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2001 Volkswagen Gti

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

51 reports with mileage · 23 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
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82,000 miles · May 14, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

2001 VW GTI BOUGHT USED. AT 79,000 MILES HAD 80K SERVICE DONE AT DEALERSHIP WHICH INCLUDED CHECKING TIMING BELT. AT 82,000 TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. NEEDED TO REPLACE ENGINE COST ME $5300 IN WHICH VW WOULD NOT PAY FOR AS WARRANTY ONLY COVERS ORIGINAL OWNER. VW CLAIMS BELT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST 105,…

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2001 VW GTI BOUGHT USED. AT 79,000 MILES HAD 80K SERVICE DONE AT DEALERSHIP WHICH INCLUDED CHECKING TIMING BELT. AT 82,000 TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. NEEDED TO REPLACE ENGINE COST ME $5300 IN WHICH VW WOULD NOT PAY FOR AS WARRANTY ONLY COVERS ORIGINAL OWNER. VW CLAIMS BELT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST 105,000 MILES. AFTER RESEARCHING ON INTERNET, NUMEROUS CLAIMS FOR ALL 1.8T ENGINES REGARDING THE TIMING BELT GOING WELL BEFORE 105,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227693

34,064 miles · Apr 14, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

SINCE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN 2001 MIL LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON IN RAINING CONDITIONS. VW SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REPLACED IN AT NO CHARGE IN MARCH OF 2003. SINCE REPLACEMENT LIGHT STILL COMES ON, AND IS NOW PERMANENTLY ON. WHEN CAR IS WET YOU CAN SEE SPARKS COMING FROM THE IGNITION COIL. THERE ARE NOTICEABLE CRACKS IN…

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SINCE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN 2001 MIL LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON IN RAINING CONDITIONS. VW SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REPLACED IN AT NO CHARGE IN MARCH OF 2003. SINCE REPLACEMENT LIGHT STILL COMES ON, AND IS NOW PERMANENTLY ON. WHEN CAR IS WET YOU CAN SEE SPARKS COMING FROM THE IGNITION COIL. THERE ARE NOTICEABLE CRACKS IN THE COIL HOUSING. *******EPA REFERENCE INFORMATION(IHTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/OTAQ/CERT/RECALL/420B04018.PDF) *******EPA STATES THE FOLLOWING: CYLINDER IGNITION COIL FAILURE. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND ILLUMINATE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL). TWO SEPARATE FAILURE MODES MAY EXIST WITHIN THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS TESTED, (1)COIL HOUSING DAMAGE CAUSED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS AT THE APPLICABLE VW OR AUDI FACTORY, (2)COIL DESIGN SHORTCOMINGS BY THE SUPPLIER. *****************NOTE: THE 2002 GOLF GTI VR6 (ENGINE CLASS 2VWXV02.8224) AND THE 2001 EURO VAN VR6 (ENGINE CLASS 1VWXV02.8225)USE THE SAME IGNITION COILS AS MY CAR, THE 2001 GOLF GTI VR6 (ENGINE CLASS 1VWXV02.8224). PLEASE HELP TO INCLUDE MY CALL THE 2001 GOLF GTI (VR6). MY CAR IS NOW AND HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES, EXCESS FUEL CONSUMPTION, EMISSIONS FAULTS, LOSS OF POWER ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING, EXCESS OIL COMSUMPTION ETC. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10155392

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY INTAKE MANIFOLD CHANGE OVER VALVE ARE RATTLING. ALTHOUGH I HAVE A 10 YR "DRIVE TRAIN" WARRANTY VW TOLD ME THAT THE MANIFOLD IS COVERED IN THE WARRANTY BUT THE "INSIDE COMPONENTS" ARE NOT. EVEN WORSE THE VW MECHANIC SAID THAT "THIS IS COMMON WITH THE VR6 ENGINES." THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10141659

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2001 VW GOLF GTI. IT IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENGINE'S BLOCK HEAD GASKET. BEING THAT IT IS UNDER A 100K MILES WARRANTY I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WAS ALARMED THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE LEAK WAS A "SMALL AND NORMAL LEAKAGE, JUST SIPPING." THE PERSON AT THE COUNTER TOLD ME I HAD NOTHING TO …

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I HAVE A 2001 VW GOLF GTI. IT IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENGINE'S BLOCK HEAD GASKET. BEING THAT IT IS UNDER A 100K MILES WARRANTY I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WAS ALARMED THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE LEAK WAS A "SMALL AND NORMAL LEAKAGE, JUST SIPPING." THE PERSON AT THE COUNTER TOLD ME I HAD NOTHING TO WORRY BECAUSE I WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND "WOULD GET A NEW ENGINE IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THE ONE I HAVE NOW." CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE VW EXPLAINED TO ME HOW IS THAT AN ENGINE BLOCK THAT LEAKS OIL IS "NORMAL". IN THE END, I LEFT B/C THEY WOULD NOT SERVICE THE CAR SINSE IT WAS "SIPPING" OIL, THUS ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10126366

39,000 miles · Apr 7, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

MY BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING IN AUGUST 2002. DEALER REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. JANUARY 2003 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR OFF WARRANTY; TURBO CUT OFF VALVE REPLACED AND COOLANT TEMP SENSOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE WEEKS LATER. TOOK GTI TO DEALER AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY. NOW, 3 DAYS LATER THE CH…

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MY BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING IN AUGUST 2002. DEALER REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. JANUARY 2003 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR OFF WARRANTY; TURBO CUT OFF VALVE REPLACED AND COOLANT TEMP SENSOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE WEEKS LATER. TOOK GTI TO DEALER AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY. NOW, 3 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10014099

