IllustrationWHEELS ON MY 337 GTI ARE CORRODING MUCH LIKE OTHERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ALREADY. PITTING/ ROUGHNESS/ SPOTTING--ALL PROBLEMS ON THE BBS OEM WHEELS. MINE AREN'T AS SEVERE A CASE AS OTHERS, BUT I FEAR THEY WILL ONLY GET WORSE SINCE THE CAR IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD.*AK
2002 Volkswagen Gti
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Gti years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
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
570–25K
1425–50K
850–75K
575–100K
5100–150K
0150K+
89 reports with mileage · 35 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 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Wheels. Review the 22 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 reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
124 reportsRIM CORROSION VW WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY. *AK
2002 GTI-337 25 ANNIV MODEL ALLOY WHEELS DEFFECTIVE EXCESSIVE CORROSION FORMING AROUND SPOKES ON THE WHEELS. THE CLEAR COATING IS PEELING. BLACK SPOTS FROM EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST IS IMBEDDED INTO THE FINISH, DESPITE WEEKLY CLEANING BY HAND. CONTACTED VWOA WITH NO AVAIL.*AK
ROUGHNESS,CORROSION, WHITE SPOTS ON MY CAR'S WHEELS. *AK
I HAVE A 2002 VW GTI SPECIAL EDITION 337, WHICH CAME WITH 18"X7.5" BBS RC WHEELS. WITH IN A FEW MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR, I AND 200+ OWNERS HAVE NOTICED SOME CORROSION AND PITTING AROUND THE WHEEL. EITHER DUE TO THE CLEAR COATING OR THE BRAKE PADS. WE HAVE CONTACTED VWOA TO HAVE THE WHEELS REPLACED BY WARRANTY, THEY DENIED AN…
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I HAVE A 2002 VW GTI SPECIAL EDITION 337, WHICH CAME WITH 18"X7.5" BBS RC WHEELS. WITH IN A FEW MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR, I AND 200+ OWNERS HAVE NOTICED SOME CORROSION AND PITTING AROUND THE WHEEL. EITHER DUE TO THE CLEAR COATING OR THE BRAKE PADS. WE HAVE CONTACTED VWOA TO HAVE THE WHEELS REPLACED BY WARRANTY, THEY DENIED ANY ISSUES. OFFERED A $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO A CERTAIN FEW, NOW A FEW MONTHS BACK THEY DO ADMIT TO THE ISSUES AND ALSO ADMITTED TO REPLACING ALL1750 OWNERS BBS RC WHEELS. WE FILED WITH THE BBB TO EXPEDITE THE ISSUE AND VWOA REQUESTED FOR 30 DAYS TO FINALIZE THE DECISION. IT HAS BEEN WELL OVER 30DAYS AND NOW ARE ASKING FOR 30 MORE DAYS. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED AND HAVE THE WHEELS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED.*AK
2002 GTI-337 25 ANNIV MODEL ALLOY WHEELS DEFFECTIVE EXCESSIVE CORROSION FORMING AROUND SPOKES ON THE WHEELS. BLACK SPOTS FROM EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST IS IMBEDDED INTO THE FINISH, DESPITE WEEKLY CLEANING BY HAND.RE:HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=569321 . *AK
EACH WHEEL OF MY 2002 VW GTI 337 HAS BEEN IMPREGNATED W/ WHEEL BRAKE DUST. THE DUST HAS NOT BEEN REMOVABLE SINCE IT HAS EMBEDDED ITSELF IN THE CLEAR COAT. THE FINISH ON EACH OF THE WHEELS HAS ALSO GOTTEN ROUGHER OVER TIME, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE DUST EATING AWAY AT THE CLEAR COAT FINISH.*AK
THE FINISH OF THE BBS RC WHEELS THAT CAME WITH MY 2002 VW GTI 337 IS PITTING AND CORRODING AWAY. THERE ARE OVER 200 OTHER GTI 337 OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. DESPITE FREQUENT CLEANING WITH APPROVED CHEMICALS, EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST IS PITTING INTO THE SPECIAL FINISH OF THE SAID WHEELS AND CAUSING DISCOLORATION AND/…
