THE DSG TRANSMISSION IN MY 2007 VW GTI HAS SLIPPAGE AS WELL AS INCONSISTENT BEHAVIOR. *TR
2007 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
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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
62 reports with mileage · 15 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 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
40 reportsDSG TRANSMISSION LURCHES IN REVERSE EVERYTIME AND IS DANGEROUS WHEN GETTING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, WHEN DOWNSHIFT FROM A HIGHER GEAR LIKE 4TH OR 5TH THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR THOSE BEHIND WHO DON'T ANTICIPATE THE SUDDEN SLOW DOWN. THERE IS ALSO A LAG ON TAKE OFF FROM A STOP WHIC…
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DSG TRANSMISSION LURCHES IN REVERSE EVERYTIME AND IS DANGEROUS WHEN GETTING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, WHEN DOWNSHIFT FROM A HIGHER GEAR LIKE 4TH OR 5TH THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR THOSE BEHIND WHO DON'T ANTICIPATE THE SUDDEN SLOW DOWN. THERE IS ALSO A LAG ON TAKE OFF FROM A STOP WHICH CAUSE HAVOC FROM DRIVERS BEHIND. *TR
THE 5TH GENERATION VW GTI WITH DGS TRANSMISSION WILL JERK IN REVERSE THAT COULD CAUSE ONE TO HIT ANOTHER CAR. IT ALSO HESITATES BEFORE LAUNCHING AND THAT COULD CAUSE ONE TO PULL OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC TOO LATE, THUS CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
VW GTI DSG TRANSMISSION JERKING IN REVERSE COULD CAUSE YOU TO HIT ANOTHER CAR, OR HESITATION BEFORE LAUNCHING COULD CAUSE YOU TO PULL OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC TOO LATE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
2007 VW GTI WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATING AGAIN, THIS COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND OR SERIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE DUE TO THE STRESS ON THE DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS, BROUGHT IT UP AT A SERVICE APPT AND TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS NORMAL, I DO NOT BELIEVE HAVING A TRANSMISS…
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2007 VW GTI WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATING AGAIN, THIS COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND OR SERIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE DUE TO THE STRESS ON THE DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS, BROUGHT IT UP AT A SERVICE APPT AND TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS NORMAL, I DO NOT BELIEVE HAVING A TRANSMISSION MAKING A LOUD BANG SOUND AND SLAMMING INTO GEAR, JERKING THE CAR FORWARD IS NORMAL. *TR
I OWN A 2007 GTI WHICH HAS WHAT I BELIEVE AND MANY OTHER OWNERS, A DEFECTIVE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. MY INCIDENT BEGAN SUMMER OF 2007 AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP MY VEHICLE STARTED SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF CLUNKING AND SNAPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR IN THE FRONT. I WENT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES …
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I OWN A 2007 GTI WHICH HAS WHAT I BELIEVE AND MANY OTHER OWNERS, A DEFECTIVE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. MY INCIDENT BEGAN SUMMER OF 2007 AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP MY VEHICLE STARTED SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF CLUNKING AND SNAPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR IN THE FRONT. I WENT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR IT AND OUT OF ALL THE VISITS OF WHICH I ONLY GOT 5 RECEIPTS AND 2 ATTEMPTS AT REPAIRS THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. IT HAS BEGUN TO BE HARDER TO REPLICATE IN SOME INSTANCES AND WHEN I DID I FINALLY DECIDED TO MAKE A VIDEO OF THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE DEALERSHIPS REFUSED TO USE THE TAPE AS PROOF SO I MOVED ONTO CONTACTING VWOA OF WHICH IT DID NOT GET ME FAR. I SUPPLIED THE VIDEOS AND REPAIR BILLS AND UNLESS I CAN REPLICATE THE SOUND AT THE DEALER THEY CANT HELP. SO I FINALLY REPLICATED MY DEFECT AT ANOTHER VW SERVICE CENTER AND A SERVICE MANAGER WHO IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND WILLING TO WORK WITH ME AND VWOA. I CONTACTED VWOA AFTER THE VISIT AND HAVE YET TO HEAR A RESPONSE. WHAT THE SERVICE MANAGER SHOWED ME WAS PRETTY MUCH WHAT ME AND THE SEVERAL PEOPLE PRESUME IS MANUFACTURED WRONG. THE SUBFRAME ON THE VEHICLE SEEMS DEFECTIVE. