2003 Volkswagen GTI Owner Complaints

When my car gets down to 1/4 tank it cuts out and dies I’ve replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter. I believe this is a serious possibly deadly issue. Please take action on making our vehicle safe to be on the road with a recall! I’ve talked to countless owners of the same vehicle I own and they are having the same issue. With no luck of fixing it on our own I’ve been in countless situations when I shouldn’t be stalling in middle of intersections, and on the highway doing 65-70 it’s not safe at all. Take note it only does it at a quarter tank and below anywhere on the fuel gauge about a quarter it doesn’t do it

NHTSA ID

11560569

Incident

Aug 20, 2023

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI AND IT HAS A ELECTRICAL ISSUE MY LIGHTS FLICKER BY THEMSELVES AND MY HAZARDS COME ON BY THEMSELVES AS WELL AND I WANT TO PUT IN A NEW RADIO BUT WITH MY ELECTRICAL ISSUES GOING I CAN'T DO THAT AND WHEN I PUT MY HEAT ON IT MESSES WITH MY HEAD LIGHTS THEY TURN OFF IDK WHAT IS GOING ON BUT I CAN'T FIX IT AND I WAS ON A TOWN STREET WHEN THIS HAPPENED SO YEAH I NEED THIS FIXED

NHTSA ID

11372496

Incident

Oct 30, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID OVER ICE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING A RAMP, THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE HEADLINER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10749239

Incident

Dec 23, 2013

THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. VW VOTEX WEB PAGE (FOR VW ENTHUIASTS) LISTS THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A SEAT BELT SENSOR THAT TRIGGERS AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. I HAVE HAD IT RESET THREE TIMES AT 60.00 A SESSION...FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SOME TIME WITH THE LIGHT ON. I HAVE SOME CONCERN THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE WRITTEN VW ABOUT IT AND WAS GIVEN A LAME EXCUSE AND THEN IGNORED.

NHTSA ID

10717435

Incident

Mar 25, 2009

Mileage

103,000 mi

2003 VW GTI AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT, COLLISION, BUMP OR CRASH AND STAYED ON ALL THE TIME, THIS CONDITION MAKES THE AIRBAG SYSTEM INOPERATIVE AT THE TIME OF A REAL COLLISION, I BELONG TO A VW CLUB ( VWVOERTWX.COM) AND THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY POPULAR ISSUE AMONG VW GTI TWO DOOR, TECHNICALLY THIS HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT VW SHOULD BE OBLIGATED TO CORRECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546813

Incident

Oct 4, 2013

Mileage

67,800 mi

HARD DOWNSHIFTS FROM 4TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR TO 1ST GEAR CAUSE VEHICLE TO SLOW ABRUPTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN APPROACHING A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UNEXPECTEDLY FROM FOURTH TO SECOND GEAR AND THEN TO FIRST GEAR WITH NO WARNING TO VEHICLE BEHIND (NOT BREAKING HEAVILY) CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS. FIVE SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH TIPTRONIC FEATURE CAUSES SUDDEN DECELERATION ENDANGERING OCCUPANTS WITH POSSIBLE COLLISION WITH TRAILING VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508201

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO FAILED IGNITION COIL PACKS. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID

10325865

Incident

Feb 21, 2010

Mileage

78,000 mi

COMPLAINANT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI 1.8T. DRIVING HOME THREE DAYS AGO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR STARTS TO STAGGER AND PUTTER. WEIRD CLICKING NOISE. PARKED CAR IMMEDIATELY, RAN DIAG GOT CODE P0103 WHICH INDICATES CYLINDER MISFIRE. CHECKED INTERNET AND CAME UP WITH MANY MANY OTHER COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND STATING THAT IT IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF VW. CALLED MECHANIC, HE CONFIRMED. CAR DELIVERED TO MECHANIC WHO RECONFIRMED. PAID $500 FOR REPAIR. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, WHY DOES VW NOT RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10266849

Incident

Apr 24, 2009

Mileage

57,600 mi

DRIVING TO SCHOOL AND WAS ABOUT TO PULL INTO THE SCHOOL WHEN I WAS CUT OFF, SWERVED OUT OF THE WAY AND WENT ON TO THE CURB AT AN ANGLE TO WHERE IT ONLY HIT THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. I QUICKLY CAME DOWN AND MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 30 BUT SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPH RIGHT BEFORE IMPACT. I HAVE HIT POTHOLES HARDER AND NOTHING HAPPENS. SEEMS LIKE A CLEAR MALFUNCTION MY FRIEND WAS HIT BY THE AIRBAG, BUT SUFFERED NO SERIOUS INJURIES. THE ONLY EXTERIOR DAMAGE WAS THAT I GOT A LEAK IN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND HAD TO GET IT REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258295

