147 of the
1,949 complaints filed about the Volkswagen GTI
are about the fuel system —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
I own a vehicle built from two salvage vehicles: a 2019 VW Golf Sportwagen (VIN [XXX] - the body) and a 2019 VW GTI (VIN [XXX] - the engine, suspension, fuel tank/system, etc). The vehicle is registered and titled under the Sportwagen VIN. Safety Recall 20UF requires replacement of the suction jet pump to prevent risk of fire. The recall was performed on the Sportwagen prior to its crash, but not on the GTI. Since the Sportwagen no longer has it's original engine/fuel tank, but that from the GTI, this means my vehicle has the defective, unsafe part. Because the dealer service department goes by the registered body VIN, they refused to perform the recall. I called VWoA Customer Care, who advised me that they could not do anything, and that the dealer service department must request an exception from VWoA and inspect the vehicle. I have attempted reaching out to my two nearest VW dealers, including my regular dealer, and they have either refused to perform the recall, or refused to get back to me. One dealer even said I should perform the repair myself, and when I pressed for VW to perform the recall, he said he'd have to call his regional manager and call me back at the end of the week. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11754905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On June 24, 2026, Safety Recall 20UF (Suction Jet Pump) was completed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer. Upon leaving the dealership, the vehicle immediately experienced a severe engine stall and extended no-start condition. During the recall service, liquid fuel flooded the EVAP lines and charcoal canister, saturating the intake with raw fuel. This caused an immediate safety hazard, stalling the vehicle in active traffic in 110+ degree summer heat. The vehicle was brought back to the dealer, who confirmed the stall but incorrectly blamed a fuel injector, refusing to acknowledge the EVAP flooding caused by the recall work. Due to the no-start condition, the vehicle was flatbed towed. Raw fuel from this EVAP lines washed past the piston rings, requiring an emergency engine oil change to prevent catastrophic engine failure from severe oil dilution. VW Customer CARE (Case #07594393) refused reimbursement for the towing ($167.00) and oil flush ($101.74) resulting directly from the botched recall. VW failed to provide a safe, effective, cost-free recall remedy. Repair documents attached.
NHTSA complaint #11752743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA Recall 24V-110 (VW 20UF). The vehicle is in Limp Mode and experiencing low oil pressure symptoms. It is also subject to Recall 24V-110, which identifies a fire risk due to fuel leakage. Despite the safety hazard, the local Volkswagen dealership has refused to perform the recall repair or diagnose the vehicle, stating it is at their 'discretion.' I am reporting a failure by the manufacturer and the dealer to remedy an active safety defect, leaving me with an unsafe, undriveable vehicle."
NHTSA complaint #11719667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Had an immediate loss of propulsion event without warning (2-Feb-2026) after recall work completed on 16-Dec-20256 (24V110000). I lost propulsion on public roads and was lucky that this happened just after I exited the highway otherwise I would have ended up in a life threatening situation
NHTSA complaint #11716457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a safety concern related to Safety Recall 20UF on my 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE and the handling of this recall by an authorized Volkswagen dealership (Pohanka Volkswagen, Capitol Heights, MD). Prior to the recall service, the vehicle exhibited loss of power, intermittent shuddering, and severe difficulty refueling (fuel pump nozzle repeatedly shut off even with a low fuel level). These symptoms were similar to prior EVAP system failures that required replacement of the charcoal canister and EVAP purge (N80) valve earlier in 2025. I brought the vehicle to the dealership on December 29, 2025, specifically requesting completion of Recall 20UF and inspection/replacement of EVAP components if necessary. The dealership initially refused to perform the recall unless I returned the vehicle with less than one-quarter tank of fuel, despite the recall documentation specifying that fuel extraction equipment (VAS5190A or equivalent) is required for this repair. A diagnostic report generated by the dealership listed a “Fuel Pump (in tank)” replacement as a customer-pay repair before later removing it once it was identified as recall-related. After significant delays, the dealership stated the recall had been completed and declined to replace any EVAP components. Since the recall service, the vehicle continues to experience intermittent shuddering and difficulty accelerating. While refueling has temporarily improved, drivability concerns persist, raising questions about whether the recall repair was properly performed and whether the vehicle remains safe to operate. I am concerned about inconsistent handling of a safety recall, improper diagnostic practices, and continued fuel-system-related drivability issues that may pose a safety risk.