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT THE SUBFRAME PUTS SOME EMPHASIS ON THE STEERING COMPONENTS ON THE VEHICLE WHICH MAY CAUSE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS EVEN HAZARDS IF INVESTIGATED FURTHER. AS OF RIGHT EVEN AFTER GIVEN REPAIRS, MY CAR IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, SNAPPING SOUNDS DURING THE VEHICLE TURNING OR CLUNKING SOUNDS UNDER ENGINE LOADS AND TRANSMISSION LOADS. NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED TO ME BY VWOA OTHER THAN TRY TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHICH I ALREADY HAVE WITH A VERY WILLING PERSON TO HELP BUT VWOA HAS YET TO CONTACT ME BACK ITS BEEN OVER A WEEK. HERE IS A LINK THAT PROVIDES MANY COMPLAINTS FROM A CAR CLUB WITH THIS PROBLEM (JUST COPY AND PASTE IT IN YOUR BROWSER) HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=2721992&PAGE=1 AS YOU CAN SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR ABOUT A GOOD 2 YEARS. *TR
ENGINE AND/OR TRANSMISSION IS MAKING THIS "METAL CLASHING SOUND", LIKE GEARS AREN'T MESHING PROPERLY. THE CAR IS PRACTICALLY NEW, ONLY 8K MILES ON IT. IT'S BEEN BACK TO VW DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE TOOK THE TRANSMISSION DOWN AND REPLACED A COMPONENT. ONCE THEY PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND TESTED,…
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ENGINE AND/OR TRANSMISSION IS MAKING THIS "METAL CLASHING SOUND", LIKE GEARS AREN'T MESHING PROPERLY. THE CAR IS PRACTICALLY NEW, ONLY 8K MILES ON IT. IT'S BEEN BACK TO VW DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE TOOK THE TRANSMISSION DOWN AND REPLACED A COMPONENT. ONCE THEY PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND TESTED, NOTHING CHANGED - THE CAR STILL MAKES THE SAME METAL GRINDING SOUND. I'M ACTUALLY ANNOYED BECAUSE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I WAS GOING TO TRADE IN MY GTI FOR AN R32 BUT NOW, I THINK I'LL GO WITH ANOTHER CAR ALTOGETHER. *TR
REGARDING THE DSG AUTO. TRANSMISSION IN THE 2006 AND 2007 VW GTI: UNDER SOME CONDITIONS THE CAR WILL HESITATE ABOUT 1 TO 2 SECONDS WHEN QUICKLY SWITCHING BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL, SUCH AS WHEN MAKING A QUICK LEFT TURN TO BEAT THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VW SIMPLY SAYS THAT "THEY ALL DO THAT". THIS COULD BE A DANGER…
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REGARDING THE DSG AUTO. TRANSMISSION IN THE 2006 AND 2007 VW GTI: UNDER SOME CONDITIONS THE CAR WILL HESITATE ABOUT 1 TO 2 SECONDS WHEN QUICKLY SWITCHING BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL, SUCH AS WHEN MAKING A QUICK LEFT TURN TO BEAT THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VW SIMPLY SAYS THAT "THEY ALL DO THAT". THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE SET UP AS A RECALL BY VW. *TR
THIS IS A CONTINUATION FROM CHRIS DUNN 2007 VW GTI AFTER THE MOST "FIX" FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - ONE WEEK AGO - THE CAR HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND PRESSING ON THE GAS, YOU HEAR A LOUD THUNK AND FEEL HARD HIT AND THE CAR JERKS (LUNGES?) FORWARD ABOUT 5 FEET. SINCE THIS FIX…
