74 of the
1,949 complaints filed about the Volkswagen GTI
are about the glass, mirrors and wipers —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
74
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year
I believe the malfunction exists within the car's electronic system. The vehicle could potentially be up for inspection. When the issue I am describing occurs, it prevents the user from being able to use the backup camera, change the climate controls, and utilize the rear traffic alert and the park distance control. I have taken my vehicle to the dealership multiple times since purchase for them to say they are unable to replicate the issue I describe. However, one time I took my vehicle in, the issue that would occur became slightly different. To me, this demonstrates something was changed, but as a temporary fix. Additionally, a quick Google search indicates this is a common issue. Prior to this issue appearing, there were no other symptoms. The first recorded instance I have of this is on 04/08/2024, only 7 days after purchasing the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11714362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that while driving in a rainstorm, the windshield wiper speed remained at a moderate level while set to the highest setting. Due to the failure, the contact was forced to pull over and wait until the rainstorm had subsided before being able to resume normal driving. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where a mechanic confirmed the failure. The mechanic tested other model vehicles and determined that the failure was present with the windshield wiper. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,200.
NHTSA complaint #11607994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI. The contact stated that while making a turn at an undisclosed speed, there was water leaking through the sunroof. The contact stated that the sunroof frame had previously been replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the sunroof frame needed to be replaced for the second time; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
NHTSA complaint #11574698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the sunroof leaked water into the fuse box. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11536443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED MOLD FORMING IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY AND UNKNOWN DEALER THAT WATER FROM THE WINDOW LINING DRAINED ONTO THE SEAT AND CAUSED THE MOLD BUILD UP. WATER ALSO ENTER THE VEHICLE AT THE SEAL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR WINDOW AND ALSO THROUGH THE SPEAKER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHERRY HILL VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 2261 NJ-70, CHERRY HILL, NJ 08002 WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #11311136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WINDSHIELD HAS HEAVY PITTING AND SMALL CHIPPING AFTER JUST 50,000 MILES. LOOKING ONLINE IN THE VARIOUS VW FORUMS (VWVORTEX, MK7GOLF, ETC), I DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW NOW. THE GLASS IS THIN AND CHEAP. THE PITTING IS VERY VISIBLE WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN AND IS VISIBLE AT NIGHT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT ALSO CAUSES WIPER BLADES TO WEAR OUT QUICKLY. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS HARD TO SEE UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #11287568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAMELBACK VOLKSWAGEN (499 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014, (602) 648-9181) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GLASS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 19018636, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
NHTSA complaint #11276914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EVERY TIME I USE THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER, A CASCADE OF WASHER FLUID SEEPS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ON THE FLOOR MAT. I'VE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 1 MONTH. ALSO, I'VE NOTICE EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THE CEILING ON MY GTI GETS VERY WET DUE TO A LEAK POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THE SUNROOF. I'LL PROVIDE A PICTURE WHEN IT RAINS NEXT TIME. THIS VIDEO SHOWS THE SAME EXACT THING WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE IN THE VIDEO IS A 2016, MINE IS A 2015, BUT SAME ISSUE AND SAME LOCATION OF THE LEAK. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=ZLGGYDHFZCC
NHTSA complaint #11175109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUN ROOF LEAKED WATER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS CLOSED COMPLETELY, YET THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WATER INTRUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER RAINY CONDITIONS AND RECURRED DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. FAIRFAX VOLKSWAGEN (11050 FAIRFAX BLVD, FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA 22030, (703) 359-4500) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND VERIFIED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS LEAKING WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BASED UPON THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PER NHTSA I.D. 10133484. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.
NHTSA complaint #11140323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED UP, STATIONARY, WITH PARKING BRAKE ON, I SHIFT INTO REVERSE TO EXIT MY GARAGE. THE REAR-VIEW CAMERA SWINGS INTO POSITION, BUT THE VIDEO IMAGE SOMETIMES FAILS TO APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD MONITOR. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11123527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS "SPARKLES" /" SCRATCHES" IN IT. THIS IS EXTREMELY VISIBLE IN THE SUN AND THIS HAS BEEN PROMINENT SINCE 10,000 MILES. CAR AHS 31,000 NOW. TALKED WITH VW SERVICE MANGER ABOUT THIS ISSUE, NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED. I USE THE SAME BRAND CLEANERS FOR MY OTHER CARS AND NO ISSUES. THIS IS A FACTORY DIRECT PROBLEM. WINDSHIELD GET WORSE WITH AGE.
NHTSA complaint #11102322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2017 GTI ON A CITY STREET IN RENTON, WA, AT 35MPH HEADING EAST ON S 180TH STREET. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD NEAR ME. AS I AM DRIVING, I HEAR A LOUD BANG AND LOOK UP TO SEE MY SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHATTERED. AS THE SUNROOF SHATTERED, SMALL PIECES OF GLASS CONTINUED TO FALL INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH LANDED ON MY HEAD, SHOULDERS AND ANY EXPOSED AREAS OF MY BODY. HAD I NOT HAD A BILL ON MY HAT, THE PIECES OF GLASS COULD HAVE ENTERED MY EYE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE SUNROOF AND THE SHATTERED PIECES WERE ALL INTACT IN THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION AND THERE WAS NO SIGNS OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCE.
NHTSA complaint #11075140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE STATIONARY UNDER A CAR PORT IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURE. BOUGHT THE CAR BAND NEW SATURDAY. OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW 0. SUNDAY (THE DAY AFTER BUYING THE CAR) THE REAR WINDOW WAS SHATTERED. CAR HAD A LITTLE OVER 200 MILES ON IT WHEN I PICKED IT UP FROM DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10936539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WINDSHIELD SEEMS VERY WEAK. HAD 3 BAD CRACKS WITHIN 6 MONTHS (8000 MILES) OF BUYING CAR, DRIVING THE SAME ROADS I HAD ZERO CRACKS OVER 4 1/2 YEAR AND 60K+ MILES IN MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10885864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IT RAINED HARD, THE WINDSHIELD RETAINED WATER AFTER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
NHTSA complaint #10588645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10565175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10558767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10553619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.