NHTSA complaint #11711276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Recall service was performed on the fuel system. The vehicle was operating normally before the recall. Shortly after the recall service, the fuel gauge failed and became stuck at mid-level. Dealer refuses to cover the repair and claims it is unrelated, but the timing and failure of another fuel system component suggests otherwise. This presents a safety issue because the driver cannot determine fuel level or range and may impact other recalled vehicles and should be included in the repair of the fuel system. The recall that was performed on the vehicle was "Safety Recall 20UF - Suction Jet Pump". I believe the timing of the failure suggests that the recall work impacted the vehicle fuel system and I don't believe it's fair for customers following safety recalls to be punished and required to pay for further damages caused from a recall on the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11697710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Description of the Problem: The fuel pump failed and began spraying gasoline during operation. The malfunction was documented on video by an authorized Volkswagen mechanic and confirmed by a Volkswagen dealership in Honolulu, Hawaii. The component is available for inspection if required. Safety Risk: The failure caused pressurized gasoline to spray within the engine compartment, presenting a serious fire and explosion hazard. This defect posed a danger to the driver, passengers, and others nearby due to potential ignition of leaked fuel. Reproduction and Inspection: The condition was reproduced and confirmed by both an independent authorized Volkswagen mechanic and a Volkswagen dealership in Honolulu. The issue has not yet been inspected by Volkswagen of America, insurance representatives, or police authorities. Warning Signs or Prior Symptoms: A strong smell of gasoline inside the passenger cabin was present prior to discovery of the leak. No dashboard warning lights or error messages appeared. Summary: Fuel pump failure caused gasoline to spray under pressure. The problem was verified by an authorized VW mechanic and dealership in Honolulu, HI. The defective component remains available for inspection. Immediate safety risk due to potential ignition of fuel vapors.
NHTSA complaint #11694805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On October 13, 2025, while driving my 2017 Volkswagen GTI, I noticed a strong odor of gasoline inside and around the vehicle. After parking and inspecting the car, I observed a large pool of gasoline forming in front of the rear passenger-side wheel well. This poses a serious safety risk due to the potential for fire or explosion from fuel leakage. This is the second time my vehicle has experienced gasoline leaking from this same area. The issue appears to originate from a component in or near the fuel system (potentially the fuel line, rollover valve, or suction jet pump assembly), but the specific part has not yet been confirmed. The vehicle is currently at Honolulu Volkswagen for inspection, and the affected components are available for review upon request. At this time, no warning lights, dashboard messages, or prior symptoms appeared before the leak occurred. The odor of gasoline was the first sign of the issue. I believe this recurring fuel leak presents a significant fire hazard and warrants further investigation by Volkswagen and NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #11693205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I had fuel leaking from my carbon canister. I was driving the previous day and noticed a gasoline smell. I thought it was something I ran over. The next day, while performing errands, I noticed the smell even more. Then I exited the vehicle to see the fuel pouring out of the car. The dealership has it now.
NHTSA complaint #11680099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fuel is leaking from near the gas tank when the car is running and creates a puddle- I took my car to the local VW dealership in February to get the Suction Jet Pump Recall completed.
NHTSA complaint #11677730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased a vehicle from a dealer and there was an open recall for said vehicle. I was looking on the NHTSA.gov website and discovered a document mentioning that it is illegal for a dealership to sell a vehicle with an open & not fixed recall, prior to selling said vehicle. I am not entirely sure what this means for me and my vehicle but, I wanted to submit a claim just in case. Please contact me back if you require more information. I have scheduled a service at a certified Volkswagen dealership in my area to repair the suction jet pump recall for next Thursday (March 6) but, am afraid to drive the car until then as I started experiencing issues 2 days after the purchase of my GTI. Thank you.
