2013 Volkswagen GTI Owner Complaints

Complaint Summary
The 2013 Volkswagen GTI has 42 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve engine and fuel/propulsion system.
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 42 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
ENGINE
11 26.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
7 16.7%
POWER TRAIN
5 11.9%
AIR BAGS
4 9.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 7.1%
Quick Insights
The top category is ENGINE, accounting for 26.2% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 14 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
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What owners keep reporting on the 2013 Volkswagen GTI
The 2013 Volkswagen GTI has 42 owner complaints in this dataset. ENGINE is the most common complaint category, representing about 26% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2013 Volkswagen GTI are ENGINE (11), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (7), POWER TRAIN (5).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 28 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2013 Volkswagen GTI?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 14 of 14 systems
ENGINE
11 Reports26% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
TOOK CAR FOR FIRST DRIVE. AFTER TRAVELING 145 MILES INTO THIS TRIP WHEN TROUBLE STARTED. AMBIENT TEMP WAS 101F. DRIVE TIME WAS JUST OVER 2.5 HOURS. GAS TANK WAS SLIGHTLY OVER HALF EMPTY. CAR STALLED TAKING OFF FROM STOP. ENGINE RUNNING BUT CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ENGINE THEN STOPPED. CRANKED OVER (STARTED) AND WENT ABOUT 2 BLOCKS. CAR STALLED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET STARTED AGAIN. HAD TO CRANK IT 3-4 TIMES. STARTED THEN STALLED. ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. EVENTUALLY STARTED. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH ENGINE TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I POINTED CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND BRAKED TO A STOP. TWO MORE STOP LIGHT INCIDENTS WHERE CAR STALLED AND QUIT RUNNING AT AND IN INTERSECTIONS. PULLED OVER AND CALLED DEALER. TALKED TO SERVICE CONSULTANT. DISCUSSED OPTIONS. ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. EVEN THOUGH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED, SERVICE CONSULTANT STATED THAT SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STEADY AMBER IT SHOULD BE OK TO DRIVE IF I WAS COMFORTABLE DOING IT. I DETERMINED MY BEST OPTION WAS TO DRIVE IT BACK TO TUCSON. WAITING FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ON HWY 191 BETWEEN SAFFORD AND WILLCOX IN 100F+ SUNSHINE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNACCEPTABLE, IF NOT MORE DANGEROUS THAN DRIVING THE CAR - BECAUSE OF THE REMOTE LOCATION AND THE EXTREME HEAT. MADE IT BACK TO TUCSON. DROVE STRAIGHT TO SERVICE AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF. TOTAL MILEAGE ON CAR 353 MILES. NOTE THAT I HAD NOT ADDED ANY GAS TO THE VEHICLE, AND WAS STILL USING THE GAS PROVIDED BY DEALER UPON DELIVERY. (I MENTION THIS BECAUSE A TECH ASKED IF DIESEL FUEL WAS PUT IN THE TANK INSTEAD OF GAS. NO!) DEALER SERVICE CONFIRMED FUEL PUMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND REPLICATED PROBLEM. NOTED FUEL PUMP EXTREMELY HOT AND DISCOVERED ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO FUEL CONTROL MODULE WITH STRONG POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
8/19/2013
I DROVE 4 MILES AND NOTICE MY COOLANT LIGHT COME ON AND DECIDE TO PARK MY VEHICLE. THE VERY NEXT DAY I NOTICE COOLANT WAS VERY LOW AND HAD BIG LEAK. I JACKED THE CAR UP AND NOTICE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM ENGINE AND NOT THE RADIATOR. HAVING MUCH EXPERIENCE WORKING ON CARS. I DISSEMBLE THE ENTIRE FRONT TO MY ENGINE AND NOTICE THE WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT HOUSING PROFUSELY LEAKING. IT WAS NOT A GASKET JOB, BUT A WARP AND HAIRLINE FRACTURE COMING FROM UNDER THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. I PURCHASE A NEW WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT HOUSING FOR $317 AT THE DEALER ALTHOUGH IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS VERY METICULOUS WORK AND DID NOT WANT THE DEALER (TEDDY VOLKSWAGEN) TO DO A SLOPPING JOB. THEY ALREADY DID A SLOPPY JOB ON PREVIOUS RADIATOR INSPECTION. I DEMAND A REFUND AND THE SERVICE LADY ( [XXX]) STATED THEY HAVE TO DO THE WORK. I SAID FORGET IT AND STORM OUT OF THE DEALER. I AM 100% SURE THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN, IT IS A BAD DESIGN TO USE PLASTIC IN A HIGH HEAT AREA IN THE BELLY OF A TURBO ENGINE THAT WARPS AND CRACKS THE PLASTIC HOUSING -- METAL DESIGN WITHSTAND THE HEAT MUCH BETTER!!!!! BAD ENGINEERING!! WHY PLASTIC ????? THIS NEEDS INVESTIGATION AND RECALL ASAP ON VOLKSWAGEN BEHALF! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
