2016 Volkswagen GTI Owner Complaints

WATERPUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 49,000 MILES WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THE EA888 ENGINE AND NEEDS EITHER A RECALL OR WARRANTIES EXTENDED.

5/2/2019

WENT INTO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT 44,999 MILES ON FEB 6, 2019 AND VOLKSWAGEN FOUND THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP REPLACED. NOT TOO LONG AFTER, NOTICED LOW COOLANT LIGHT GO ON. WENT BACK INTO VOLKSWAGEN FOR MAINTENANCE AT 53,339 MILES ON MAY 16, 2019 AND VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMED THAT THE WATER PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY.

11/20/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

9/16/2016

DEALER PERFORMED RECALL SERVICE FOR SAFETY RECALL 16V647 - SUCTION PUMP. FOLLOWING SERVICE SERVICE STATION PUMP TRIPS OFF AFTER FILLING SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS AND GAS GAUGE IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECTLY PROBLEM IN 3 SERVICE VISITS. COMPLAINT IS 2-FOLD: (1) DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CARRY OUT SAFETY RECALL SERVICE CORRECTLY. (2) INABILITY TO MEASURE FUEL LEVEL IS A SAFETY HAZARD.

11/21/2016

I WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 15MPH IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN I HEARD THE LOUD SOUND LIKE A GUNSHOT. I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND WENT OUTSIDE TO FIND THAT MY SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. THAT WAS NOTHING ON THE GROUND THAT COULD'VE HIT THE SUNROOF OR WAS THERE ANYTHING HIGH NEARBY (TREES, BUILDINGS, ETC.) THAT SOMETHING COULD'VE FELL FROM.

6/28/2018

REPEATED HARD KNOCK COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN ACCELERATING QUICKLY FROM A DEAD STOP. SUSPECTED THE ENGINE MOUNT AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS. SIMILAR REPORTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS ONLINE. NOISE DOES NOT OCCUR ONCE THE CAR IS IN MOTION.

1/27/2019

IN VERY HOT WEATHER (OVER 110 F) THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. IT STAYS IN LOW GEARS AND REV'S THE ENGINE FAR TOO MUCH. AT COOLER TEMPS IT DRIVES FINE. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER IN JULY 2016 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE.

7/19/2016

SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, AT ANY SPEED, A WARNING IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. VW HAS IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED MY SHIFTER ASSEMBLY BUT THE ISSUE PERSISTS.

12/10/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WERE ABNORMAL NOISES COMING FROM THE TOP PART OF BOTH REAR DOORS AND THE HATCHBACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE FRAME AND EXPANDING STRUCTURAL FOAM NEEDED TO BE SPRAYED IN THE HOLLOW PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

9/14/2016

VEHICLE MAKES LOUD CREAKING NOISES FROM BODY-VW CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL BUT MY PREVIOUS GTI DID NOT DO THAT. THE WHEELS AND SUSPENSION ALSO MAKE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE.

10/9/2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK REGAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A NEW OR USED MODULE TO FIX THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO DO OUT ON THE SPEEDOMETER. UPDATED 7/9/18*JB *TR

10/20/2016

RANDOM POP OUT FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN DRIVING, AND IT STAY ON NOW

2/10/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALL AND HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE BRAKE SUCTION CUP. THE MECHANIC LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V647000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. CLAY COOLEY VOLKSWAGEN OF PARK CITIES (5555 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209, (469) 240-6240) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE, WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.*DT *JS

7/2/2020

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI. The contact stated that soon after purchasing the vehicle, she had difficulty placing gas into the fuel tank as fuel would spill out during fill up. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V647000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to a dealer who informed her that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was then referred to the manufacturer who also confirmed that the vehicle was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was unknown.

7/23/2021

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.

7/19/2016

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.

6/18/2018

CLOCKSPRING FAILURE ON 2016 VW GTI RESULTING IN NON FUNCTIONING AIRBAG

10/3/2018

WHILE ADJUSTING STEERING COLUMN , THE HIGH BEAMS TURN ON AND WIPER & WASHER FLUID TURN ON ...CAN NOT TURN OFF UNTIL STEERING COLUMN IS READJUSTED ....

12/18/2018

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.

10/15/2018

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.

8/4/2023

MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILURE CAUSING MY BRAKES TO NOT WORK AND ENDANGERED MY SAFETY ON THE ROAD. NO INDICATIONS OF FAILURE UNTIL I WAS ALREADY ON THE ROAD WITH NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE CYLINDER. NO LEAK BRAKE FLUID ALL DRAINED TO THE BOOST PUMP AND FAILED.

