IllustrationREAR BRAKES WEAR UNEVENLY. THE LEFT BRAKE WAS TOAST AT 35K THE RIGHT LOOKED ALMOST NEW. ALL THE DEALER HAD TO SAY WAS "UNEVEN WEAR" SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. *TR
2006 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
130–25K
925–50K
750–75K
575–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
40 reports with mileage · 3 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.
- Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
43 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE VEHICLE HAS YOKOHAMA AS430 TIRES (NA). WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND VEHICLE STILL IDLED VERY ROUGH. WHILE CALLING VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD I FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHAT LOOKED AND SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WITHIN ONE MINUTE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FI…
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VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND VEHICLE STILL IDLED VERY ROUGH. WHILE CALLING VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD I FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHAT LOOKED AND SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WITHIN ONE MINUTE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. 911 WAS CALLED AND A FIRE TRUCK CAME OUT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER IN TRAVERSE CITY, MI, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND VW OF AMERICA CONTACTED ME AND SAID IT WAS AN IGNITION COIL FIRE. THEY HAVE MADE AN OFFER TO BUY BACK THE CAR. THIS VEHICLE HAD A PREVIOUS IGNITION COIL FAILURE (FEB., 2007/10,686 MILES) RESULTING IN MELTED WIRING. THERE WERE ALSO FAILURES OF THE TURBOCHARGER, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IGNITION SWITCH PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE. SERVICE REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THE FAILURES PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE ON 10/03/07. *JB
CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT 225/45H 17 TIRES HAVE SPLITTING SIDEWALLS ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE TIRES ARE SLOWLY LEAKING AIR AND GOING FLAT, ONE WENT DEAD AND 2 WEEKS LATER THE OTHER IS NOW FLAT. THERE ARE MORE VW GTI'S WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM REPORTED ON ONLINE CAR FORUMS AS WELL. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TEARS IN THE SIDEWALL A…
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CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT 225/45H 17 TIRES HAVE SPLITTING SIDEWALLS ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE TIRES ARE SLOWLY LEAKING AIR AND GOING FLAT, ONE WENT DEAD AND 2 WEEKS LATER THE OTHER IS NOW FLAT. THERE ARE MORE VW GTI'S WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM REPORTED ON ONLINE CAR FORUMS AS WELL. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TEARS IN THE SIDEWALL AVAILABLE. HTTP://HOMEPAGES.NYU.EDU/~EJM232/CONTI1.JPG *JB
THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. CAR HESITATED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS WA S SUPPOSEDLY A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THAT THE FUEL PUMPS WENT BAD IN DESERT TEMPERATURES. NEW FUEL PUMP TOOK 4+ WEEKS TO ARRIVE - BACK ORDERED. *AK
I HAVE A 2006 VA GTI NEW BODY STYLE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, IT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF. CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR REPAIR MORE THEN 7 TIMES AND PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED. *JB
I OWN A 2006 VW GTI (NEW BODY STYLE). THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS DAMAGED LAST WEEK WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR. FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED IT LOOKS LIKE ITS A DESIGN FLAW OR MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS WATER FROZE IN THE LOWER LEAD EDGE OF THE DOOR AREA AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY DOOR WHEN IT WAS OPENED. HERE ARE THE STEPS …
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I OWN A 2006 VW GTI (NEW BODY STYLE). THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS DAMAGED LAST WEEK WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR. FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED IT LOOKS LIKE ITS A DESIGN FLAW OR MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS WATER FROZE IN THE LOWER LEAD EDGE OF THE DOOR AREA AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY DOOR WHEN IT WAS OPENED. HERE ARE THE STEPS I HAVE TAKEN SINCE THE INCIDENT. THE REASON I'M REPORTING THIS IS THAT I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, IF SOMEONE WAS TO GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT IN THIS WINTER WEATHER, ITS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE DOOR WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION IN THE JAM/FENDER AREA. *NM
WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH SYSTEM. THIS IMMEDIATELY IMMOBILIZED MY VEHICLE WHILE STILL WITHIN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF THIS IMPENDING FAILURE; IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SAFELY PULL TO…
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WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH SYSTEM. THIS IMMEDIATELY IMMOBILIZED MY VEHICLE WHILE STILL WITHIN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF THIS IMPENDING FAILURE; IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SAFELY PULL TO THE SHOULDER. HOWEVER, I DO FEEL THAT MY PERSONAL SAFETY WAS IN JEOPARDY DURING THIS INCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE IS APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE CLUTCH PLATE APPARENTLY BROKE INTO SEVERAL PIECES WHILE IN OPERATION. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE EITHER A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *JB
1) NONE 2) HAVING A PRE-MISCALIBRATED SPEEDOMETER CAUSES ME CONFUSION AS I DRIVE AND HAS RESULTED IN MY GETTING A TICKET. 3) NOTHING YET. *NM
REAR CUP HOLDER (LOCATED ON THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS CENTER CONSOLE) IS BULKY. THIS IS A NUISANCE AND A DISTRACTION PARTICULARLY IF THERE IS A REAR PASSENGER WHO IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH WHILE I AM DRIVING. *NM
Official recalls
207V442000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Sep 24, 2007
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.