2003 Volkswagen GTI Problems

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.

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.

ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. *TR

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

I HAD A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA BEFORE THIS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DOORS MAKE RATTLE AFTER A COUPLE THOUSAND MILES. I TOOK MY JETTA IN 20 TIMES AND NO FIX. GOT TIRED OF IT AND BOUGHT AN 03 GTI AND NOW I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN IF I TAKE EVERYTHING OUT OF THE DOOR HOLDER, I STILL HERE A NOISE COMING FROM THE DOOR. *LA

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAULTY. *NM

THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH, BUT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DID DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. THE CONSUMER REFUSED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED T BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

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

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

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

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND STRUCK A POT HOLE AND SIDE DOOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED, AND SEAT RECLINER BROKE. *AK

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

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED/LOST POWER, UPON ENTERING THE FREEWAY AND WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE DID NOT GAIN SPEED. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

I HAVE TAKEN MY '03 GTI VR6 TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT. WHEN IT IS RAINING, THERE IS A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM EACH TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THEM. THEY SAID THAT IT COULD BE THE BELT BUT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I REPLACED THE BELT MYSELF AND I STILL GET THE SQUEALING NOISE, EVEN WITH BELT DRESSING. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED A DECREASE IN ENGINE POWER WHEN THE SQUEALING NOISE IS OCCURRING. MY MOST RECENT PROBLEM NOW IS MY SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THE SPEEDO WILL BE READING MY CURRENT SPEED AND THEN DROP TO ZERO, BOUNCE BACK UP AND BACK DOWN TO ZERO, UP A LITTLE BIT MORE AND THEN STAY AT ZERO UNTIL THE NEXT TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. SEEMS TO DO THIS ONLY ON TRIPS GREATER THAN 20 MINUTES. *NM

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND STRUCK A POT HOLE AND SIDE DOOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED, AND SEAT RECLINER BROKE. *AK

I WAS DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND HIT A POTHOLE. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ALONG WITH THE PASSANGER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR WHAT SO EVER. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY IMAGINE AIRBAGS DEPOLYING EVERY TIME SOMEONE RAN OVER A POTHOLE. THE DEALERSHIP (WWW.REYDELVW.COM) REFUSES TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRENTY.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED. FIRST TIME AT 4500 MILES IN DECEMBER 2003. VW DEALERSHIP REPLACED CLUTCH. CLUTCH ASSEMPLY AGAIN BECAME SPONGY AND RPMS INCREASED TO DANGEROUS LEVELS. VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA REFUSED TO REPAIR MALFUNCTUION IN EQUIPMENT. MANY SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOPS ARE SAYING THIS IS CAUSED BY THE DUAL MASS FLY WHEEL STICKING OPEN. *AK

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

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

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

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