2017 Volkswagen GTI: complaints, problems and recalls

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE STATIONARY UNDER A CAR PORT IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURE. BOUGHT THE CAR BAND NEW SATURDAY. OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW 0. SUNDAY (THE DAY AFTER BUYING THE CAR) THE REAR WINDOW WAS SHATTERED. CAR HAD A LITTLE OVER 200 MILES ON IT WHEN I PICKED IT UP FROM DEALER.

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10936539 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVERS SIDE B-PILLAR IS NOT WELDED TOGETHER CORRECTLY AND CAUSES POPPING AND TAPPING SOUNDS AS VEHICLE FLEXES WITH MOVEMENT. VOLKSWAGEN REPLACED MY PREVIOUS 2016 GTI WITH SAME ISSUE. NO KNOWN CRASH TESTING HAS BEEN DONE ON VEHICLES WITH MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT APPEARS TO BE EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD. DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN VEHICLE AND VALUE OF VEHICLE IS LIKELY EFFECTED.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000692 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A PIECE OF RUBBER PROTRUDING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT BECAME ENTANGLED ON THE LACE OF MY RIGHT SHOE, AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE MY RIGHT FOOT TO BRAKE (THE FOOT WAS TRAPPED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL). I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO BRAKE USING MY LEFT FOOT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME, ON I-95. TRAFFIC WAS RAPIDLY SLOWING DOWN AT THE TIME. I ALMOST REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11030608 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING MY 2017 GTI ON A CITY STREET IN RENTON, WA, AT 35MPH HEADING EAST ON S 180TH STREET. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD NEAR ME. AS I AM DRIVING, I HEAR A LOUD BANG AND LOOK UP TO SEE MY SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHATTERED. AS THE SUNROOF SHATTERED, SMALL PIECES OF GLASS CONTINUED TO FALL INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH LANDED ON MY HEAD, SHOULDERS AND ANY EXPOSED AREAS OF MY BODY. HAD I NOT HAD A BILL ON MY HAT, THE PIECES OF GLASS COULD HAVE ENTERED MY EYE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE SUNROOF AND THE SHATTERED …

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11075140 at NHTSA ↗

THE "COMBI" VALVE ON MY GTI STAYS STUCK OPEN CAUSING MORE EXHAUST GASES TO FLOW THROUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AS A RESULT NMY CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER REPLACING TO COMBI VALVE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101789 at NHTSA ↗

NOTICED BURNING COOLANT SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND THE CAR WAS STOPPED. COULD HEAR A SIZZLING NOISE WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE HOOD OPEN. THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS AT THE MINIMUM LINE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED A LEAKING THERMOSTAT HOUSING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PART UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT 34,655 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. 34,655 miles reported. Look up ODI 11202558 at NHTSA ↗

AT AROUND 28,000 MILES, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS NEAR FREEZING AND THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING OVERNIGHT, I NOTICED A ROTATIONAL SQUEAKING/CHIRPING NOISE WHEN THE INTERIOR FAN SPEED WAS ON THE LOWER SETTINGS. THE FREQUENCY WOULD CHANGE WHEN THE FAN SPEED CHANGED. THE ISSUE GOT WORSE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. ONCE THE CAR WARMED UP, THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE PART UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11202564 at NHTSA ↗

NUMEROUS CRACKS APPEARED IN THE SUNROOF FRAME OF THE 2017 VW GTI CAUSING LEAKING AND INSTABILITY OF PANORAMIC SUNROOF. VW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO PREVENT CRACKING IN PANORAMIC SUNROOFS. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN WAS PERFORMED WITHIN THE FIRST 1000 MILES AND NOT ONLY FAILED TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CRACKS ACTUALLY FORMED IN THE VERY PLACES WHERE THE TAPE AND SEALANT WERE APPLIED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11217100 at NHTSA ↗

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.