2011 Volkswagen GTI Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

NHTSA ID

11465936

Incident

May 24, 2022

Mileage

108,000 mi

CAR HAS 67000 MILES, DRIVING HOME ON A ~300 MILE TRIP, RECEIVED A WARNING THAT OIL WAS LOW. DROVE 8-10 MILES TO THE CLOSEST GAS STATION TO CHECK. OIL WAS LEAKING RAPIDLY. PUT IN MORE TO GET TO MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED REAR MAIN WAS LEAKING, WAS UNWILLING TO DO REPAIRS. DROVE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WILLING TO DO REPAIRS, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL/PCV VALVE HAD FAILED. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN AND COMMON ISSUE IN 2.0 TSI ENGINES ACROSS VW AND AUDI.

NHTSA ID

11217847

Incident

May 29, 2019

Mileage

67,000 mi

ROUGH UP AND DOWN SHIFTS WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. I COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 4-5 YEARS TO VW DEALERSHIPS CLAIMING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING HORRIBLE CLUNKING AND CLANKING SOUNDS IN LOWER GEARS, AND WOULD HAVE ROUGHER THAN USUAL SHIFTS NORMALLY IN REVERSE TO DRIVE, AND SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR, OR FIRST GEAR TO NEUTRAL. THEY ALL BUT IGNORED IT AND BLAMED IT ON BEING THE "NATURE OF THE CAR" AND TO "GET USED TO IT". THIS POSES AN ISSUE THOUGH AS THE TRANSMISSION IS SOMETIMES SLOW OR HESITANT TO GIVE POWER OR IT'LL CUT POWER UNEXPECTEDLY... SO FROM A STOP SOME POWER IS PRESENT, BUT CAN CUT OUT FOR A SECOND OR TWO... LEAVING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN A DANGEROUS POSITION. IT ALSO LURCHES FORWARD FROM A COLD START WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. IF SOMEONE DID NOT HAVE THEIR BRAKES FULLY APPLIED, THEY COULD EASILY HIT SOMEONE OR SOMEONE'S PROPERTY FROM THIS TRAIT. NOW THAT THE CAR IS WELL OUT OF THE 5 YEAR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, VW TECHS ONLY NOW RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM WITH THE DSG MECHATRONICS UNIT, THE SAME PART THAT HAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR 10YR/100K ON PREVIOUS MODELS OF THE GTI (2006-2010), AND ALSO REPORTED PROBLEMS ON NEWER MODELS AS WELL (2014+). VW REFUSES TO EXTEND ANY COVERAGE TO THE MK6 GENERATION, AND WANT A TOTAL OF $2400 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT. ONCE AGAIN, VW REFUSES TO LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES AND USES FAULTY PARTS ON NEWER CARS AND WHEN THEY TOO BEGIN TO SHOW ISSUES, THEY TURN THEIR BACK ON THEIR CUSTOMERS. VW MIGHT AS WELL ADD MECHATRONICS REPLACEMENT ON DSG EQUIPPED VEHICLES AS PART OF THEIR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I HAVE LOST ALL FAITH IN THIS CAR BRAND.

NHTSA ID

11051333

Incident

Jul 5, 2017

Mileage

47,556 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME SUDDENLY CAME ON. ENGINE HAD A HARD TIME STARTING. THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE ROUGHNESS TO THE MOTOR WHILE RUNNING. BROUGHT IT TO THE MECHANIC THE FOLLOWING DAY AND FOUND MANY CODES WERE UP. DIAGNOSIS IS BROKEN TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. RESULTING IN AN. ENGINE FAILURE . MECHANIC SAID IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. ODOMETER IS ONLY 76K

NHTSA ID

11022247

Incident

Sep 6, 2017

Mileage

76 mi

(DSG AUTOMATIC) HARSH SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, AND FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. HESITATION FROM A STOP TO GO. CAR FEELS LIKE IT SHUDDERS OR JERKS FROM A STOP TO GO, AND WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP. DEALER STATES IT'S A FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SAME ISSUES THAT PLAGUED THE LAST GENERATION OF VEHICLES, AND VW WAS FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. DEALER TRIED TO GET VW TO COVER COST OF REPAIR, BUT THEY REFUSED. DEALER WANTS $2500 TO REPAIR. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 47,346 MILES. CURRENTLY DISCUSSING LEGAL ACTION WITH AN ATTORNEY. *TR

NHTSA ID

11005451

Incident

Jul 6, 2017

Mileage

47,346 mi

CLUTCH MAKES A LOUD METALLIC GROANING SOUND WHEN ENGAGING FIRST GEAR OR REVERSE. LOUDEST ON COLD DAYS AND WHEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVERY DAY. HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE PAST YEAR. MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND VW HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THIS ISSUE IS DUE TO A FAULTY CLUTCH ASSEMBLY/THROWOUT BEARING AND HAVE ISSUED A REDESIGNED PART TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY ARE STILL VERY INCONSISTENT IN COVERING THE COST OF REPLACEMENT FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART.

