RoadVitals

2006 Volkswagen GTI Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
10
Latest Feb 11, 2020
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.
23%
of 43 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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Volkswagen GTI submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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 engine

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

EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 11, 2020

FUEL INJECTOR FAILD OPEN AND DUMPED FUEL INTO THE CYLINDER AND IT HYDRO LOCKED. I WAS IN MOTION AND CHECK ENGINE FLASHING AND ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH

NHTSA ID
11308622
Incident
Feb 1, 2020
AirbagsEngine
Filed Feb 21, 2019

CAMSHIFT SENSOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF EVERY 2 DAYS

NHTSA ID
11181610
Incident
Jan 4, 2019
Mileage
122,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 23, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE FUEL PRESSURE PUMP AND THE CAMSHAFT WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,145.....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF

NHTSA ID
10876219
Incident
Jun 5, 2016
Mileage
48,145 mi
Engine
Filed May 30, 2016
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING AND VEHICLE WAS QUICKLY CONSUMED IN FLAMES. POWER LOSS WAS INITIALLY NOTICED ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND STARTED TO BURN ON A SIDE STREET WHILE STOPPED.

NHTSA ID
10871482
Incident
May 18, 2016
Mileage
110,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 6, 2015

CAR LOST ACCELERATION AT APPROX 40 MPH ON 4 LANE ROAD. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC CLAIMS BROKEN CAM CHAIN. DEALER DID NOT CHECK WARRANTY EXTENSION PART CAM FOLLOWER WHICH IS KNOWN TO FAIL (PER CORY FROM VWOA) BUT HAS ANOTHER WARRANTY EXTENSION PART INTAKE CAMSHAFT ON REPAIR LIST. THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENING WITH A QUICK SEARCH.

NHTSA ID
10788829
Incident
Oct 30, 2015
Mileage
74,800 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 23, 2013

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE CAM FOLLOWER AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,200.

NHTSA ID
10494462
Incident
Jan 19, 2013
Mileage
120,200 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 22, 2010

OWNER OF A 2006 VW GTI, THREW ENGINE CODE FOR KNOWN TSB REGARDING CAM FOLLOWER AND CAM SHAFT WEAR AT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. MECHANIC INSPECTED SITE AND DISCOVERED THAT CAM SHAFT WEAR/ DAMAGE WAS EXTREME AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, CAM SHAFT, AND CAM FOLLOWER ALL OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE SOME EXTENSION ON FACTORY WARRANTIES FROM VW OF AMERICA INSTEAD OF EXPECTING OWNERS TO PONY UP $1600-2400 IN REPAIR COSTS WHEN IT INEVITABLY FAILS. FOR NOTE OF KNOWN ISSUE, SEE VW TSB #2013147/8. *TR

NHTSA ID
10372176
Incident
Dec 21, 2010
Mileage
80,050 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 12, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT NOTICED A REDUCTION IN POWER ALONG WITH A SHUDDERING OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK CASE BREATHER HOSE AND A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM INTENSIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VACUUM HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO PERFORMED THE IGNITION COIL RECALL REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON; HOWEVER, THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT HE HAD A VALVE LASH AND FUEL PUMP MODULE REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING LONG A DISTANCE, THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE BEGAN TO BLINK ON AND OFF. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A SECOND DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR FAILURE WITH THE CAMSHAFT SYSTEM WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND A CAM FOLLOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.

NHTSA ID
10308911
Incident
Jan 10, 2010
Mileage
84,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 20, 2010

MY 2006 VW GTI HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES BY A VW DEALER. I PURCHASED THE CAR UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT WOULD BE IN GOOD CONDITION SINCE THE DEALER WAS THE ONE WHO PERFORMED ALL SERVICE. I TOOK THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP OFF TO CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER. THE CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER WAS COMPLETELY MISSING THE TOP, THE HPFP WAS COMPLETELY MISSING IT'S TIP AND THE CAMSHAFT HAS LARGE GOUGES IN THE METAL. THIS IS AN AWFUL DESIGN, AND SHOULD BE RECTIFIED BY VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10300486
Incident
Jan 14, 2010
Mileage
81,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 6, 2007
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND VEHICLE STILL IDLED VERY ROUGH. WHILE CALLING VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD I FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHAT LOOKED AND SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WITHIN ONE MINUTE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. 911 WAS CALLED AND A FIRE TRUCK CAME OUT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER IN TRAVERSE CITY, MI, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND VW OF AMERICA CONTACTED ME AND SAID IT WAS AN IGNITION COIL FIRE. THEY HAVE MADE AN OFFER TO BUY BACK THE CAR. THIS VEHICLE HAD A PREVIOUS IGNITION COIL FAILURE (FEB., 2007/10,686 MILES) RESULTING IN MELTED WIRING. THERE WERE ALSO FAILURES OF THE TURBOCHARGER, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IGNITION SWITCH PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE. SERVICE REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THE FAILURES PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE ON 10/03/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10205127
Incident
Oct 3, 2007
Mileage
17,250 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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .