41 of the 1,949 complaints filed about the Volkswagen GTI are about the lighting — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2001.
41
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RPMS ONLY GO TO 4000 THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWN, ONE OF THE FANS DOES NOT WORK ....THERE ARE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE MASS AIR INTAKE FLOW ISSUES WITH THAT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF ISSUES. IT'S AFFECTED THE ELECTRICAL, SPEED CONTROL, AIRBAGS, VISIBILITY AND WIPER,LIGHTING, FUEL SYSTEM MASS AIR INTAKE SENSOR
NHTSA complaint #11340270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ONE OF THE HID HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE BULB FAIL WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH TO BE ILLUMINATED. I WENT TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT A NEW BULB. UPON REMOVAL OF THE BULB ACCESS COVER I FOUND THAT ALL THE INSULATION ON ALLOF THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT UNIT TO HAVE DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE BARE WIRES TO TOUCH AND SHORT OUT. I THEN INSPECTED THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE EXACT SAME CONDITION. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE TWO NEW HEADLAMP UNITS AT A COST OF $500 PER UNIT. I THEN CONTACTED VWOFA ( CUSTOMER CARE REF #[XXX]) ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT AGAIN BEING OUT OF WARRANTY IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO INCUR THE REPAIR COSTS. AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 60K AND THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS AND A MANUFACTURING DEFECT PLEASE INVESTIGATE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11232001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TAKATA RECALL MY VOLKSWAGEN HAS MANY PROBLEMS THAT I BELIEVE ARE FACTORY DEFECTS. STARTING WITH THE AIRBAG FAULT WARNING THAT COMES ON AS SOON AS I START THE VEHICLE. THEN ITSTARTED LOOSING COOLANT TO TBE POINT THAT K WAS HAVING TO PULL OVER EVERY 30-50 MILES TO PUT MORE. AND THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGIN HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 5 MINS. THEN THE CHECK COOLANT COMES ON AND SHORTLY AFTER IT SAYS CHECK OIL PRESSURE TURN OFF ENGINE. IVE HAD TO PUT MORE WORK INTO THIS CAR THAN WHAT ITS WORTH. THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF RANDOMLY THE BRIGHTS DONT WORK OR WHILE IM DRIVING ONE WILL TURN OFF OR BOTH AT THE SAME TIME AND THIS HAPPENS ANYWHERE IF MY CAR IS IN MOTION. . THE IMAGE BELOW THAT SHOWS THE RADIATOR CONNECTOR THAT HAS KB WELD ON IT BECAUSE MY ENGINE GOT SO HOT THAT THE TOP HOSE BROKE OFF CAUSING A DOMINO EFFECT OF PROBLEMS ANLONG WITH COSTLY REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #11231751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE ADJUSTING STEERING COLUMN , THE HIGH BEAMS TURN ON AND WIPER & WASHER FLUID TURN ON ...CAN NOT TURN OFF UNTIL STEERING COLUMN IS READJUSTED ....
NHTSA complaint #11162350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BULB FROM THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET DETACHED WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOG LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #11091608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
'TAKATA RECALL' ON THE HORN, IT STOPPED WORKING, CHECKED THE HORN, AND FUSES AND WASNT THAT. 'TAKATA RECALL' ON THE FRONT LIGHTS, CHECKED THE BULBS AND IT WASNT THAT, MOST LIKELY IS THE WIRING
NHTSA complaint #11090192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL, DRY CONDITIONS WHEN I BEGAN TO GET MDI NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT FAILED LIGHTING. A TOTAL OF 11 NOTIFICATIONS CAME ACROSS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. THE 30A FUSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX HAD MELTED. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR....THE PLASTIC MELTED WITHOUT BURNING OUT THE FUSE. THIS ISSUE AFFECTS A WIDE RANGE OF YEARS AND MODELS AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED JUST ON THE TIQUAN???. IT IS MIND BOGGLING THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL ITEM ON ALL MODELS AS THE LACK OF LIGHTING IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10872104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERMITTENT, PARTIAL OR FULL LOSS OF OF EXTERIOR LIGHTING. WARNING LAMP INSIDE DID PROVIDE THE NAMES OF MULTIPLE, RANDOM LIGHTS THAT HAD FAILED, SOMETIMES ACCURATE, OTHER TIMES INACCURATE. LIGHTS WOULD FAIL AT RANDOM WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. FUSE F16 OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE FUSE BOX EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V569000, AND VW SAFETY RECALL 97Z9. VOLKSWAGEN ASSURED ME THE PARTS ARE NOT RELATED AND THAT THE TIGUAN RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT MY MODEL, BUT COME ON.