8/10/2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
7 Reports17% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
TOOK CAR FOR FIRST DRIVE. AFTER TRAVELING 145 MILES INTO THIS TRIP WHEN TROUBLE STARTED. AMBIENT TEMP WAS 101F. DRIVE TIME WAS JUST OVER 2.5 HOURS. GAS TANK WAS SLIGHTLY OVER HALF EMPTY. CAR STALLED TAKING OFF FROM STOP. ENGINE RUNNING BUT CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ENGINE THEN STOPPED. CRANKED OVER (STARTED) AND WENT ABOUT 2 BLOCKS. CAR STALLED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET STARTED AGAIN. HAD TO CRANK IT 3-4 TIMES. STARTED THEN STALLED. ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. EVENTUALLY STARTED. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH ENGINE TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I POINTED CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND BRAKED TO A STOP. TWO MORE STOP LIGHT INCIDENTS WHERE CAR STALLED AND QUIT RUNNING AT AND IN INTERSECTIONS. PULLED OVER AND CALLED DEALER. TALKED TO SERVICE CONSULTANT. DISCUSSED OPTIONS. ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. EVEN THOUGH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED, SERVICE CONSULTANT STATED THAT SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STEADY AMBER IT SHOULD BE OK TO DRIVE IF I WAS COMFORTABLE DOING IT. I DETERMINED MY BEST OPTION WAS TO DRIVE IT BACK TO TUCSON. WAITING FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ON HWY 191 BETWEEN SAFFORD AND WILLCOX IN 100F+ SUNSHINE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNACCEPTABLE, IF NOT MORE DANGEROUS THAN DRIVING THE CAR - BECAUSE OF THE REMOTE LOCATION AND THE EXTREME HEAT. MADE IT BACK TO TUCSON. DROVE STRAIGHT TO SERVICE AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF. TOTAL MILEAGE ON CAR 353 MILES. NOTE THAT I HAD NOT ADDED ANY GAS TO THE VEHICLE, AND WAS STILL USING THE GAS PROVIDED BY DEALER UPON DELIVERY. (I MENTION THIS BECAUSE A TECH ASKED IF DIESEL FUEL WAS PUT IN THE TANK INSTEAD OF GAS. NO!) DEALER SERVICE CONFIRMED FUEL PUMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND REPLICATED PROBLEM. NOTED FUEL PUMP EXTREMELY HOT AND DISCOVERED ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO FUEL CONTROL MODULE WITH STRONG POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
8/19/2013
MY 2013 VW GTI HAS AN ONGOING ISSUE-CONDITION WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A FUEL PUMP AND/OR LOW FUEL PRESSURE. IT USUALLY OCCURS RANDOMLY, WITHOUT ANY HINT. AFTER THE START UP THE CAR STALLS WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. AT THAT POINT THE CAR WOULD DIE AT EVERY ATTEMPT TO START UP AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE CAR WILL COME BACK TO LIFE AFTER STAYING IDLE FOR 40-60MINUTES (IN SEVERE CASES EVEN LONGER). IN ADDITION, WE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHEN THE CAR WOULD STALL WHILE IN SLOW MOTION ON A HILL. THE GAS TANK IN ALL INSTANCES WAS FULL OR NEAR FULL. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MAJOR AND MINOR INCIDENTS THAT HAVE STARTED SINCE APPROXIMATELY 7,000 MILES. WE HAD SOMEHOW TOLERATED SUCH RANDOMLY OCCURRING INCIDENTS UNTIL THE ISSUE BECAME (SUDDENLY) ALMOST A DAILY NORM IN DECEMBER 2014 AND JANUARY 2015. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY THE VW DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 2 TIMES WITHIN 2 WEEK PERIOD. THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS THESE DAYS, YET WITH LESSER FREQUENCY. THE ISSUE IS CAUSING SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS ON TOP OF THE MAJOR INCONVENIENCE AND ADDITIONAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES.