Incident

Feb 1, 2009

Mileage

62,174 mi

MY 2003 VW GTI LEAKS AND HAS NOW DEVELOPED SERIOUS MOLD THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF ON OUR OWN BECAUSE THE CAR KEEPS TAKING ON WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS. I REFUSE TO PAY THOUSANDS FOR A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW AND I CAN'T ALWAYS PARK IT UNDER COVER. APPARENTLY THESE LEAKS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE A SERIOUS MOLD ALLERGY AND CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250541

Incident

Apr 30, 2005

Mileage

5,000 mi

#1 IGNITION COIL FAILED. CAR REPAIRED BY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, AND WITHIN 50 MILES, THE #3 COIL FAILED. REPLACED ALL IGNITION COILS AT 77K MILES. SEEMS PREMATURE FOR A 5 YEAR CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245315

Incident

Oct 9, 2008

Mileage

77,451 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE THAT CAUSES THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT IS A WARRANTY ITEM AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID

10241802

Incident

Aug 11, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR 40,000 MILE SERVICE. AT THAT TIME, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL PAN LEAK. THE OIL PAN WAS ALUMINUM AND THE OIL PAN DRAIN BOLT WAS MADE OF STEEL, WHICH HAS BECOME STRIPPED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE STRIPPED BOLT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE OIL LEAK. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE OIL PAN AT HER EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,218.

NHTSA ID

10240631

Incident

Aug 29, 2008

Mileage

40,218 mi

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING 70MPH DOWN I 75 N IN OHIO. I DID NOT HIT, CLIP OR GRAZE ANOTHER VEHICLE. CLEAR MALFUNCTION, HAVE PICTURES TO PROVE IT. LUCKILY IT WAS 5:30AM MONDAY AUGUST 4TH, 2008 AND THERE WERE FEW CARS ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237083

Incident

Aug 4, 2008

Mileage

97,000 mi

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEEPED. PULLED OVER WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AT NEXT EXIT, HAD CAR TOWED TO SHOP, TOLD IT WAS LIKELY THE OIL PICKUP THAT WAS CLOGGED. CALLED DEALERSHIP TOLD THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236855

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

72,000 mi

2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. DURING A RAIN STORM, MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND WERE STUCK MID WAY. THE NEXT DAY I DISCOVERED THE NUT SLIPPED OFF THE BOLT CONNECTING THE WIPER ASSEMBLY TO THE WIPER MOTOR CAUSING THE WIPERS TO STOP WORKING WHILE THE MOTOR STILL WORKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227085

Incident

May 7, 2008

Mileage

43,000 mi

NOTICED A SMELL AS I WAS DRIVING. GLANCE OUT WINDOW & NOTICED MY BACK LIGHT WAS ON FIRE. PULLED OVER , AND TRIED TO EXTINGUISH IT WITH A SHIRT. ALMOST HAD IT OUT, BUT COULDN'T QUITE EXTINGUISH IT. WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAD TO STAND THERE AND WATCH MY CAR BURN. IT TOOK TWO FIRE TRUCKS TO EXTINGUISH IT AND I ENDED UP WITH BURNT HANDS( FROM MELTING RUBBER STICKING TO MY SKIN) , TRYING TO SMOTHER IT. HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN FROM A BACK LIGHT? I HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 1 YEAR. IT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, WITH ONLY ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT. I AM OUT A CAR, WITH NO RECOURSE! I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BACK IN APRIL 2007, PRIOR TO MY OWNING THIS VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH , THEIR RECALL MAKES NO MENTION OF THE CAR BURSTING IN FLAMES! THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO! I AM LUCKY THAT I SAW THE FIRE WHEN I DID, OR I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT EVEN WORSE THAN I WAS. I AM A CARPENTER AND NEED MY CAR TO GET TO MY JOBS. I AM OUT A CAR, LOST A DAY OF WORK, AND NOW AM WORKING WITH BANDAGED HANDS, AND THE WORST THING IS...I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND GOT SYMPATHY, AND AN OFFER TO PAY MY MEDICAL BILL, BUT I AM STILL OUT A CAR! ARE THEY KIDDING? THIS IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM! WHAT IF I HAD MY GRANDCHILD IN THE BACK SEAT OF THAT CAR? ONCE THE HEADLINER CAUGHT FLAMES, IT WAS ALL OVER. FLAMES WERE 20 FEET IN THE AIR! *TR