NHTSA ID

10811803

Incident

Dec 22, 2015

CAME OUTSIDE TO A FAILED WATER PUMP. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS VOLKSWAGENS. MANY SHOP TECHS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE. IT IS UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER CARS. THERE IS A CHANCE THE PUMP COULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING OR A PERSON MAY NOT NOTICE THE COOLANT ON THE GROUND. THAT CAN LEAD TO THE CAR OVERHEATING AND CAUSING EXPENSIVE DAMAGE. YOU COULD ALSO BE LEFT STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ANY INSTANCE WHEN A PERSON OR CAR ARE LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS A ROAD AND HEALTH RISK. ALSO WHEN THESE PUMPS FAIL THEY OFTEN LEAK COOLANT. THE COOLANT IS NOT SAFE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. WHEN THE PUMPS DO GET REPLACED THE ISSUE OFTEN COMES BACK REPEATEDLY. THIS IS PARTLY DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM. A REVISION OF THE WATERPUMP SHOULD BE MADE. ALSO AN EXTENSION ON THE WARRANTY OF SAID PART SHOULD BE MADE FOR OWNERS. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. FOR PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653680

Incident

Nov 6, 2014

Mileage

43,000 mi

ENGINE WILL STALL AND DIE WITHIN 5-20 SECONDS AFTER STARTING. HAPPENS ON A WARM ENGINE AFTER IT SITS FOR 45-60 MINUTES. HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, EACH AFTER ENGINE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A DEADLY PROBLEM IF THE CAR DIES ON A STREET, AS IT WON'T STEER OR HAVE PROPULSION! HAD IT SEEN AT VW DEALER: THEY SUSPECT IT IS THE "IN-TANK FUEL PUMP" BUT THIS PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY? I CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY SAID THEY CAN'T HELP ON THIS $834 REPAIR. I'M PERPLEXED HOW A FUEL PUMP GOES BAD ON A 2011 WITH ONLY 45K MILES, AND THAT A VITAL COMPONENT THAT WILL MAKE THE CAR STALL & DIE IS NOT COVERED UNDER DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM IF IT DIES SUDDENLY AND CARS FOLLOWING CANNOT SWERVE AROUND. VERY DISAPPOINTED. THIS WILL BE MY LAST VW, EVER. IF YOU OWN A VW WITH 2.0 TSI YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652930

Incident

Oct 4, 2014

Mileage

45,000 mi

FALSE NEUTRAL WITH DSG TRANSMISSION: I WAS IN MANUAL MODE WHEN I DOWNSHIFTED AS I CAME INTO A CORNER. ONCE AROUND THE CORNER I DEPRESSING THE THROTTLE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV FREELY AS IF IN NEUTRAL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN POWER BY ALLOWING THE RPM TO DROP TO IDLE, THEN DOWN SHIFTING INTO SECOND. THIS ISSUE HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE IN 19K MILES SLOW REACTION WITH DSG TRANSMISSION: WHILE MOVING AND COMING TO A ROLLING STOP AND THEN ACCELERATING TO PROCEED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500509

Incident

Feb 9, 2013

Mileage

19,000 mi

WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER HAVING SLOWED DOWN FOR A TURN, THE CLUTCH FAILS TO ENGAGE AND I GET A FALSE NEUTRAL. THE RPM GOES ALL THE WAY TO 5000, 6000, BUT THE CAR DOESN'T SPEED UP BECAUSE IT'S IN NEUTRAL, EVEN WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN D. THIS IS DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE IMMEDIATELY REPLICATED AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10432598

Incident

Nov 17, 2010

Mileage

3,000 mi

I WAS MERGING ONTO THE 5 SOUTH FREEWAY FROM THE 110 SOUTH FREEWAY, SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MANUALLY. AFTER SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR AND DEPRESSING THE THROTTLE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV FREELY AS IF IN NEUTRAL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. SINCE THE CAR WAS COASTING AND UNRESPONSIVE, I BEGAN TO LOSE SPEED WHILE MERGING. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN POWER BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, THEN SHIFTING BACK INTO DRIVE AND DOWNSHIFTING MANUALLY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT VERY EASILY IF THERE WAS MORE TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10432338