10/16/2015
POWER TRAIN
5 Reports12% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
OVER-40 DRIVER, DECADES OF EXPERIENCE DRIVING CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAR SINCE NEW. CAR HAD 13,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY, NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD...BUT WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH, THE GEAR SELECTOR LEVER HAD BECOME DIFFICULT TO MOVE. SUBSEQUENT SHIFTS FROM 4TH TO 5TH AND 5TH TO 6TH AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH (NO LONGER ACCELERATING) WERE EVEN MORE CHALLENGING. I EXITED THE FREEWAY, SHIFTING AS NEEDED WITH EVER-INCREASING DIFFICULTY. AT REST, WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN 1ST GEAR AND THE CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED, THE CAR CONTINUED TO CREEP FORWARD AS IF THE CLUTCH WERE NOT DISENGAGED. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO 2ND AND LIMP THE CAR TO A NEARBY DEALER. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS: A CLUTCH SPRING BROKE OFF, "BOUNCED AROUND AND DESTROYED THE CLUTCH PLATE." *TR
9/26/2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL RAPIDLY AND SLOWED DOWN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF STEVENS CREEK (4490 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SAN JOSE, CA 95129) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED WITH A MEGATRONIC UNIT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE CONTACT CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN EARLIER VEHICLE MODELS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT ONLY OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH A PORTION OF THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,060. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
6/14/2018
AIR BAGS
4 Reports10% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
AIRBAG INFLATOR IS NOT WORKING. RECEIVED RECALL LETTER, BUT DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING.
3/12/2017
TAKATA RECALL NORTH PARK VW DEALER IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS STATES THAT THE AIR BAG RECALL CANNOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. IS THIS TRUE?
4/14/2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 Reports7% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
TOOK CAR FOR FIRST DRIVE. AFTER TRAVELING 145 MILES INTO THIS TRIP WHEN TROUBLE STARTED. AMBIENT TEMP WAS 101F. DRIVE TIME WAS JUST OVER 2.5 HOURS. GAS TANK WAS SLIGHTLY OVER HALF EMPTY. CAR STALLED TAKING OFF FROM STOP. ENGINE RUNNING BUT CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ENGINE THEN STOPPED. CRANKED OVER (STARTED) AND WENT ABOUT 2 BLOCKS. CAR STALLED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET STARTED AGAIN. HAD TO CRANK IT 3-4 TIMES. STARTED THEN STALLED. ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. EVENTUALLY STARTED. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH ENGINE TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I POINTED CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND BRAKED TO A STOP. TWO MORE STOP LIGHT INCIDENTS WHERE CAR STALLED AND QUIT RUNNING AT AND IN INTERSECTIONS. PULLED OVER AND CALLED DEALER. TALKED TO SERVICE CONSULTANT. DISCUSSED OPTIONS. ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. EVEN THOUGH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED, SERVICE CONSULTANT STATED THAT SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STEADY AMBER IT SHOULD BE OK TO DRIVE IF I WAS COMFORTABLE DOING IT. I DETERMINED MY BEST OPTION WAS TO DRIVE IT BACK TO TUCSON. WAITING FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ON HWY 191 BETWEEN SAFFORD AND WILLCOX IN 100F+ SUNSHINE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNACCEPTABLE, IF NOT MORE DANGEROUS THAN DRIVING THE CAR - BECAUSE OF THE REMOTE LOCATION AND THE EXTREME HEAT. MADE IT BACK TO TUCSON. DROVE STRAIGHT TO SERVICE AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF. TOTAL MILEAGE ON CAR 353 MILES. NOTE THAT I HAD NOT ADDED ANY GAS TO THE VEHICLE, AND WAS STILL USING THE GAS PROVIDED BY DEALER UPON DELIVERY. (I MENTION THIS BECAUSE A TECH ASKED IF DIESEL FUEL WAS PUT IN THE TANK INSTEAD OF GAS. NO!) DEALER SERVICE CONFIRMED FUEL PUMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND REPLICATED PROBLEM. NOTED FUEL PUMP EXTREMELY HOT AND DISCOVERED ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO FUEL CONTROL MODULE WITH STRONG POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
8/19/2013
CAR WAS DRIVEN IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. FIRST NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD, STOPPED THE CAR, MORE AND MORE SMOKE CAME OUT AND COULDN'T EVEN SEE ANYTHING IF ANYONE WERE TO BE IN THE CAR. NOTICE SOME FIRE START TO APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, CALLED 911. THE ENTIRE HOOD WAS ON FIRE BY THE TIME FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. IT SEEMED THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN EXPLOSION IF FIREFIGHTERS WERE TO ARRIVE A MINUTE LATER.
11/13/2018
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2 Reports5% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEFTIN WESTLAKE VOLKSWAGEN (3550 AUTO MALL DR, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362, (805) 497-9404) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THAT AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
1/23/2018
CAR WAS DRIVEN IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. FIRST NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD, STOPPED THE CAR, MORE AND MORE SMOKE CAME OUT AND COULDN'T EVEN SEE ANYTHING IF ANYONE WERE TO BE IN THE CAR. NOTICE SOME FIRE START TO APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, CALLED 911. THE ENTIRE HOOD WAS ON FIRE BY THE TIME FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. IT SEEMED THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN EXPLOSION IF FIREFIGHTERS WERE TO ARRIVE A MINUTE LATER.
