10 of the 57 complaints about the 2006 Volkswagen GTI are about the engine — 18% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 81,000 miles.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
FUEL INJECTOR FAILD OPEN AND DUMPED FUEL INTO THE CYLINDER AND IT HYDRO LOCKED. I WAS IN MOTION AND CHECK ENGINE FLASHING AND ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH
NHTSA complaint #11308622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAMSHIFT SENSOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF EVERY 2 DAYS
NHTSA complaint #11181610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE FUEL PRESSURE PUMP AND THE CAMSHAFT WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,145.....UPDATED 08/29/16
NHTSA complaint #10876219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING AND VEHICLE WAS QUICKLY CONSUMED IN FLAMES. POWER LOSS WAS INITIALLY NOTICED ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND STARTED TO BURN ON A SIDE STREET WHILE STOPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10871482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAR LOST ACCELERATION AT APPROX 40 MPH ON 4 LANE ROAD. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC CLAIMS BROKEN CAM CHAIN. DEALER DID NOT CHECK WARRANTY EXTENSION PART CAM FOLLOWER WHICH IS KNOWN TO FAIL (PER CORY FROM VWOA) BUT HAS ANOTHER WARRANTY EXTENSION PART INTAKE CAMSHAFT ON REPAIR LIST. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENING WITH A QUICK SEARCH.
NHTSA complaint #10788829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE CAM FOLLOWER AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,200.
NHTSA complaint #10494462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OWNER OF A 2006 VW GTI, THREW ENGINE CODE FOR KNOWN TSB REGARDING CAM FOLLOWER AND CAM SHAFT WEAR AT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. MECHANIC INSPECTED SITE AND DISCOVERED THAT CAM SHAFT WEAR/ DAMAGE WAS EXTREME AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, CAM SHAFT, AND CAM FOLLOWER ALL OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE SOME EXTENSION ON FACTORY WARRANTIES FROM VW OF AMERICA INSTEAD OF EXPECTING OWNERS TO PONY UP $1600-2400 IN REPAIR COSTS WHEN IT INEVITABLY FAILS. FOR NOTE OF KNOWN ISSUE, SEE VW TSB #2013147/8.
NHTSA complaint #10372176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT NOTICED A REDUCTION IN POWER ALONG WITH A SHUDDERING OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK CASE BREATHER HOSE AND A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM INTENSIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VACUUM HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO PERFORMED THE IGNITION COIL RECALL REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON; HOWEVER, THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT HE HAD A VALVE LASH AND FUEL PUMP MODULE REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING LONG A DISTANCE, THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE BEGAN TO BLINK ON AND OFF. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A SECOND DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR FAILURE WITH THE CAMSHAFT SYSTEM WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND A CAM FOLLOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.
NHTSA complaint #10308911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2006 VW GTI HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES BY A VW DEALER. I PURCHASED THE CAR UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT WOULD BE IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THE DEALER WAS THE ONE WHO PERFORMED ALL SERVICE. I TOOK THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP OFF TO CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER. THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER WAS COMPLETELY MISSING THE TOP, THE HPFP WAS COMPLETELY MISSING IT'S TIP AND THE CAMSHAFT HAS LARGE GOUGES IN THE METAL. THIS IS AN AWFUL DESIGN, AND SHOULD BE RECTIFIED BY VOLKSWAGEN.
NHTSA complaint #10300486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND VEHICLE STILL IDLED VERY ROUGH. WHILE CALLING VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD I FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHAT LOOKED AND SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WITHIN ONE MINUTE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. 911 WAS CALLED AND A FIRE TRUCK CAME OUT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER IN TRAVERSE CITY, MI, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND VW OF AMERICA CONTACTED ME AND SAID IT WAS AN IGNITION COIL FIRE. THEY HAVE MADE AN OFFER TO BUY BACK THE CAR. THIS VEHICLE HAD A PREVIOUS IGNITION COIL FAILURE (FEB., 2007/10,686 MILES) RESULTING IN MELTED WIRING. THERE WERE ALSO FAILURES OF THE TURBOCHARGER, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IGNITION SWITCH PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE. SERVICE REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THE FAILURES PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE ON 10/03/07.
NHTSA complaint #10205127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.