Incident

Oct 19, 2011

Mileage

5,920 mi

FALSE NEUTRAL WITH DSG TRANSMISSION: I HAD SOMETHING SCARY HAPPEN THIS MORNING. NEXT TO MY HOUSE, WHERE I PULL OUT AND MAKE A LEFT ON TO A 4 LAND ROAD, TRAFFIC IS COMING AROUND A MOSTLY BLIND CURVE AT 50MPH. I HAVE TO PULL OUT ACROSS TRAFFIC AND GO LEFT ONTO THIS ROAD (WHICH HAS A MEDIAN). THIS MORNING I PRESSED THE GAS FOR A VERY LIGHT ACCELERATION, AND IT PULLED OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT AND WHEN IT WENT TO SECOND IT DIDN'T ENGAGE... IT WENT TO NEUTRAL. I WAS ONLY 1/2 WAY ACROSS THE FIRST LANE OF TRAFFIC. MY CAR BARELY ROLLED OUT OF THE WAY OF CROSS TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE WOULD REV, BUT NO GEARS WERE ENGAGED. THE STICK WAS IN D. ONCE THE CAR ROLLED DOWN TO ABOUT 2MPH AND I LET THE RPMS DROP DOWN TO IDLE, 1ST GEAR ENGAGED AND I WENT ABOUT MY BUSINESS. IT HAD LITERALLY *JUST* ENOUGH ROLL TO GET ME OUT OF THE WAY OF A CAR THAT WAS HEADING AT MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AT 50MPH, AND THE DRIVER WAS NOT EXPECTING A CAR TO PULL OUT AND STOP IN FRONT OF IT (THEY WEREN'T SLOWING DOWN). IF IT DIDN'T HAVE THAT SMALL AMOUNT OF ENERGY FROM 1ST GEAR TO ROLL OUT OF THE WAY, I CAN'T IMAGINE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD. IT WAS QUITE FRIGHTENING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10432307

Incident

Oct 21, 2011

Mileage

11,958 mi

WHILE MOVING AND COMING TO A STOP AND THEN ACCELERATING TO PROCEED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD REV BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE SITUATION AT THE TIME IS TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10432267

Incident

Sep 5, 2011

I OWN A 2011 VW GTI 2-DOOR DSG. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A "FALSE NEUTRAL" ABOUT 10 TIMES IN THE 2 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. SPECIFICALLY, IT HAPPENED TWICE ON 08/27/2011, ONCE ON 9/25/2011, ONCE ON 9/26/2011. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN IN MANUAL MODE...IT OCCURS WHEN I AM COASTING TO EITHER SLOW DOWN OR STOP...THEN ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE...THOUGH THE CAR MFD TELLS ME IT IS IN GEAR (I.E. 3), THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL...THE ACCELERATOR DOES NOTHING BUT REV THE ENGINE...THE CAR REMAINS COASTING. I HAVE TO TAKE THE SHIFTER OUT OF MANUAL MODE, AND PLACE IT INTO D...AND WAIT ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR IN ORDER FOR A CLUTCH TO ENGAGE A GEAR AND ALLOW ME TO MOVE. ON 8/27, BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED WHEN TRYING TO COMPLETE A LEFT HAND TURN ON A GREEN...A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO FIND YOUR CAR BEING IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE ON AN APPROXIMATE 5 MILE TEST DRIVE. I TALKED TO VW OF AMERICA, AND THEY WON'T HELP UNLESS A DEALER CAN REPLICATE IT...THEY SAID IT COSTS TOO MUCH MONEY. THIS IS A TERRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE...AND THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE MONEY. I OFFERED TO SHOW THEM A VIDEO OF IT HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE...IT IS POSTED ON YOUTUBE...AND THEY FLAT OUT REFUSED. THEY SAID IT WOULDN'T HELP IN MY CASE...AND THAT IT WOULD PROVE NOTHING. HERE IS A LINK TO THE YOUTUBE VIDEO: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=8TQODOILKYK - EVEN IF I COULD TAKE A VIDEO OF IT HAPPENING TO ME IN MY CAR, THEY SAID THAT WOULDN'T HELP...AS IT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN IN FRONT OF A VW TECH FOR IT TO BE DIAGNOSED. I HAVE A SECOND APPOINTMENT WITH A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP NEXT WEEK, THEY WILL KEEP MY CAR FOR A FEW DAYS AND TRY TO REPLICATE IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. UPDATED ON 9/26/2011. *TR

NHTSA ID

10427181

Incident

Sep 26, 2011

FROM SECOND DAY OF OWNERSHIP VEHICLE HAS HAD TRANSMISSION (DSG AUTOMATIC) PROBLEMS. AT WELL OVER 40 OCCURRENCES (IN 30,000 MILES) THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL WHEN SLOWING TO A RATE OF 10MPH OR LESS AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION. ONE INSTANCE A COLLISION WAS AVOIDED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST SWERVING ONTO THE SIDEWALK TO MISS MY VEHICLE AND ALMOST STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND I COASTED INTO THE INTERSECTION. ANOTHER SYMPTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION IS THAT THE CAR WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AT 65-70MPH IT WILL WITHOUT WARNING OR NOTICE GO INTO NEUTRAL AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND IT IS THE SAME STORY AGAIN AND AGAIN, UNLESS I CAN REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH A MECHANIC IN THE CAR THEY CANT FIX ANYTHING. I BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT THE SECOND DAY OF OWNERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT IS FINE, AND THAT I'M JUST NOT USE TO THE CAR YET. AFTER TWO ACCIDENTS AVOIDED I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR AND DO NOT WANT IT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT! *KB

NHTSA ID

10425417

Incident

Sep 5, 2010

Mileage

450 mi