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THE FINISH OF THE BBS RC WHEELS THAT CAME WITH MY 2002 VW GTI 337 IS PITTING AND CORRODING AWAY. THERE ARE OVER 200 OTHER GTI 337 OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. DESPITE FREQUENT CLEANING WITH APPROVED CHEMICALS, EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST IS PITTING INTO THE SPECIAL FINISH OF THE SAID WHEELS AND CAUSING DISCOLORATION AND/OR PEELING OF THE CLEAR COAT ON THE WHEELS.*AK
I OWN A 2002 VW GTI 337. THIS WAS A SPECIAL EDITION VW THAT WAS PRODUCED. THERE WERE 1500 MADE FOR THE USA AND 250 MADE FOR CANADA. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDED FROM THE FACTORY IN THIS VEHICLE. TWO OF THOSE SPECIAL FEATURES WERE 18INCH BBS RC RIMS, AS WELL AS UPGRADED BRAKES. THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES.T…
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I OWN A 2002 VW GTI 337. THIS WAS A SPECIAL EDITION VW THAT WAS PRODUCED. THERE WERE 1500 MADE FOR THE USA AND 250 MADE FOR CANADA. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDED FROM THE FACTORY IN THIS VEHICLE. TWO OF THOSE SPECIAL FEATURES WERE 18INCH BBS RC RIMS, AS WELL AS UPGRADED BRAKES. THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES.THE RIMS CAME WITH THE CAR HAVE A SPECIAL LOOK TO THEM. ITS CALLED BALL-PEENED WHICH THEN IS CLEAR COATED OVER TOP TO PROTECT THE RIMS MANY COMPANYS C;EAR COAT RIMS AS A WAY TO GIVE THEM A SHINY FINISH AND TO PROTECT FROM WEAR AND TEAR BETTER. THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM ARISES. THE RIMS THAT WERE PUT ON THE CAR ARE PITTING AND GETTING VERY ROUGH LIKE A SANDPAPER FEELING TO THEM AS WELL AS IN CERTAIN SPOTS SOME SORT OF WHIT SPOTS. THE COMPOSITION OF THE BRAKE PADS SEEM TO BE EATING THRU THE FINISH OF THE WHEELS WHICH LEAVES YOU WITH THE ROUGH FEELING ANS WELL AS BLACK BRAKE DUST SPECS EMBEDDED IN THE RIM. AS A CAR ENTHUSIAST MY CAR IS WASHED AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK BY HAND IT HAS NEVER BEEN TO AN AUTOMATED CAR WAS EITHER. NOW I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST SO THE ARGUMENT ABOUT SALT SAND AND ARE WINTERS COULD BE BROUGHT UP AS THE REASON THE RIMS HAVE TURNED OUT THIS WAY. HOWEVER MY CAR IS PUT INTO STORAGE BEFORE THE WINTER AND IS NOT TAKEN OUT UNTIL SPRING TIME THERE FOR NEVER SEEING ANY HARSH CLIMATES OR CHEMICALS. I WASH THE RIMS BY HAND WITH ONLY SOAP AND WATER. MY CAR HAS ONLY 5800 MILES ON IT BUT THE RIMS HAVE THE LOOK AND TEXTURE OF ONE THAT HAS HAD A MUCH LONGER LIFE. THER ARE APPROXIMATELY 200+ PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE HAVING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING. I KNOW OF THIS MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE SITE VWVORTEX.COM ON THAT WEBSITE THERE ARE A SERIES OF FORUMS, UNDER THE VOLKSWAGEN FORUM HEAD IS A SUB FORUM CALLED 337/20TH ANNIVERSARY WHICH IN THAT FORUM THERE IS A THREAD TITLED VW WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH BBS RIMS. *AK
2002 GTI-337 25 ANNIV MODEL ALLOY WHEELS DEFFECTIVE EXCESSIVE CORROSION FORMING AROUND SPOKES ON THE WHEELS. BLACK SPOTS FROM EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST IS IMBEDDED INTO THE FINISH, DESPITE WEEKLY CLEANING BY HAND.*AK
Official recalls
207V063000 · 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
2PE04081 · 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.