NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
124 reports5,000 miles · Aug 16, 2003
TiresWheels
PITTING AND CORROSION OCCURRING ON THE RIMS THAT CAME STOCK ON MY 2002 VW GTI 337. THIS CAR WAS A LIMITED EDITION VEHICLE FOR THE USA, WITH ONLY 1500 MADE.FITTING OF RIMS AND BLACK SPOTS ARE NOTED, AS WELL AS WHITISH SPOTS THAT INDICATE CORROSION OF THE UNDERLYING METAL. I WASH THESE RIMS ON A WEEKLY BASIS WITH A NON-ACIDIC WH…
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PITTING AND CORROSION OCCURRING ON THE RIMS THAT CAME STOCK ON MY 2002 VW GTI 337. THIS CAR WAS A LIMITED EDITION VEHICLE FOR THE USA, WITH ONLY 1500 MADE.FITTING OF RIMS AND BLACK SPOTS ARE NOTED, AS WELL AS WHITISH SPOTS THAT INDICATE CORROSION OF THE UNDERLYING METAL. I WASH THESE RIMS ON A WEEKLY BASIS WITH A NON-ACIDIC WHEEL SHAMPOO, AS WELL AS WAXING THEM ON A MONTHLY BASIS WITH WHEEL-SPECIFIC WAX. HOWEVER, AFORMENTIONED CONDITION CONTINUES TO WORSEN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032927
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2003
Wheels
2002 GTI-337 25 ANNIV MODEL ALLOY WHEELS DEFFECTIVE EXCESSIVE CORROSION FORMING AROUND SPOKES ON THE WHEELS. THE CLEAR COATING IS PEELING OFF AT CENTER HUB. BLACK SPOTS FROM EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST IS IMBEDDED INTO THE FINISH, DESPITE WEEKLY CLEANING BY HAND. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032923
1,000 miles · Aug 16, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels
OVER 200 2002 VW GTI 337 EDITION OWNERS HAVE ALSO CLAIMED TO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS OF PITTING, BLACK SPOTS, CORROSION, ROUGHNESS, AND/OR WHITE SPOTS ON THEIR WHEELS AS WELL AND HAVE SUPPLIED PICTURES FOR ALL TO VIEW PUBLICLY ON ONLINE FORUMS TO PROVE THEIR CASE. AS A GROUP WE HAVE APPROACHED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA (VWOA) ABOUT …
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OVER 200 2002 VW GTI 337 EDITION OWNERS HAVE ALSO CLAIMED TO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS OF PITTING, BLACK SPOTS, CORROSION, ROUGHNESS, AND/OR WHITE SPOTS ON THEIR WHEELS AS WELL AND HAVE SUPPLIED PICTURES FOR ALL TO VIEW PUBLICLY ON ONLINE FORUMS TO PROVE THEIR CASE. AS A GROUP WE HAVE APPROACHED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA (VWOA) ABOUT THE PROBLEM USING MY CAR AS THE TEST CAR. WE ALL OPENED CASE NUMBERS WITH VWOA EXPRESSING OUR CONCERNS AND MY WHEELS WERE SENT TO VWS TESTING CENTER IN WOLFSBURG, GERMANY WHERE THE WHEELS WERE DETERMINED NOT TO BE DEFECTIVE, LEAVING MANY ANGRY AND CONFUSED ENTHUSIASTS OUT TO DRY. INSTEAD OF FIXING THE PROBLEM, VWOA CONTACTED A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHO HAD OPENED CASE NUMBERS TO OFFER THEM A $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE, GOOD TOWARD VW MERCHANDISE OR SERVICE. THIS ACTION ONLY SERVED TO DOUSE FUEL ON AN ALREADY RAGING FIRE. ONCE VWOA LEARNED OF OUR REACTION TO THIS INSULT, THEY DECIDED TO STOP CALLING, LEAVING THE REST OF US WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AS PROMISED. WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SEEK LEGAL ACTION IN ORDER TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. SOME FACTS: - 1,500 GTI 337 EDITIONS WERE MANUFACTURED FOR THE U.S. IN 2002 AS A LIMITED EDITION CAR AND 250 FOR CANADA - ALL CAME EQUIPPED WITH 18 X7.5 CUSTOM BBS RC WHEELS IN A SPECIAL VW-ONLY SHOT PEENED AND CLEAR COATED FINISH DESIGN (BBS DOES NOT NORMALLY CLEAR COAT THEIR WHEELS) - THE SAME WHEELS ARE FOUND ON THE EUROPEAN 337S CALLED THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION - THE BRAKE PADS FOUND ON THE U.S. 337S