4.1

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
28,497 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2007 Volkswagen GTI:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #24

Jun 072011

GTI 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,000 miles
I drive a 2007 VW Gti with an automatic transmission and the "mechatronic" unit located within the transmission is bad and will cost upwards of $2000 to have it replaced. The car has 122,000 miles on it. Nothing last forever and I expect certain failures over time. However, the nature of the failure is a concern with this unit as, at least in my case, the transmission downshifted to first gear on its own without warning. Fortunately I was in town in slow traffic and was able to handle the sudden deceleration. It could have been very different at highway speeds. There is no warning or indication of an impending unit failure. The only indication I had spanned several months in a very intermittent manner: 1)a slight "shuddering" when accelerating which I thought was fuel related. 2) the "prnds" display would flash repeatedly even though the transmission would operate just fine. I could reset the display by turning off the car and restarting it. This phenomenon was very intermittent. I could find no info about any of this in the owners manuals (I've had the car since new) or on line.

- Willis, TX, USA

problem #23

Mar 302011

GTI 4-cyl

  • 94,000 miles
I was merging on to the highway, the car in front of me stopped to let cars go by until it was there turn to merge. The car merged it was my turn and I hit the gas and my car lurched forward and I had no power, and my car had drifted enough to be hit by oncoming traffic. I looked down and saw that my prndl lights on the dash were flashing. I thought the car stalled so I shut the car off and turned it back on again and hit the gas, I had drive power again. I came to a stop light and the prndl lights started flashing again and I had no power, I shut the engine off, restarted and had power. This continued for the remainder of my trip.

- Monessen, PA, USA

problem #22

Aug 012010

GTI

  • 40,250 miles
My car, an automatic dsg transmission from VW, got stuck in 6th gear on northbound 1-15, almost causing several accidents. The check engine light appeared and a code was "thrown, " but the event was dismissed as a potential issue with the mass airflow sensor. Since then, I have experienced extremely hard shifts and unreliable acceleration with my vehicle. Especially on hills. The mechatronics unit has been replaced and the car was returned to me as "good to go." I drove the car one mile, the issue persisted, and I returned it to the dealer. There is clearly a problem with the mechatronics unit and the clutches, but the dealer will not replace them correctly (under warranty). Each time I am told my car is "fixed, " I pick it up, drive it and it still has the shifting issues.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #21

Apr 152010

GTI

  • 12,000 miles
When coming to a stop, the final downshift from 2nd gear to 1st gear is extremely violent. The car randomly lunges forward when approaching a full stop. This has resulted in a few near-collisions. The dealership is currently trying to diagnose issue. This seems to be a common occurrence in this particular transmission type (dsg).

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #20

Feb 192010

GTI

  • miles
Frequently when accelerating from a stop or accelerating after slowing down the dsg transmission seems to select neutral for a second or two before selecting a gear. When it eventually selects a gear it jerks harshly inducing wheelspin. This happens in all types of driving conditions, but is more likely to happen when the car is cold. Mostly, this is just an annoyance; however, when a truck is bearing down on you while you are making a left turn it can be frightening and perhaps even life threatening. The service manager VW dealer tells me this is normal behavior. He is wrong.

- Hoffman Estates, IL, USA

problem #19

Feb 242010

GTI

  • 11,950 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Volkswagen Gti. The contact was driving 75 mph when the vehicle shifted into neutral gear own its own. The warning light illuminated on the dashboard. The vehicle lost power and began to move extremely slow which could have caused a crash to occur. The manufacturer was notified about the failure. The manufacturer informed the contact that his vehicle was produced 3 weeks before the recall on the dsg transmission and there was nothing that they could do. The failure mileage was 11,950 and the current mileage was 12,100.

- Johnston, IA, USA

problem #18

Apr 022007

GTI

  • miles
I have a 2007 VW Gti with the dsg transmission. It looses the gear, won't shift and the gas pedal seems as if there is nothing behind it almost like pushing on air. I have gone to the dealer several times and they refuse to repair the problem. This is the same as the recall which stopped in 2008.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #17

Feb 172010

GTI

  • 11,200 miles
2007 Volkswagen Gti. Dsg transmission issues. My car will lunge in reverse. Lag in 1st and 2nd. Biggest issue is the lunging in reverse(this could cause an accident!!. I contacted VW cares yesterday to see if my VW is covered under there 10Y 100,000 mile warranty. They told me my car does not fall into that category due to my VIN# although it fits the year criteria my issue is that if this is a know safety problem and my car has this issue. Why won't it be included ??!!

- Johnston, IA, USA

problem #16

Nov 192009

GTI

  • 47,105 miles
My 2007 Volkswagen Gti has a dsg transmission. It has been experiencing "lurching" or "jumping" while the car is stopped at traffic lights or idling and this kicks up the RPM's and makes you feel like the car is either going to move on it's own or it makes it feel as if you've been hit from the rear? I will take this complaint to Volkswagen as well, so we shall see what they say and more importantly, do.