2/9/2019

I SET THE HANDBRAKE TO SECURE MY VEHICLE IN IT'S PARKING STALL AND LEFT THE VEHICLE WHILE I WENT INTO A STORE. AT THE TIME I LEFT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS COMPLETELY STATIONARY AND SECURE. MANY MINUTES LATER, I BECAME AWARE THAT MY VEHICLE HAD MOVED FROM THE PLACE WHERE I PARKED IT. THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF IT'S PARKING STALL AND COLLIDED WITH TWO OTHER UNOCCUPIED VEHICLES LOCATED IN PARKING STALLS BEHIND MY VEHICLE, ABOUT 40 FEET AWAY. WHEN I ENTERED MY VEHICLE TO MOVE IT AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE, I FOUND THAT THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE (HAND BRAKE) HAD COME UNLATCHED AND THE LATCHING MECHANISM HAD FAILED. THERE IS A BUTTON AT THE END OF THE BRAKE HANDLE THAT WHEN DEPRESSED, RELEASES THE PARKING BRAKE. THAT BUTTON AND A SPRING LOCATED BEHIND IT HAD EJECTED FROM THE END OF THE BRAKE HANDLE. APPARENTLY, WHEN THE BRAKE RELEASE BUTTON FAILS IN THIS WAY, IT CAUSES THE BRAKE TO RELEASE, WHICH CAUSES GRAVITY TO MOVE THE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE DOWN HILL, WHERE IT WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT REACHED A LOCAL ELEVATION MINIMA, OR STRUCK ANY PERSON OR OBJECT THAT MIGHT HAVE STOPPED IT'S MOTION. A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT WHO OCCUPIED THE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE STALL NEXT TO MINE VERIFIED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SECURE WHEN I LEFT IT, AND IT HAD GONE INTO MOTION ON IT'S OWN WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL DISTURBANCE OR INPUT. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE HANDLE AND BREAK RELEASE IS ALLOWED TO FAIL IN THIS WAY. I WOULD EXPECT A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE RELEASE BUTTON TO RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO RELEASE THE BRAKE, A "SAFE" FAILURE MODE. IN THIS CASE, THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE HANDLE RESULTS IN AN UNSAFE FAILURE MODE, WHERE THE ONCE SECURELY PARKED STATIONARY VEHICLE COULD SPONTANEOUSLY GO INTO MOTION DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A SIMPLE PLASTIC MECHANICAL WEAR ITEM: THE BRAKE RELEASE. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT AN EMINENT FAILURE WAS LOOMING PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. *TR

6/17/2020

CONTINENTAL TIRES 225/40R18'92H TIRE WALLS TEARING CRACKING AND CAUSING TIRE TO MELT A HOLE

11/16/2016

VEHICLE MAKES LOUD CREAKING NOISES FROM BODY-VW CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL BUT MY PREVIOUS GTI DID NOT DO THAT. THE WHEELS AND SUSPENSION ALSO MAKE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE.

10/9/2017

WHILE ADJUSTING STEERING COLUMN , THE HIGH BEAMS TURN ON AND WIPER & WASHER FLUID TURN ON ...CAN NOT TURN OFF UNTIL STEERING COLUMN IS READJUSTED ....

12/18/2018

LOOSE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ,MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE ... SUDDEN LOSS HAPPENS ABOUT 15 MINS INTO DRIVING ... EVERY TIME , IT DOES NOT RETURN UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OF AND TURNED BACK ON , THEN REPEATS WITH IN 10 -15 MINS YOU LOOSE POWER STEERING OR WHEN TURNING , MANY VW FORUMS SHOW THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF CARS POSSIBLY 1000S ... WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND THEY START IT THEY SAY THEIR DIAGNOSTICS ARE SHOWING NO DCT CODES BECAUSE CAR RECYCLES AND LOOKS CLEARLY ALTHOUGH THEY KNOW AS THEY STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM AND I WILL NEED NEW EPAS ( STEERING RACK ) 2900$ BUT VOWA GOT DEARLERSHIP DOWN TO 1900 ... MY PROBLEM IS ON THE FORUMS YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS HAPPENS STILL WITH MANY 2016S AND OTHER YEARS .. AND IT'S SCARY TO LOOSE YOUR POWER STEERING ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE NOT THAT STRONG ... AND VW STATES THEY KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM BUT ARE STILL CHARGING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR AN ENTIRE NEW RACK WHEN THEY EVEN SAY THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT PROBLEM BUT IT'S CLEARLY THERE AND THEY ARE AWARE OF IT ...BOTH VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP KNOW OF MANY PROBLEMS OCCURRING WITH ' AN INTERNAL FAILURE ' IN THE ELECTRICAL STEERING RACK ( AS SAID BY VW VER BATEM )

12/31/2019

I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 29,000 MILES AND NOW HAS 41,000.. MY AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON AND FLASHES AND ON PASSENGER SEAT... EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS IN SEAT ... VOLKSWAGEN WON'T FIX IT EVEN THOUGH I FIRST COMPLAINED TO THEM CAR ONLY HAD 31,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 35,000 MILES...

1/24/2020

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle experienced a rough start, and the temperature gauge was fluctuating. Additionally, an unknown triangle warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact became aware that the coolant level was significantly low, and that the vehicle was overheating while activating the heater. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where the water pump was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was overheating, and he noticed that coolant was leaking underneath the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving on a bridge, the low coolant level warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was overheating. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic several times and the water pump was replaced four times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the water pump was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The VIN was not available.

12/27/2023