NHTSA complaint #11644907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Earlier in 2024, Volkswagen of America issued a recall for the Suction Jet Pump, on the 14th of December i went to VW of Pompano Beach in Florida, to get the recall done, however, after they delivered back the car, it started to leak fuel after i put gas on it. On December 17th I took it again to the dealer to get it fixed and they gave me back the vehicle on December 19th. On [XXX] I put gas on the vehicle and it started to leak fuel again and this time it was way worse than before. I accuse the dealer of being responsible of performing a bad job on the recall as the vehicle had never leaked fuel before I had the recall done. I have the vehicle since February 2024. It worries me that there is a big possibility that the car can catch on fire if by any reason there is a spark near to me or there is any thing that can trigger the fuel to ignite. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6
NHTSA complaint #11632016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a 2023 VW GTI with a manual transmission. It has a feature called "Hill Hold Assist", where it enables the parking brake when you are uphill and at a stop, at a red traffic light, for example. The issue is the feature does not disengage the parking brake for about 3 seconds after you engage the gas to begin moving the car. It basically holds the car for too long when you are trying to get moving. This feature has become more of a hinderance and safety concern, than an assistance: 1) Almost rear ended by another car as the Hill Hold Assist would not disengage at a traffic light 2) The amount of gas and clutch use while the car is being held in place while engaged negatively impacts the longevity of the clutch 3) In the case of an emergency, I am unable to move the vehicle when I need to - this is most concerning. This function would not be an issue if there was a way to disable "Hill Hold Assist", or reduce the time it takes to disengage, but unfortunately Volkswagen did not include a way to disable or adjust this feature in the vehicle's software. I previously had a 2018 GTI, manual transmission, with the same feature. It was far less aggressive, and it could be disabled if needed. Please consider this a safety concern and address with Volkswagen of North America, as I have made several calls to VW with no resolution. Many other VW Gti drivers have concerns about this feature as well. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11624393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rough idle on start. RPM is not maintaining to keep the engine running. After a few try, it starts ok and drive off the parking lot, but the engine dies after about 10 seconds over 30mph. It feels like gasoline is not igniting corretly. Scanned Error Code P0171: System Too Lean Bank 1 P0190: Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor A Circuit Dealership can't replicate the issue and find the issue. Could be related to Fuel System Recall.
NHTSA complaint #11618799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On 8/1/2024 my housemate was driving this vehicle on the highway and another driver signaled to her that there was an issue with the vehicle. He put a white board outside of the drivers side window which said "gas is pouring out of the back of your car." There was no warning light to indicate that something was wrong and no prior leaking. When she arrived at home the fuel tank was nearly empty and she informed me of the problem. I asked her when she had filled the tank and she said approximately 2 days ago and that prior to starting her short drive today had over half a tank of fuel. I took the car to the gas station to try to fill the tank. I was unable to fill the tank as the shut off mechanism kept triggered at the fuel pump. I was able to get less than half a tank of gas into the vehicle, so that I could drive is less than 5 miles to the mechanic. During this drive I lost approximately 1/4 of a tank of fuel. After an analysis of the vehicle they determined that fuel was leaking through the carbon canister. They identified this as an issue related to a recalled suction jet pump seal. I had my vehicle towed to the VW dealership in order to complete the repair. I was informed that at that time the repair for the recall was unavailable. Their review of the vehicle noted that the carbon canister had overflowed and leaked. This is a direct result of the suction pump seal failing. I requested both from the dealer and VW directly that this repair be covered under the recall and they stated that the language in the recall prevents them from covering the expense of my repair even though this damage is listed as a potential result of their recalled parts failure. VW put me & my loved one at risk. Driving a car that is leaking fuel is extremely dangerous and they have skirted their responsibility as a business by refusing to cover a repair that is a direct result of their recalled parts failure. I have filed a report w/ VW directly and the case number is 06376308.
NHTSA complaint #11610397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen GTI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware of fuel leaking from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a fuel leak coming from the fuel tank suction pump. The contact was informed that the fuel tank suction pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. VIN tool confirms part not available.
NHTSA complaint #11605953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed; there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle, and the contact became aware of a fuel leak. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11605408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping. In addition, the contact stated while refueling, the fuel leaked out onto the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11605062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suction jet pump failed causing vehicle to have numerous issues and had to be repaired due to being unable to drive. Suction jet pump has a recall with no remedy. Repairs cost me $3369.39 and car was in the shop for 24 days while shop tried to locate recalled part from a distributor.
NHTSA complaint #11604871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen GTI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11604317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.