ARE NOT THE SAME AS FOUND ON THE EUROPEAN 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS - MORE THAN 200 337 OWNERS HAVE COME FORTH TO CLAIM ISSUES WITH THEIR WHEELS FINISH BEING DEGRADED BY THEIR STOCK BRAKE PADS - TO OUR COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE NO EUROPEAN 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION HAS THE SAME ISSUES APPROXIMATE RETAIL REPLACEMENT COSTS:1) VW EDITION 18X7.5 BBS RC W/CENTER CAPS= $605.70. SET OF FOUR = $2,422.80.CONTACT THE BBB FOR MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10032916
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels
ROUGHNESS,CORROSION, WHITE SPOTS ON MY CAR'S RIMS.THE BRAKE PADS ARE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I AM LOOKING TO HAVE THE STOCK RIMS REPLACED. ALONG WITH THE STOCK BRAKE PADS THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. I KNOW OF ALL MOST 200 CARS THAT HAVE THESE ISSUES WITH THEIR RIMS. THE PROBLEM IS THE STOCK BRAKE PADS ARE EATING AWAY AT THE SPECIAL FI…
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ROUGHNESS,CORROSION, WHITE SPOTS ON MY CAR'S RIMS.THE BRAKE PADS ARE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I AM LOOKING TO HAVE THE STOCK RIMS REPLACED. ALONG WITH THE STOCK BRAKE PADS THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. I KNOW OF ALL MOST 200 CARS THAT HAVE THESE ISSUES WITH THEIR RIMS. THE PROBLEM IS THE STOCK BRAKE PADS ARE EATING AWAY AT THE SPECIAL FINISH THAT IS ON THE RIM. VWOA DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MORE INFO HERE: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=569321. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032915
5,000 miles · Aug 14, 2003
Wheels
OEM RIMS ARE PITTING AND CORRODING EVEN THOUGH I TAKE VERY METICULOUS CARE OF THEM. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM IT SEEMS THAT ALMOST ALL VW GTI 337 EDITION OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10032837
18,366 miles · Aug 13, 2003
Wheels
OEM WHEELS HAVE BEGUN TO CORRODE. PRESENCE OF BLACK, ROUGH SPOTTING AND WHITE PEELING ON FINISH OF WHEELS. BELIEVE TO BE DUE TO BRAKE PAD DUST EVEN THOUGH WHEELS HAVE BEEN CLEANED BY HAND AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS ONE PARTICULAR LIMITED EDITION VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10032774
6,000 miles · Aug 13, 2003
Wheels
2002 GTI-337 25 ANNIV MODEL ALLOY WHEELS DEFFECTIVE EXCESSIVE CORROSION FORMING AROUND SPOKES ON THE WHEELS. THE CLEAR COATING IS PEELING OFF AT CENTER HUB. BLACK SPOTS FROM EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST IS IMBEDDED INTO THE FINISH, DESPITE WEEKLY CLEANING BY HAND. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032768
3,000 miles · Aug 13, 2003
Wheels
WHEELS ARE CORRODING AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN ANY WAY. WHEELS ARE CORRODING ON APPROX. 300 2002 GTI 337 EDITION VEHICLES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10032721
7,500 miles · Aug 13, 2003
Wheels
2002 GTI-337 25 ANNIV MODEL ALLOY WHEELS DEFFECTIVE EXCESSIVE CORROSION FORMING AROUND SPOKES ON THE WHEELS. THE CLEAR COATING IS PEELING OFF AT CENTER HUB. BLACK SPOTS FROM EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST IS IMBEDDED INTO THE FINISH, DESPITE WEEKLY CLEANING BY HAND.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10032720
7,502 miles · Jul 28, 2003
Electrical System
ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH, POSSIBLE COIL PACK IN IGNITION FAILURE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10030279
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.
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