1995 Volkswagen GTI Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1995 Volkswagen GTI, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure519.2%
- Engine415.4%
- Interior & seats415.4%
- Electrical311.5%
- Brakes27.7%
- Driver assistance27.7%
- Visibility27.7%
- Heating & air conditioning13.8%
- Exterior lighting13.8%
- Other / unspecified13.8%
- Fuel system13.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
BOLTS TO THE HOOD LATCH CAME OFF CAUSING HOOD TO SMASH WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
MISSING BOLTS FROM HOOD LATCH CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN HOOD SMASHED AGAINST WINDSHIELD.
THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE HOOD LATCH BROKE OFF, CAUSE THE HOOD TO FLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER HOOD IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 04-1243-985. *SLC
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS FAILURE.
BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
#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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
HEATER CORE FAILED CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF VEHICLE, ANTIFREEZE ODOR APPARENT DURING WARM UP OF VEHICLE. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER HOOD IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 04-1243-985. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER COMPLAINS REPLACEMENT JACK HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED YET.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .