10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,362 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #8

Nov 112021

GTI

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that he lost the function of the steering wheel, horn, controls, and air bag. The air bag warning indicator light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and it was diagnosed that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the parts required were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #7

Jan 202021

GTI

  • miles
I bought the car and a couple days later the dash started lighting up with a bunch of codes about exterior lights so we checked them all fine I went to the auto part store and they said that the vehichle I have has a known issue with the fuses burning so we pull the fuse and sure enough it melted and we replaced fuse drove a week longer and the fuse box caught fire so I took and had a new fuse box installed and it again is burning fuses. Flashing all kinds of code error lights on dash and the sunroof opens and closes by its self. I looked at other VIN OF SAME CAR SAME YEARS and they are recalled for this problem but my VIN is not for some reason

- Crossville , TN, USA

problem #6

Nov 012021

GTI

  • miles
There are many cases of clock spring failure in my model as well as many others. The problem here is that this failure has caused my to lose the use of all my steering wheel controls, horn and airbag and shifters. VW has obliged about the problem and is willing to repair it under warranty. The problem is, is that there are no parts available for the repair. I have no choice but to drive a car with many safety issues. Someone needs to look into allowing aftermarket parts to be used by dealer or expedite the manufacturer. This is putting many people in danger on the road, I am sure it's not only me. Thank You

- Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #5

Jan 232022

GTI

  • miles
The horn works on some trips and not on others. I've brought it to the dealership near me and been told that it needs to be broken for them to be able to diagnose it. I hear a clicking sound from the steering wheel when i've needed to press the horn and it doesn't work. However, even if your horn doesn't work on the last trip you had, it sounds fine when you click the key fob lock button. No lights come on anywhere to notify me that horn won't work today, only remembering to try it out in the driveway when I go out

- Coconut Grove, FL, USA

problem #4

Nov 042018

GTI

  • 56,600 miles
Ongoing engine misfire issues. After 3 visits to dealership and replacement of coils, fuses, relays, etc, root cause determined to be a short between the after run coolant pump which causes a voltage draw and confuses the ECM. After talking with VW technician, I learned that this same exact part on Audi vehicles is under a safety recall for the shorting issue that my pump is having because the short can cause fires. However, the VW part is not under recall. My family could have been put in grave danger because this part is in my car and has not been recalled. In addition, even though the part has failed, VW will not compensate me for the repair, so I have no choice but to pay $500 out of pocket to fix a safety hazard in my vehicle. For reference, Audi recall number is 18V229000.

- Hermosa Beach, CA, USA

problem #3

Sep 062018

GTI

  • 63,100 miles
While driving at night I had several lights quit working simultaneously. A bulb warning light illuminated on the dash and messages for right front low beam, right front turn signal, left rear turn signal, left rear brake, right front high beam, right front fog light, left front side, right rear side, and license plate bulbs all appeared in the information screen. I checked outside the car and all of the lights that I got messages about were inoperative. As there was no chance that all of these bulbs failed simultaneously, I did some research to determine what might have caused this. Numerous internet searches for these symptoms seemed to indicate that a fuse in the under hood fuse panel could be to blame for this. I checked the F16 fuse and found it burned on one side of the fuse. The fuse panel was also slightly melted where this half of the fuse was inserted. Pictures are attached. My local VW dealer said the fuse panel will need to be replaced. Upon doing some research, there is a safety recall on the 09-11 tiguan (code: 97Z9) and a service action on the 09-10 jetta and 09 Gti (code: 97am) for the exact same issue I am experiencing. Both the dealer and VW usa say that I am 100% responsible for the cost because my model and VIN aren't covered under any campaigns.

- Moon Twp, PA, USA

problem #2

Mar 202018

GTI

  • 100,000 miles
'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

- Sunrise, FL, USA

problem #1

Mar 192018

GTI

  • 48,200 miles
The fuse box melted. This was caused by a terminal or a fuse over heating. This caused an outage for all the right-side lamps of the vehicle and some lamps on the left-side. The lamp error was reported by the vehicles multifunction display. The car was running fine in the morning and experienced this failure after starting up the vehicle at noon. I restarted the vehicle over and over trying to clear the error. The bulbs in question appeared to be fine. I drove the vehicle straight over to the VW dealership for service. Later, the dealership confirmed the fuse box had melted after I researched and discovered similar occurrences with other VW models. The cost of repair was $377.

- Laredo, TX, USA