RoadVitals

1995 Volkswagen GTI

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Jul 11, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Aug 17, 1998
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Volkswagen GTI, most frequently naming the body & structure, engine and interior & seats categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 21 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure519.2%
  • Engine415.4%
  • Interior & seats415.4%
  • Electrical311.5%
  • Brakes27.7%
  • Driver assistance27.7%
  • Visibility27.7%
  • Heating & air conditioning13.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
98V195000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Aug 17, 1998
153,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK. THE LINE COULD BE DAMAGED BY CHAFING AGAINST THE FUEL TANK.
The risk: REPEATED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LEAKING BRAKE LINE CAUSING DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT INCREASING THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
98V160000

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Jul 16, 1998
238,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH CAN LOOSEN OVER TIME. THE LATCH WOULD MOVE CAUSING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.
The risk: UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD COULD OCCUR OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE98037ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HOOD LATCH FAILURE

Opened Jul 1, 1998
Closed Jul 20, 1998

ODI HAS RECEIVED THREE REPORTS, INCLUDING THE PETITIONERS, REGARDING ALLEGED HOOD LATCH FAILURES.ALL OF THE ODI REPORTS INDICATE THE HOOD FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING.FOLLOWING A TELEPHONE INQUIRY, VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED ODI WITH SOME LIMITED INFORMATION REGARDING SIX ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF HOOD FLY-UP FOR MODEL YEARS 1995 AND 1996.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.DEFECT DESCRIPTION:IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ON SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH MAY LOSE THEIR SPECIFIED FASTENING TORQUE OVER TIME.SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THE LATCH COULD MOVE OUT OF ITS DESIGN POSITION AND CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.IN SOME VEHICLES THE LATCH MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ALIGNED DURING PRODUCTION.REPEATED OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HOOD WITH AN IMPROPERLY ALIGNED LATCH COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE LATCH.EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD AND COULD OBSTRUCT A PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.REMEDY: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. WILL INITIATE A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL INSTRUCTING ITS AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO CHECK THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.

STRUCTURELed to recall 98V160000
DP98006ClosedDefect Petition

HOOD FLY-UP

Opened Jun 11, 1998
Closed Jul 1, 1998

There is no summary currently available

STRUCTURE

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 18
Engine
Filed Jul 11, 2005
2 injuries reported

STEAM COMINIG FROM DASHBOARD. EVENTUALLY, THE HEATER CORE EXPLODED CAUSING BURNS TO MY WIFES LEG. TALKED TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, AND SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO OWN THE SAME VW. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO! THE HEATER CORES WERE ALREADY RECALLED ON MK2 GOLFS, AND CORRADOS! WHEN THE HEATER CORE FAILS THE CAR FILLS WITH STEAM AND YOU HAVE NO DRIVING VISIBILITY! STILL TRYING TO TALK TO VW OF AMERICA, ITS TYPICALLY COVERED, HOWEVER, A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED YET.

NHTSA ID
10128302
Incident
Jul 7, 2005
Mileage
140,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 27, 2005

1995 VW GOLF HEATERCORE BLEW. WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIWAY FOR NO REASON THE CORE BLEW. COULD HAVE CRASHED THE CAR OR INJURED HERSELF WHEN THE COOLANT SPILLED OUT THE CORE.

NHTSA ID
10126655
Incident
Jun 26, 2005
Mileage
103,634 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 22, 2003

#1 - 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, WITHOUT RETAINING ANY FAULT CODE OR INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROBLEM. PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SAME PROBLEM; PROBABLY HAPPENING MOST OF VEHICLE'S LIFE. #2 - CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AT ALL, AND DIDN'T WORK FOR PREVIOUS OWNER EITHER FOR MANY YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10028831
Incident
Jul 14, 2003
Driver assistanceVisibility
Filed May 17, 2002

CRUISE CONTROL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND FAILED FAILED COMPLETELY. POWER WINDOWS OFTEN GOT STUCK AT THE DOWN POSITION AND FINALLY NO LONGER WORK AT ALL. YOUR FORM ENTERS INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL IN THE IMPROPER LOCATION, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
762000
Incident
Apr 22, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Oct 27, 2001

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY WHICH CONNECTS TO THE AIR SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BREAK, I'VE REPLACED THIS THREE TIMES, EVEN WITH THEIR BEEFED UP REPLACEMENT PART.*AK

NHTSA ID
753763
Incident
Aug 15, 2001
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Oct 4, 2000
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER HOOD IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 04-1243-985. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900611
Incident
Sep 28, 2000
Electrical
Filed Nov 15, 1999

ALTERNATOR AND ALTERNATOR HARNESS FAILURE. NO WARNING PRIOR TO INCIDENT. CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD. UNSURE WHEN PROBLEM FIRST STARTED. DEFINITELY KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG 2 MONTHS PRIOR BUT DEALER UNABLE TO FIND. DURING THE LAST 1.5 YEARS PRIOR HAD UNRESOLVED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FOR WHICH DEALER COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
714802
Incident
Oct 20, 1999
Visibility
Filed Sep 29, 1999

HEATER CORE FAILED CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF VEHICLE, ANTIFREEZE ODOR APPARENT DURING WARM UP OF VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ID
548734
Incident
Apr 1, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SM 33-2019

EQUIPMENT

The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.

SM 44-2017 EN

EQUIPMENT

This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.

VHW-17-11

EQUIPMENT

VAS 6154 Replacement Part Setup Guide

1-2017 Update

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest inbound and outbound ProFi requests.

V691601 2010479

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Update model year applicability to include 2017.

Airbag

AIR BAGS

Airbag Issues.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen GTI by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025010—
2024282050.2
2023650—
2022276056.5
2021410—
2020831—
20191794251.8
2018163158.5
2017522158.0
2016664156.9
2015976161.5
2014101355.5
2013342351.7
2012402352.9
2011542348.9
2010531144.1
20091672150.0
2008671142.1
2007771036.5
2006432045.8
2005810—
2004710—
2003531148.4
20021242254.5
2001742260.3
2000453253.8
1999821—
1998100039.3
1997100035.0
1996911—
1995Viewing182258.2
1994020—
1993020—
1992010—
1991110—
1990020—
1989010—
1988010—
1987220—
1986230—
1985220—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.