A LIGHTENING BOLT; 11 IDENTICAL SYMBOLS WHICH MAY BE SEATBELTS, BOOKS OR TOILET PAPER; AND BRAKE SHOES WITH A TURBINE INSIDE). THE OWNER'S MANUAL ENCOURAGES YOU TO CARRY EXTRA FUSES, USE THE HANDY FUSE REMOVAL TOOL INSTALLED IN THE FUSE BOX COVER, AND REFERS YOU TO THE FUSE CARD FOR IDENTIFICATION OF CIRCUITS. WHEN MY CRUISE CONTROL FAILED, I WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF A FUSE MIGHT BE INVOLVED. HAD A BLOWN FUSE AFFECTED THE ENGINE OR LIGHTS OR OTHER SAFETY SYSTEM, I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE INFORMED ME THAT NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE (IN ANY LANGUAGE) THAT WOULD INTERPRET THE FUSE CARD SYMBOLS. MY DEALER WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM, BUT COULD PROVIDE NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. I BELIEVE THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT, EASILY CORRECTABLE DEFECT, WHICH COULD PREVENT THE OWNER FROM RESTORING OPERATION OF CRITICAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE FUSE CARD UPON YOUR REQUEST.
NHTSA complaint #762604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walnut Creek, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK THE FOG LIGHT BURN OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. ALSO, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON REPEATDLY AND FUSE PANEL REPLACED. FUEL PUMP RELAY REPLACED .
NHTSA complaint #881168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.