RoadVitals

2007 Volkswagen GTI

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
77
Latest Jun 29, 2023
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Sep 24, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
2 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 77 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2007 Volkswagen GTI, most frequently naming the transmission, powertrain (other) and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 378 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07V442000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Sep 24, 2007
340,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.
The risk: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INCManufacturer number Q8View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 77
Airbags
Filed Jun 29, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported

I hydroplaned and was t-boned on the passenger side. The only air bags that went off were the side curtains on the passenger side

NHTSA ID
11529570
Incident
May 13, 2023
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2023

The front passenger airbag has been verified by a service centre to have some kind of issue, is a safety hazard and they confirmed other of the same type airbags have had faults as well (in their experience).

NHTSA ID
11500914
Incident
Jan 9, 2023
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 23, 2020

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER AUTOMATICALLY PUTS THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND WONT LET THE CAR MOVE FOWARD, ITS AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT THAT TELLS THE TRANSMISSION WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS ON.

NHTSA ID
11321979
Incident
Apr 23, 2020
Mileage
145,012 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 7, 2019

AIR BAG FAILURE FOR CAR, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THERE IS A TSB 69-11-01 FOR UPDATING THE SEAT OCCUPANT MODULE J706 BUT FAULTS WOULD NOT CLEAR SO RECOMMEND REPLACE J706 WITH SEAT OCVUONAT SENSOR BUT VOLKSWAGEN SAYS THE PART IS OBSOLETE AND THEY DON'T MAKE IT ANYMORE AND THERE ARE NO AFTER MARKET MODULE AVAILABLE! THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND WON'T WORK WITH OUT THIS MODULE AND NOW NO ONE CAN RIDE IN THE FAR!!

NHTSA ID
11184947
Incident
Mar 7, 2019
Mileage
129,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 29, 2017
Crash reported1 death reported

TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNED A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS FATALLY INJURED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE LOT WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID
11002139
Incident
Mar 9, 2017
Mileage
115,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 27, 2016

THE GEARS ON THE SCREEN IN MY CAR START TO FLASH, THEN I CAN'T GO OVER 30 MPH NOR CAN I GO INTO REVERSE. I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID
10877027
Incident
Jun 25, 2016
Mileage
138,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 18, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH VW OF AMERICA, AND THE DEALERSHIP MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM. BUT YESTERDAY 03/17/2016 AT APPROX 420AM MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE GTI TO WORK. IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. A TXDOT LIGHT POLE FELL ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY HUSBAND HAD NO TIME TO STOP UNTIL HE WAS JUST ABOUT TO HIT IT. AFTER HITTING THE LIGHT POLE HE WENT AIR BORN, LANDED ON ALL 4 TIRES AND FISH TAILED. AFTER HE TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT FLIPPED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ROLLED TO THE ROOF, WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IT WAS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. HE WAS GOING ABOUT 30-40 MPH IF THAT. WHAT BLOWS MY MIND IS THE MINUTE THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AND LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH CRUSHED THE DOORS AND FRAME NEAR WINDSHIELD. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. NOT SIDE, NOT FRONT. NOTHING. HE WALKED AWAY AFTER CRAWLING OUT THE SUNROOF. BUT HIS HANDS ARE CUT UP AND HE IS EXTREMELY SORE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. AND MIND YOU THE RADIATOR AND INTERCOOLER FELL OUT AFTER HE HIT THE POLE AND LANDED!!!!!!

NHTSA ID
10850389
Incident
Mar 17, 2016
Mileage
108,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 5, 2015

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTO "HEADLIGHT.JPG"): THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME THE DAY WE BOUGHT THE CAR, RIGHT AFTER WE PULLED OUT OF YOUR LOT. WE PULLED RIGHT BACK IN AFTER CIRCLING THE BLOCK, BUT AFTER LEORE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN EVERYTHING WAS FINE THEN. I HAVE NOT FOUND A WAY TO DUPLICATE THIS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN RANDOMLY, BUT USUALLY WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE OR SO OF DRIVING. THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BUT BE A BRIGHT FLASH FROM WHICH ONE OF THE LIGHTS DOES NOT RECOVER. DASHBOARD MESSAGE: THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FIRST ISSUE (AGAIN, PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTO NAMED "MESSAGE.JPG"): THE MESSAGE READING "FRONT RIGHT DIPPED BEAM NOT WORKING!" USUALLY DISPLAYS WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO DUPLICATE THIS AT WILL. IT ALSO SEEMS TO RANDOMLY HAPPEN, BUT A LOT MORE OFTEN THAN THE FAILING HEADLIGHT UNDER ISSUE #1 DOES. THE PASSENGER DOOR POWER LOCK SEEMS TO WORK ONLY ON AND OFF. ALL OTHER LOCKS (I'M NOT POSITIVE ABOUT THE TRUNK ACTUALLY) SEEM TO WORK FINE. ALIGNMENT: THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT ON THE FREEWAY. I BOUGHT A USED VEHICLE FROM STEVENS CREEK VOLKLSWAGEN THAT WAS UNSAFE WHICH WAS MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS SAFE. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET IT RESOLVED THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER BUT MAJORITY OF THE ABOVE LISTED ITEMS IN FIRST PARAGRAPH (I.E., TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR, SPEED, HEADLIGHT) ARE STILL UNRESOLVED.

NHTSA ID
10788488
Incident
Nov 30, 2013
Mileage
109,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

V171901201285565

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards

V171901201285562

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

V171901201285560

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.

V941901201152119

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Update model year applicability to include 2023.

V171901201285556

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Engine Oil Quality Standards updated to include the latest Engine Oil attachments (excludes Routan & ID.4).

V271901201189422

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen GTI by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025010—
2024282050.2
2023650—
2022276056.5
2021410—
2020831—
20191794251.8
2018163158.5
2017522158.0
2016664156.9
2015976161.5
2014101355.5
2013342351.7
2012402352.9
2011542348.9
2010531144.1
20091672150.0
2008671142.1
2007Viewing771036.5
2006432045.8
2005810—
2004710—
2003531148.4
20021242254.5
2001742260.3
2000453253.8
1999821—
1998100039.3
1997100035.0
1996911—
1995182258.2
1994020—
1993020—
1992010—
1991110—
1990020—
1989010—
1988010—
1987220—
1986230—
1985220—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.