11/13/2018
SERVICE BRAKES
2 Reports5% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
THE VEHICLE WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND STARTED BEEPING WITH WARNING LIGHT THAT SAID "BRAKES SERVICE NOW" AND BOTH BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS WERE ON. I TOOK IT TO SHOULDER TO CHECK. THE CAR HAD ONLY 33000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE OKAY THOUGH. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO UPON INSPECTION SAID THE ABS CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY AND NEEDS REPLACING. HE QUOTED 3300 FOR THE REPAIR. UPON CHECKING, HE SAID THE IT FAILED NOT BECAUSE OF ANY USER ERROR, AND THE CONTROL UNIT SHOULD LAST A LONG TIME. LOOKS LIKE THERE WERE RECALLS FOR VW CAR FROM 2008-2009 FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE.
2/23/2018
I WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN I WENT TO SLOW DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT MY BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGING UNTIL MY PEDAL WAS PUSHED WELL OVER HALF WAY DOWN. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. I STARTED NOTICING THAT IF I PUMPED MY BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE REALLY WAS NOT SAFE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL TIRES PLUS REPAIR SHOP WHO BELIEVED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS BAD AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ONCE THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES STILL WERE NOT EFFECTIVELY ENGAGING. AT THAT POINT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAD GOTTEN REPLACED AND EVEN AFTER THAT, NOTHING HAD IMPROVED. TIRES PLUS DECIDED THE CAR NEEDED TO GO TO VOLKSWAGEN BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND INSISTED THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH MY BRAKES AND THAT THE WAY MY BRAKE PEDAL FELT WAS NORMAL. I KNOW FOR A FACT THIS ISN'T TRUE AND THE SERVICE CENTER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY CONCERNS. IN RESPONSE I WAS TOLD THAT I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK AND THAT MUCH DEAD PEDAL TRAVEL IS NORMAL. I PICKED MY CAR UP AND AFTER A WEEK MY BRAKES HAD GOTTEN WORSE AND THEY CONTINUE TO GET WORSE. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL NOT ENGAGING MY BRAKES UNTIL OVER HALFWAY THROUGH THE PEDAL TRAVEL AND ONCE THE BRAKES DO ENGAGE THE PEDAL IS VERY STIFF. I AGAIN EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR SIMPLY YELLED AT ME AND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THAT I NEEDED TO JUST LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS. AND YET THEY HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY CAR BECAUSE THEY DENIED TO DO SO. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO TWO OTHER REPAIR SHOPS WHO INSIST THERE IS AN ISSUE BUT COULD NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND INSIST VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO DEEPLY LOOK INTO MY CARS BRAKING SYSTEM BUT VOLKSWAGEN WON'T DO FURTHER INVESTIGATING INTO THE BRAKES.
12/4/2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
2 Reports5% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
CAR WAS DRIVEN IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. FIRST NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD, STOPPED THE CAR, MORE AND MORE SMOKE CAME OUT AND COULDN'T EVEN SEE ANYTHING IF ANYONE WERE TO BE IN THE CAR. NOTICE SOME FIRE START TO APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, CALLED 911. THE ENTIRE HOOD WAS ON FIRE BY THE TIME FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. IT SEEMED THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN EXPLOSION IF FIREFIGHTERS WERE TO ARRIVE A MINUTE LATER.
11/13/2018
SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED ON THE HIGHWAY.
9/5/2020
VISIBILITY
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
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. *TR
11/24/2013
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
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. *TR
1/7/2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
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. *TR
2/20/2014
TIRES
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
THIS IS MY SECOND GTI. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR OR THE TIRES BUT IN 15000 MILES I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 7 TIRES WITH BUBBLES OR DAMAGED VERY EASILY. (AT THE SAME TIME I LEASED THIS CAR I LEASED A SECOND ONE THAT HAS 30000 MILES AND HAS HAD ONLY 1 TIRE PROBLEM. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH VW AND I AM WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSE. I WILL TAKE THE CAR TODAY AGAIN AS THEY RETURNED IT ON FRIDAY AND AS SOON AS I DROVE A FEW MILES IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC THE TIRE LIGHT WENT OFF. I AM NOT DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN UNTIL VW ASSURES ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM . THEY BLAME IT ON THE LOW PROFILE TIRES BUT I HAD THE SAME CAR AND TIRE SIZE IN MY PREVIOUS GTI AND DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TIRE INSURANCE SO I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TIRES BUT THERE IS A LOT OF TIME WASTED BESIDES THE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
9/15/2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JIM WYNN VOLKSWAGEN (2021 W MAIN ST, NORRISTOWN, PA 19403) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A BUY BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,200.
6/4/2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
HEADLINER IS SAGGING.
9/10/2018
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen GTI?
Are complaints about the 2013 Volkswagen GTI a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2013 Volkswagen GTI?
Are complaints about the 2013 Volkswagen GTI severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Volkswagen GTI: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 42
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
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