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THIS IS A CONTINUATION FROM CHRIS DUNN 2007 VW GTI AFTER THE MOST "FIX" FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - ONE WEEK AGO - THE CAR HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND PRESSING ON THE GAS, YOU HEAR A LOUD THUNK AND FEEL HARD HIT AND THE CAR JERKS (LUNGES?) FORWARD ABOUT 5 FEET. SINCE THIS FIX, ONE WEEK AGO, THE CAR NOT ONLY DOES THE LUNGING FORWARD BUT NOW IS ALSO NEARLY STALLING. AFTER BEING AT A STOP AND YOU DEPRESS THE GAS THE CAR SHAKES AND HAS THE FEELING IT WILL STALL UNLESS YOU GIVE IT MORE GAS. IT THEN BEGINS TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY AT ABOUT 1/3 REGULAR POWER. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED AS I WAS CROSSING AT A FOUR-WAY STOP AND BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION I NEARLY GOT HIT AGAIN. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES CAUSED EVERY TIME IT WAS HOT THAT CAUSED LACK OF INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND ALL DISPLAY INFO WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE. YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR YOU WERE IN,NO RADIO,MILES PER GALLON,OR ANY WARNINGS, ETC. HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN UNRELATED PROBLEM NOT THE TRANS PROBLEM WHICH WILL GET ME KILLED. I HAVE EXHAUSTED MY OPTIONS, HAVE RECEIVED NO COOPERATION FROM DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICED THE CAR WHICH IS CLOSER THAN THE DEALER I PURCHASED FROM. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, I TOOK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THERE WAS A MAJOR DELAY BETWEEN THROTTLE INPUT AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION. THEY DROVE THE CAR AND DUPLICATED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OF THROTTLE DELAY. THEY SAID THE CAR SHIFTED AT 1000-1500 RPM'S PAST REDLINE AND ASKED IF I HAD DONE PERFORMANCE ENHANCING TUNING TO THE ECU. ---- I HAD NOT, ----THIS WAS A BRAND NEW CAR. THEY HAD ME SIGN A PAPER TO THAT EFFECT, WHICH I HAVE. THEY SAID THERE WAS PROBABLY TRANSMISSION DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR THERE "WOULD BE FUTURE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE" AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I CALLED VWOF AMERICA AND GOT A "TOO BAD GOODBYE". SINCE THEN THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR AT LEAST 8-10 TIMES, SEVERAL DAYS AT A TIME ---AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I AM GETTING NO HELP. *TR
MY 2007 VW GTI DSG HAS TRANSMISSION SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT HAVE CAUSED ME TO NEARLY GET HIT NUMEROUS TIMES. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, LAGS, THEN GRABS GEAR AGAIN AND HAS TO RE-ACCELERATE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TR…
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MY 2007 VW GTI DSG HAS TRANSMISSION SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT HAVE CAUSED ME TO NEARLY GET HIT NUMEROUS TIMES. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, LAGS, THEN GRABS GEAR AGAIN AND HAS TO RE-ACCELERATE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS OF 65 AS WELL AS IN CITY 30-45 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO A BUSY TURNPIKE AND SUDDENLY HAVING THE CAR HAVE NO ACCELERATION POWER ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT HAS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING AND SUDDENLY THE CAR DECELERATES AND THERE IS A SEVERAL SECOND LAG BEFORE IT GRABS AND DECIDES TO GO AGAIN. THIS CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES CONSECUTIVELY WHICH IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AT LEAST 8-10 TIMES AND EVERYTIME THEY TELL ME IT IS FIXED AND THEN I PULL OUT AND IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AGAIN. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE MECATRONIC UNIT, REFLASHED THE ECM, ADDED IN A MISSING LAUNCH CONTROL PROGRAM AND REPLACED INTAKE FLAP MOTOR. THESE PROBLEM HAVE TAKEN ALL MY FAITH OUT OF THE VEHICLE. EVERYTIME I DRIVE I AM AFRAID. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND LOSE POWER. I HEAR A LOUD THUNK FROM THE ENGINE AND IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR HAS BEEN HIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE TO CONTINUE THIS ON ANOTHER COMPLAINT FORM B/C OF LENGTH, PLS. SEE PAGE 2 OF CHRIS DUNN 2007 VW GTI *TR
Official recalls
107V442000 · 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.
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.
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