- Citrus Heights, CA, USA

problem #15

Oct 242009

GTI

  • 58,000 miles
2007 VW Gti with dsg transmission is very hard to shift into 1st and 2nd plus other gears. Car went into neutral gear while driving to work on busy road (dangerous!!!) and "P R N D S" display started flashing. First transmission failure I had was similar expect I didn't get the flashing icons. Took car in and they replaced the mechatron unit (25,000 miles). Now its in the shop again for the same unit and symptoms above. (58,000 miles).

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

problem #14

Sep 042009

GTI

  • 7,000 miles
Dsg transmission. The car lurches from 1st to 2nd gear and when coming to a slow stop. This issue was reported to cardinale VW in corona but they stated they could not replicate the problem yet I experience it daily.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #13

Aug 282009

GTI

  • 40,800 miles
I was at an intersection with a traffic light, waiting to turn left. As soon as there was a safe and reasonable gap between oncoming cars, I hit the gas at approximately 1/4 throttle to make the turn. However, the car moved for a bit and then it felt like the transmission was not engaged anymore. The car was basically moving by momentum and not by engine power. I noticed that the engine seems to be revving freely, as there is no correlation between my throttle input and the movement of the car. In fact, when I noticed that the car was not moving by engine power, I instinctively put more throttle to more than 1/2. it made no difference and that was how I knew that the transmission was not engaged. If it was traction control, the engine would not rev since traction control would cut the fuel. Hence, it is most likely the transmission, specifically, the dsg transmission. My car coasted to safety without any incident, and a few seconds later, the car went back to normal. I have had this experience several times before and it scared me every time because I could have easily been hit by the oncoming traffic, if the vehicle does not see me or cannot stop in time. I mentioned this to the dealer service the first time it happened, but they said they cannot replicate it and thus, they can't and won't do anything. But, for me, it is a serious safety issue, whether they can replicate it or not. I just want the Volkswagen of America to take responsibility for their unreliable/ faulty transmission.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #12

Aug 262009

GTI

  • 63,232 miles
Issue with my car suddenly switching itself into neutral even though physically the car was in drive. I was on a busy street going 60mph with the flow of traffic, when my car switched to neutral. This caused my car to go from 60mph to 20mph in a matter of seconds in which case the car beyond me going 60mph+ nearly rear ended me.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #11

Jun 012009

GTI

  • 18,000 miles
The car takes off very rough in drive and in reverse. Its not smooth at all from a stop.

- Altadena, CA, USA

problem #10

Aug 012009

GTI

  • 32,400 miles
Well I was at a stop light and when I went to go it redline and didnt go anywhere I was in 1 gear in dsg mode I had to put it into park and than back to gear then their was a delay then it went. Thier also times that my power plus ates, also getting on to the freeway it slips out of power U go to shift and thier no power at all, when I let the car down shift it is really hard like it shocks the hole care back its so rough it does it more from 3 to 2 but now latley its been 4 to 3 and 3 to 2.

- Valencia, CA, USA

problem #9

Aug 102008

GTI

  • 17,000 miles
The dsg transmission on my 2007 Volkswagen Gti quit operating on several occasions. Once while attempting to the leave a stop light, once while exiting a freeway, and once while attempting to drive up a short paved hill to my home. On all occasions, the car suddenly lurches and then loses ability to move. The engine continues to run, but the car acts as though there is a disconnect between the engine and transmission. Luckily I have been able to coast to the side to avoid being hit by other vehicles. Repeated (and long trips) to the dealer have produced claims by the dealer that the faults lie in having less than 1/4 tank of gas, fuel pressure sensors, and my favorite, a short which required tearing my entire dash apart. I finally traded the car because it became a liability. Incident dates are approx as the car has spent a lot of the last year in the shop. The most recent incident occurred in May 2009.

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

problem #8

Mar 182009

GTI

  • 22,000 miles
The dsg transmission in my 2007 VW Gti has slippage as well as inconsistent behavior.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #7

Jul 012009

GTI

  • miles
Dsg transmission lurches in reverse everytime and is dangerous when getting out of a parking spot, when downshift from a higher gear like 4th or 5th there is a sudden lose of power for a brief moment and can be dangerous for those behind who don't anticipate the sudden slow down. There is also a lag on take off from a stop which cause havoc from drivers behind.

- Mineola, NY, USA

problem #6

Jul 192009

GTI

  • 47,000 miles
The 5th generation VW Gti with dgs transmission will jerk in reverse that could cause one to hit another car. It also hesitates before launching and that could cause one to pull out into oncoming traffic too late, thus causing an accident.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #5

Feb 112009

GTI

  • 15,000 miles
VW Gti dsg transmission jerking in reverse could cause you to hit another car, or hesitation before launching could cause you to pull out into oncoming traffic too late, causing an accident.

- Graham, NC, USA

Read the next 4 complaints »