2015 Volkswagen GTI: complaints, problems and recalls

WAS DRIVING ALONG WITH TRAFFIC AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THE ENGINE RPMS JUMPED AND THERE WAS A MASSIVE LOSS IN SPEED AND POWER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR. PULLED OVER AS SOON AS WAS SAFE. I WAS CONCERNED AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS IN POWER AND SPEED WITH NO FAULT TO THE DRIVER, MYSELF. THE DASH SHOWED "ERROR: TRANSMISSION. REVERSE NOT POSSIBLE." THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR EVALUATION. UPDATED 09/01/2015*LJ UPDATED 10/20/2017*CN

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10725253 at NHTSA ↗

UPON BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME OFF RESULTING IN MY ALMOST REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748708 at NHTSA ↗

THE DEALERSHIP LEFT THE SHIPPING BLOCKS/PUCKS/DISCS ON THE STRUTS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS EVIDENCED THROUGH MANY ONLINE FORUMS. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANY OTHERS CLAIM THAT THIS DOES NOT CAUSE A PROBLEM; HOWEVER, THE BLOCKS PREVENT THE SUSPENSION FROM DOING ITS JOB, WHICH IS ABSORBING IMPACT, IMPROVING BRAKING, AND HELPING THE WHEELS MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. I DROVE OVER 18000 MILES NOT REALIZING THAT THEY WERE ON (I JUST THOUGHT I HAVE A TIGHT SUSPENSION). I HAVE NOW LOST 4 TIRES (PREMATURE WEAR AND BUBBLES/PUNCTURES) AND HAVE DAMAG…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10766672 at NHTSA ↗

THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT DOOR FAILS TO SEAL SECURELY WHEN IT SHUTS. THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY SYSTEM DOES DO NOT INDICATE THAT THE DOOR IS AJAR WHEN AT REST. THE SYSTEM DOES INDICATE THAT THE DOOR IS AJAR WHEN IN MOTION.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10780221 at NHTSA ↗

THE TPMS SYSTEM FAILED TO WARN OF LOW PRESSURES, INCLUDING FLAT TIRES AND DRIVING ON A SPARE. TPMS FAILURES SHOULD "FAILSAFE" AND NOT FAIL SILENTLY.

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10839381 at NHTSA ↗

I ENCOUNTERED A CLOSE RED LIGHT AND BRAKED HARD ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE ABS FROM 35 MPH IN DRY ROAD CONDITIONS ON A SUBURBAN HIGHWAY. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND APPLIED GAS AFTER THE GREEN LIGHT, THE CAR BEGAN TO TRAVEL BACKWARDS! I BRAKED AGAIN AND FOUND THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER HAD GONE INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. I BELIEVE THE BRAKING DECELERATION CAUSED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO TRAVEL FORWARD AGAINST ANY MECHANICAL RESTRAINT AND COME TO REST IN THE REVERSE SETTING.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865854 at NHTSA ↗

WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF THE 3 RECALLS ON OUR 2015 VW GTI. STARTED INVESTIGATING AFTER OUR 2015 VW PASSAT HAS THE BAD AIRBAGS IN THEM. ALSO OWN THE GTI AND WE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF THE BAD AIRBAGS ARE IN THERE TOO. THAT IS WHEN WE FOUND PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS RECALLED IN JUNE 2015, WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED, ALSO A FUEL LEAK OF AN IGNITION SOURCE...NEVER NOTIFIED AND A LOOSE STABILIZER LINK IN THE STEERING. WHO WANTS TO DRIVE THIS CAR. WHY WERE WE NOT NOTIFIED OF THESE THREE RECALLS. WE NEVER MOVED, I W…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10882763 at NHTSA ↗

THE CLUTCH OPERATION IN MY 2015 VOLKSWAGE GTI (6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION) IS MALFUNCTIONING TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOW FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. CLUTCH OPERATION IN THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME UNPREDICTABLE, WHEN DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL REMAIN ON THE FLOOR AFTER THE PEDAL IS RELEASED, THUS PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE STATIONARY IN TRAFFIC, WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE ACCELERATING. MOST RECENTLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10892628 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-07-07 (July 7, 2014)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured January 27, 2014, to May 12, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the stabilizer link fasteners may come loose and possibly interfere with the steering of the vehicle.

Consequence: A loose stabilizer link may interfere with the vehicle's steering, requiring additional effort to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front stabilizer links, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40K9/1W.

Reported: 2015-01-23 (January 23, 2015)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.

Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.

Reported: 2015-04-17 (April 17, 2015)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Golf, and GTI manufactured on February 17, 2014, to May 22, 2014, and Audi A3 manufactured on February 16, 2013, to April 23, 2014. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.

Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle will not start, or if the engine is running, it will stop and the vehicle will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any affected fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi at 1-800-253-2834.

Reported: 2016-09-07 (September 7, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf, Golf SportWagen, GTI, Audi A3 sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. Due to a problem with the suction pump inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system.

Consequence: As fuel accumulates in the EVAP system, it may leak out through the charcoal canister filter element. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298, Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 20Y6 and 20Y5. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 24V-110.

Reported: 2019-08-22 (August 22, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."

Consequence: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

Reported: 2024-02-14 (February 14, 2024)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.