NHTSA ID

10227003

Incident

May 4, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

(1) CAR OVERHEATED AUGUST 2007 (2) ORIGINALLY ASSUMED THERMOSTAT WAS THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER BOTH RADIATOR FANS WERE DETERMINED FAULTY (DID NOT OPERATE IN LOW SPEEDS) AND REPLACED (PARTS COVERED BY CORPORATE, LABOR BY CONSUMER). PROBLEM DETERMINED RESOLVED. NEXT MONTH (SEPTEMBER 2007), CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON, BUT CAR NOT OVERHEATING. SERVICE TECHNICAL SAYS THERMOSTAT SHUT OPEN AND ECT TEMP SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE ($546). ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD OVERHEAT IN HOT WEATHER. WILL DETERMINE OUTCOME WITH VW CORPORATE AND/OR SERVICE CENTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218893

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

Mileage

36,000 mi

ROUTINE USAGE FROM ADJACENT SEAT MECHANISM CAUSED WIRE TO FAIL INSIDE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HARNESS, CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR 2-DOOR GOLFS AND GTIS. WAS TOLD THAT AIR BAGS WILL NOT INFLATE IN A CRASH UNTIL THE SEAT BELT HARNESS WAS REPLACED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR SUCH A SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW OF THE AUTOMOBILE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10207433

Incident

May 8, 2007

Mileage

66,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THE RESISTANCE IN THE IGNITER WAS TOO HIGH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10207349

Incident

Oct 10, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi

ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10202995

Incident

Aug 31, 2007

Mileage

39,750 mi

(1) CAR ENGINE OVERHEATED WITH AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ON WITH 35K MILES (4 YEAR OLD CAR). (2) DEALER REPAIR SERVICE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED BOTH AUXILARY FANS (290" AND 345") FAILED TO SPIN AT LOW SPEEDS AND OPERATE ONLY AT HIGH SPEEDS CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT WHEN CAR IS BETWEEN 0 TO 30 MPH. DEALER DIRECTED CONSUMER PARTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY (4 YEARS, 50,000 MILES) AND CONSIDERED ELECTRICAL PARTS AND TO REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE ($918). CORPORATE OFFICE EVENTUALLY COVERED PART AND CONSUMER COVERED LABOR EXPENSES. SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAVE OCCURED WITH THE CAR INCLUDING BULB REPLACEMENTS ON A/C CONSOLE, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND BATTERY FAILURE AFTER 4 YEARS POINTING TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL DESIGN OR INTEGRATION FLAW. (3) FANS WERE REPLACED AND PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197565

Incident

Jul 6, 2007

Mileage

35,900 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A POTHOLE AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE EMULATED A CRASH AND ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10190955

Incident

Mar 1, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

I HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF CLUTCH HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ON 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD TO MOVE IT BACK UP WITH MY HAND. I THEN DEPRESSED IT AGAIN WITH MY FOOT AND THE SAME RESULTS. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON VW ENTHUSIAST WEB SITES SEEING IT''S A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION .FROM THAT CONCLUSION I FIGURED IT WAS EITHER THE MASTER CYLINDER OR SLAVE CYLINDER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DISCOVER A BAD SLAVE CYLINDER. OBVIOUSLY IT IS A TREND AND A COSTLY ONE AT THAT. SINCE THE SLAVE CYLINDER IS LOCATED IN THE BELL HOUSING, IT LEAKED HYDRAULIC FLUID ALL OVER MY CLUTCH. SO NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE A PERFECTLY GOOD CLUTCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10185788

Incident

Mar 9, 2007

Mileage

61,000 mi

WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT DOWN INTERSTATE 5 IN WASHINGTON, ADHERING TO THE SPEED LIMIT. WHEN MY PASSENGER CURTAIN AIRBAG AND SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT IS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. MY FRIEND SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS BRUISED UP RATHER NEATLY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175984

Incident

Dec 1, 2006

Mileage

50,600 mi