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE COIL PACKS ON THE ENGINE HAVE FAILED ON ME TWICE. WAS GOING 65 DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED TO LESS THEN HALF AND BECOMING REAL ROUGH AND REAL JERKY. VW NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. IMAGINE ACCIDENTALLY PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND HAVING MORE THAN ONE…

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THE COIL PACKS ON THE ENGINE HAVE FAILED ON ME TWICE. WAS GOING 65 DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED TO LESS THEN HALF AND BECOMING REAL ROUGH AND REAL JERKY. VW NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. IMAGINE ACCIDENTALLY PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND HAVING MORE THAN ONE COIL PACK FAIL AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. I WOULD HATE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO EVEN ONE FAMILY. DT

NHTSA ODI #770509

Official recalls

2

07V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 20, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

04V584000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

Dec 16, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE04081 · Inadvertent SIDE-AIRBAG Deployment

Opened Dec 16, 2004 · Closed Apr 1, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE-THORAX AND SIDE-HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO PROTECT THE FRONT AND REAR OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A SIDE-IMPACT CRASH.THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 499 REPORTS (482 OWNERS REPORTS AND 17 WARRANTY CLAIMS).THE CRASH SENSING SYSTEM?S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS (WHEEL, TIRE AND UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS) AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.THE 97 ALLEGED INJURIES WERE MINOR IN NATURE AND CONSIST OF ABRASIONS, BRUISES, EAR RINGING AND HEADACHES.THERE WAS NO ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL CRASH AS A RESULT OF SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.ODI ALSO OBTAINED COUNTS OF ALLEGED INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS FROM PEER MANUFACTURERS.THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT UNIQUE IN BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH ALLEGATIONS.THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR NON-SUBJECT INDIVIDUAL MODEL VEHICLES VARIES WIDELY.THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS COMPARABLE TO THREE PEER MODELS, EACH WITH COMPACT CHASSIS/WHEELBASES.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY COMPONENT FAILURE OR MANUFACTURING TREND THAT MAY RELATE TO A COMPONENT OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

PE04073 · Turn Signal/hazard Flasher Failure

Opened Oct 19, 2004 · Closed Dec 16, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights; Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:flasher Unit

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON OCTOBER 19, 2004, BASED ON NINE REPORTS ON 2000 THROUGH 2001 JETTA AND GTI VEHICLES ALLEGING THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND OR HAZARD FLASHERS FAIL TO BLINK, OR FLASH.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ONLY A FEW TIMES AND THEN STOP.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT HAVING THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH REPLACED REPAIRED THEIR VEHICLES.BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 13, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 350,000 MODEL YEAR 2000 THROUGH 2002 JETTA, GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER SYSTEM.VW REPORTS 216 OWNER REPORTS, 4 FIELD REPORTS AND 4960 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS POPULATION OF VEHICLES. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT TO REMEDY THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.PLEASE SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V584 FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights:switch

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON OCTOBER 19, 2004, BASED ON NINE REPORTS ON 2000 THROUGH 2001 JETTA AND GTI VEHICLES ALLEGING THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND OR HAZARD FLASHERS FAIL TO BLINK, OR FLASH.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ONLY A FEW TIMES AND THEN STOP.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT HAVING THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH REPLACED REPAIRED THEIR VEHICLES.BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 13, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 350,000 MODEL YEAR 2000 THROUGH 2002 JETTA, GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER SYSTEM.VW REPORTS 216 OWNER REPORTS, 4 FIELD REPORTS AND 4960 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS POPULATION OF VEHICLES. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT TO REMEDY THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.PLEASE SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V584 FOR DETAILS.

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON OCTOBER 19, 2004, BASED ON NINE REPORTS ON 2000 THROUGH 2001 JETTA AND GTI VEHICLES ALLEGING THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND OR HAZARD FLASHERS FAIL TO BLINK, OR FLASH.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ONLY A FEW TIMES AND THEN STOP.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT HAVING THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH REPLACED REPAIRED THEIR VEHICLES.BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 13, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 350,000 MODEL YEAR 2000 THROUGH 2002 JETTA, GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER SYSTEM.VW REPORTS 216 OWNER REPORTS, 4 FIELD REPORTS AND 4960 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS POPULATION OF VEHICLES. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT TO REMEDY THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.PLEASE SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V584 FOR DETAILS.

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:flasher Unit

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON OCTOBER 19, 2004, BASED ON NINE REPORTS ON 2000 THROUGH 2001 JETTA AND GTI VEHICLES ALLEGING THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND OR HAZARD FLASHERS FAIL TO BLINK, OR FLASH.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ONLY A FEW TIMES AND THEN STOP.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT HAVING THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH REPLACED REPAIRED THEIR VEHICLES.BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 13, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 350,000 MODEL YEAR 2000 THROUGH 2002 JETTA, GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER SYSTEM.VW REPORTS 216 OWNER REPORTS, 4 FIELD REPORTS AND 4960 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS POPULATION OF VEHICLES. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT TO REMEDY THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.PLEASE SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V584 FOR DETAILS.

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON OCTOBER 19, 2004, BASED ON NINE REPORTS ON 2000 THROUGH 2001 JETTA AND GTI VEHICLES ALLEGING THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND OR HAZARD FLASHERS FAIL TO BLINK, OR FLASH.SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ONLY A FEW TIMES AND THEN STOP.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT HAVING THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH REPLACED REPAIRED THEIR VEHICLES.BY LETTER OF DECEMBER 13, 2004, VOLKSWAGEN NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 350,000 MODEL YEAR 2000 THROUGH 2002 JETTA, GOLF AND GTI VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER SYSTEM.VW REPORTS 216 OWNER REPORTS, 4 FIELD REPORTS AND 4960 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS POPULATION OF VEHICLES. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT TO REMEDY THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.PLEASE SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V584 FOR DETAILS.