NHTSA complaint #10810589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN I START MY CAR I GET A WARNING SAYING MULTIPLE LIGHTS (I.E. HEADLIGHT,TAILLIGHT,FOG LIGHTS) ARE BURNT OUT. THE AFFECTED LIGHT EVENTUALLY TURNS ON. THE FUSE FOR MY LIGHTS WAS BLOWN AND SCORCHED AND MY LOCAL DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY FUSE BOX WHICH IS THE SAME BOX FROM THE TIGUAN WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10620775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROJECT. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT AIMED PROPERLY AND CAUSED REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT USED THE HIGH BEAMS AS AN INTERIM FIX DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V442000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10592823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT HAS FAILED TO WORK AND WHILE THERE IS POWER TO THE POWER MODULE THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCESS THE LED BRAKE LIGHT PANEL WITHOUT REMOVING THE REAR SPOILER AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW ONE WITH A COST OF $500 TO CHANGE THE LIGHT FOR INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10418171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS FOR MY 2008 VOLKSWAGEN GTI MKV MUST HAVE SOME FORM OF A HOLE OR INSUFFICIENT SEALANT BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE ALLOT OF MOISTURE BUILT UP INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS AND MADE MY VISIBILITY SO HARD TO SEE ON THE HIGHWAY I ALMOST RAN INTO 1 CAR AND WHILE I WAS EXITING AND GETTING ONTO THE SERVICE ROAD I WAS GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO MY STREET WHEN I ALMOST HIT 2 PARKED CARS. MY FRIEND HAS ALSO BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH HIS CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10257385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THERE WERE NO SPECIFIC EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE, ONLY TIME. THE HIGH MOUNTED 3RD BRAKELIGHT ON MY 2007 VW GTI IS FAILING. IT'S FULL OF CONDENSATION, AND THAT'S CAUSING THE BULBS INSIDE IT TO FAIL. WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE THEM, THE OWNERS MANUAL INFORMED ME THAT ONLY THE DEALER COULD DO SO. UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE CAR SEVERAL DAYS AS THEY HAD TO DISMOUNT SEVERAL BODY PANELS, CUT THEM OPEN, THEN REPLACE THE BULBS AND GLUE EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER. I WAS ALSO WARNED TO ESSENTIALLY EXPECT BODY DAMAGE, AND THAT THE BILL FOR ALL THIS WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL. ALL THIS TO REPLACE A BULB? THAT'S INSANE, AND I FELT LIKE THAT WAS A POOR ENOUGH RESULT THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD DEAL WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10252334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I BOUGHT A PAIR OF AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHTS FROM A MEMBER ON EBAY FOR MY 2001 VW GTI. I BOUGHT THESE HEADLIGHTS FROM A SELLER . I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND FOGLIGHT (WHICH IS INCORPORATED INTO THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING) IS TURNED ON IT WILL CAUSE THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT TO MELT BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I DO BELIEVE THESE ARE UNSAFE AND COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE; HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL EMAILS. HE HAS NOT RESPONDED TO ME. I'VE GONE AND DONE MY RESEARCH AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE LIGHTS. THEY ARE MANUFACTURED BY DEPO FOR FK AUTOMOTIVE, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS SELLER IS AND AUTHORIZED DEALER OF THESE HEADLIGHTS. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE I CAN GO. PLEASE HELP ME OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10251152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I AM UNABLE TO REPLACE MY THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WITHOUT TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DRIVE A 2008 VW GTI.
NHTSA complaint #10249547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1. PURCHASED MY 2006 VW GTI ON JULY 15TH 2008. NOTICED CONDENSATION IN THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING. 2. CONDENSATION ALWAYS THERE. NO WAY TO REMOVE BRAKE LIGHT TO REMOVE THE CONDENSATION. 3. FILING COMPLAINT. POSSIBLE CRACKED LIGHT OR SHORT IN LIGHT DUE TO THE CONDENSATION.
NHTSA complaint #10248308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I CAN'T REPLACE THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT BULBS ON MY 2008 VW GTI. THERE IS NO WAY TO SERVICE THEM AND THE DEAL STATES THEY WOULD HAVE TO PHYSICALLY RIP OFF MY SPOILER TO DO SO.
NHTSA complaint #10248293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE 2008 VW GTI USES THE HEADLIGHTS AS RUNNING LIGHTS. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THIS CAUSES A HAZARD AS AT NIGHT THE DRIVER IS LIKELY TO START THE CAR AND PROCEED TO DRIVE. USUALLY ONE WOULD NOT PROCEED TO DRIVE WITHOUT TURNING THE LIGHTS ON HOWEVER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AUTOMATICALLY. NOW YOU ARE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS BUT NO TAILLIGHTS. THIS FEATURE IS CREATING A HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CHANGED. I INQUIRED AT THE DEALER AND THEY STATED 'THAT IS THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED TO WORK'. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFICIENCY.
NHTSA complaint #10248069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2009 VW GTI THAT IS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD. THE REAR BRAKELIGHT IN THE SPOILER IS FILLED WITH MOISTURE AND DOES NOT GO AWAY. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THIS BULB OUT EASILY WHEN IT FAILS BECAUSE IT WILL IF MOISTURE REMAINS TRAPPED. HOWEVER THE FACTORY MANUAL WARNS THAT THIS IS A MULTI-DAY JOB AND MAY RESULT IN A BROKEN SPOILER AND POSSIBLE BODY DAMAGE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VIOLATION OF FMVSS 108 WHICH REQUIRES THAT REPLACING THE BULBS BE SIMPLE AND REQUIRE ONLY COMMON TOOLS. THIS IS AN ISSUE ON ALL 2006 - 2009 VW GTI AND R32 CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10248211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WANT TO COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 3RD HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT ON MY 07 VOLKSWAGEN GTI THAT I HAVE ONE OF THE LIGHT OUT AMONG THE LIGHT AND I TRY TO REPLACE THE LIGHT IN A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE ONE LIGHT OUT UNLESS I NEED FOUR LIGHT OUT WHICH I THINK IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE ALL LIGHTS ARE OUT WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I THINK THINK HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH ONE LIGHT IS OUT IT ALREADY NOT OUT OF THE FACTORY CONDITION. I HAVE NO IDEA THAT THEY NEED TO WAIT 4 LIGHTS ARE OUT TO FIXED IT. ALSO I WANT TO COMPLAIN THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE IT BY YOURSELF BECAUSE IT IS MOUNT INSIDE THE SPOILER, THEREFORE I THINK THE DEALERSHIP HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE EVEN THOUGH IT CHARGES.
NHTSA complaint #10247981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.