RoadVitals

2002 Volkswagen GTI Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Apr 8, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 124 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Volkswagen GTI submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Apr 8, 2007

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FIXED THREE TIMES SINCE NEW. NOW TRANSMISSION DESTROYED AT 33K MILES WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ID
10187268
Incident
Apr 3, 2007
Mileage
33,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 14, 2005

I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GTI WITH APPROXIMATELY 42000 AND DISCOVERED MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN EVERY GEAR. AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO LINDSAY VOLKSWAGEN IN STERLING, VA, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BAD CLUTCH AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED SEVERAL IDENTICAL SITUATIONS OF OTHER OWNERS OF 2002 VOLKS GTI 1.8T MANUAL AND THE COMPANY'S REFUSAL TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY OR INVESTIGATE WHY A CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT UNDER 45,000 MILES. ACCORDINGLY, I CAN ATTEST THAT I OPERATE MY VEHICLE IN A SAFE AND LEGAL MANNER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD CONSIDER COMPETENCE AND CARE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10145253
Incident
Dec 10, 2005
Mileage
41,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 28, 2005

EARLY CLUTCH FAILURE. THE CLUTCH IN MY VW 2002 GTI FAILED AT 23000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10143774
Incident
Nov 28, 2005
Mileage
23,028 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 30, 2004

MY CLUTCH PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING AND NEVER CAME BACK UP. IT WAS FIXED (REPLACED THE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER) ONE MONTH AGO FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10088794
Incident
Aug 29, 2004
Transmission
Filed Aug 19, 2004

CLUTCH FAILED, ACCELERATION DIMINISHED, ONLY 63000 MILES WITH REGULAR TUNE UPS, OIL CHANGES. ALSO MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSOR DEFECTIVE; CAR DOESN'T IDLE CORRECTLY, SOMETIMES DOESN'T START. STARTED AT 48000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10088224
Incident
Aug 15, 2004
Mileage
1,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 19, 2004

THE CLUTCH PEDAL SINKED TO THE FLOOR GRADUALLY OVER THE LAST 3 DAYS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10078485
Incident
Jun 19, 2004
Mileage
19,900 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 17, 2003
Crash reported

THE PARK/NEUTRAL SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED , WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO START IN GEAR WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH. WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) *JB THE UNIT FAILURE ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO START IN NEUTRAL OR ANY GEAR. SCC

NHTSA ID
10011844
Incident
Mar 4, 2003
Mileage
75,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 14, 2003
Crash reported

PARK/NEUTRAL SWITCH FAILED ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010450
Incident
Mar 4, 2003
Mileage
8,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 16, 2002

CLUTCH DEFECTIVE AT 19000 MILES. CLUTCH PLATE FOUND WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR, FUSED TO FLYWHEEL.

NHTSA ID
10000124
Incident
Oct 27, 2002
Mileage
19,200 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical42Airbags23Other / unspecified22Visibility8Brakes8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .