2012 Volkswagen GTI Owner Complaints

ABS Control Module short and failure occurred. Trouble codes generated include 01325 - Tire Pressure Monitoring Control Module No signal/communication and 01130 - ABS Operation Implausible signal static. Upon visiting an Authorized Volkswagen dealer service center was charged $200 for ABS diagnostic fee and told the ABS Control Module has failed and I will need to pay >$2900 to replace. ABS, ESP/ASR, airbag, and parking brake lights are now permanently active as a result and not certain these systems are functioning.

NHTSA ID

11605256

Incident

Apr 6, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low coolant level warning light illuminated. The contact stopped and refilled the coolant reservoir bottle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed water pump. The contact was informed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had been persistent, and the water pump had been replaced three times previously. The contact was informed that oil leaked onto the gasket and caused the housing of the water pump to crack, which caused the engine to overheat. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11562435

Incident

Dec 28, 2015

Mileage

50,000 mi

My Air bag light came on. Plus all the controls on my steering column do not work, including the horn. I called the VW dealer. They knew exactly what it was. The Clock Spring. This happened in early May. I was told the part has been on back order for 6 months. The dealer does not have any cars to give me until the part comes in. I was told 6 other cars have the same problem This to me is a major safety issue. I HAVE to drive my car, and I am not comfortable with that.

NHTSA ID

11482092

Incident

May 9, 2022

A MONTH AGO I NOTICED MY GTI WAS STALLING WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AFTER A STOP. WENT ON A DRIVE WITH A LOT OF HILL CLIMBING AND THE CAR STARTING TO STALL ON THE UPHILL PORTIONS. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICEABLY WORSE AFTER THAT, SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP. THEY WEREN'T ENTIRELY SURE BUT PUT IN A NEW FUEL FILTER. THE PROBLEM DID NOT GET BETTER. TODAY, A MONTH LATER, I TOOK MY CAR TO A DIFFERENT SHOP FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND THEY DETERMINED IT WAS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP/CAMSHAFT FAILURE. THE CAR IS NOT PERFORMING SAFELY DUE TO STALLING AND A LAG IN ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID

11349341

Incident

Aug 14, 2020

Mileage

104,000 mi

THE CLOCK SPRING IN MY STEERING WHEEL HAS BROKEN/QUIT WORKING, VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO REPLACE IT UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT FLAGGED DURING THE RECALL, THE AIRBAG LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ARE ALL ON, MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT TO BE THE CLOCK SPRING CAUSING THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11287820

Incident

Feb 8, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, IT RATTLED INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEMONTROND VOLKSWAGEN (14101 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090, (281) 872-3855) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE TIMING TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 190-669-582. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA ID

11267382

Incident

Aug 14, 2019

Mileage

67,000 mi

WHEN THE SUN BEATS DOWN ON MY PASSENGER DOOR OR ON A VERY HOT DAY, AND THE DOOR IS THEN OPENED, IT WILL NOT LATCH.IT WILL SWING OPEN WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE TO HOLD SHUT WITH A ROPE. IF THE CAR IS PARKED WITH SUN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. APPARENTLY THE CABLE STRETCHES WHEN IT GETS HOT PREVENTING THE LATCH FROM OPERATING. IT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION WHEN PARTS COOL DOWN EITHER DURING THE RIDE OR ONCE AT HOME IN DARK GARAGE. AT THAT POINT THE LATCH WILL WORK AND DOOR WILL CLOSE. THIS HAS PREVIOUSLY HAPPENED ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. I AM NOW PAST MY MAXIMUM MILEAGE WARRANTY SO IT WILL NOT BE COVERED.

NHTSA ID

11174238

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE CAR WAS STOPPED BUT RUNNING THE VACUUM PUMP 'BROKE' WITH A LOUD GRINDING SOUND AND OIL STARTED LEAKING EVERYWHERE. PUTTING THE CAR IN MOTION WASN'T A PROBLEM DISPITE THE GRINDING SOUND BUT BRAKES WERE *VERY* HARD TO PRESS AND WAS *VERY* DIFFICULT TO STOP THE CAR. DECIDED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP AT MY EXPENSE.

NHTSA ID

11174233

Incident

Jan 26, 2019

Mileage

118,000 mi

UPON TURNING MY CAR ON TODAY I RECEIVED 9 SEPARATE BULB OUT WARNINGS. AFTER A LITTLE WHILE WENT AND TRIED THE CAR AGAIN AND ALL THE WARNINGS WENT AWAY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I COME TO FIND THAT ONE OF MY FUSES IS NOT BLOWN BUT MELTED AND SO IS THE FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD. HAVE SEEN THAT OTHER VOLKSWAGEN GTI HAVE HAD A RECALL FOR THE FUSE BLOCK IN THE PAST FOR 2009 GTI BUT NOT FOR MINE EVEN THOUGH I AM CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS THAT ONE.

NHTSA ID

11163121

Incident

Dec 22, 2018

Mileage

90,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VOLKSWAGEN NORTH SCOTTSDALE (LOCATED AT 7001 E CHAUNCEY LANE, PHOENIX, AZ 85054) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11160754

Incident

Dec 6, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

AT 68,000 MILES ON MY 2012 VW GTI, I HAD TO HAVE THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER REPLACED. HOWEVER, WHEN I TRIED TO REPORT MY REPAIRS FOR COST REIMBURSEMENT PER THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THESE PARTS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY VIN REVISITED AS CLEARLY, THOSE FAULTY PARTS WERE INCLUDED WITHIN MY VEHICLE AS THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 68,000 MILES. THE NEED FOR THE REPAIR WAS DETERMINED WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP HERE IN GREENVILLE, SC. ALL REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE HAVE BEEN DONE AT THIS DEALERSHIP SINCE THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO ME.

NHTSA ID

11140291

Incident

Apr 10, 2018

Mileage

68,000 mi

MY CAR IS DISPLAYING THE SAME SIMPTOMS LISTED AT SEVICE CODE 19K5 BUT VW IS REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I TALKED TO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM VW AND SHE SAID MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE ANY HELP OR ADVISE 407-790-5101. THE WATER PUMP IS LEAKING

NHTSA ID

11130939

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

ENGINE IS MISFIRING AT 84K MILES CAUSING THE CAR TO NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE REBUILD. I HAVE GOTTEN THE VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY TO PREVENT SUCH ISSUE. FUEL INJECTORS, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE REPLACED ON 2/21/18 AND I ALSO HAD A CARBON CLEANING THIS DAY AS WELL AT 79K. ALL FOUR SPARK PLUGS, AND IGNITION COILS HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED. WITH ALL THESE PREVENTATIVE REPAIRS I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO REPLACE MY ENGINE ONLY 5K MILES ARE ALL THOSE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

11130037

Incident

Sep 8, 2018

Mileage

84 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY REPAIRS FOR GENERAL FAILURES EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11088908

Incident

Apr 16, 2018

CRUISE CONTROL & DISENGAGING FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 27TH, 2018 I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-15 COMING FROM MESQUITE, NEVADA AND HEADED BACK INTO THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY. AS I PASSED THE EXIT TO TAKE THE GREAT BASIN HIGHWAY WEST TOWARDS THE TOWN OF PIOCHE, NEVADA THERE WAS A LONG SEMI TRUCK IN THE #2 LANE AND I WAS IN THE #1 LANE ON THIS TWO LANE HIGHWAY. THE SEMI TRUCK MADE A LANE CHANGE INTO MY LANE BECAUSE HE WANTED TO GET AROUND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM, AFTER THE TRUCK CAME INTO MY LANE I HAD TO ADJUST MY SPEED. AT THAT MOMENT, I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL ON DOING 77 MPH, I APPLIED MY BRAKE PEDAL TO DECREASE MY FOLLOWING DISTANCE NOW THAT THE TRUCK WAS IN FRONT OF ME. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WASN'T BRAKING AND STARTED TO GO FASTER TOWARDS THE BOTTOM BUMPER OF THE TRUCK. I COULDN'T STOP MY VEHICLE OR MAKE IT SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THE BACK BUMPER OF THE TRUCK. DEBRIS FROM THE IMPACT STARTED FLYING ALL OVER THE ROADWAY AND THEN MY ENGINE HOOD FLEW BACKWARDS AND INTO MY FRONT WINDSHIELD. I THEN TRIED TO SAFELY PULL MY VEHICLE OVER TO THE RIGHT AND ONTO THE SHOULDER . THE ENGINE HOOD CAME BACK FURTHER AND WAS RESTING AGAINST THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WHERE MY VISION WAS TOTALLY BLOCKED. PRIOR TO THAT I SAW THE DRIVER OF THE SEMI MOVING ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, BUT WHEN THE ENGINE HOOD WAS FIRMLY AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD I JUST STOPPED ROLLING FORWARD FOR THE FEAR OF RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AGAIN BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE IF AND WHERE EXACTLY HE STOPPED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I CAME TO A FULL STOP, I HAD MY PASSENGER MAKE A CALL TO THE NEVADA HIGHWAY PATROL AND GIVE OUR LOCATION AND THE DETAILS OF WHAT OCCURRED. LUCKILY WE WERE SAFE AND ALIVE, ALTHOUGH A BIT SHAKEN.

NHTSA ID

11081932

Incident

Mar 27, 2018

Mileage

93,634 mi

THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON MY VW GTI 2012 EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO INSTRUCTION FROM VW TO REPLACE THE CHAIN AT 97 K MILES. IT IS ESTIMATED TO COST ME $7000.00 TO FIX THIS CAR. I SEE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE VW GTI CARS AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

11058173

Incident

Dec 16, 2017

Mileage

97,000 mi

ON THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 29, 2017 I FOUND THAT MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN GTI WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAS 73,530 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013. I DROVE THE VEHICLE AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 28 WITH NO ISSUES OR INDICATIONS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BETTEN IMPORTS IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN, KEVIN, FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD JUMPED TIME DUE TO A FAILED TENSIONER WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE NOT ONLY TO THE TIMING CHAIN BUT ALSO THE HEAD. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THIS REPAIR IS $3700. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CARE AND SPOKE WITH PAUL ON THE AFTERNOON OF DECEMBER 4, 2017. HE INFORMED ME THAT SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM AN AUTHORIZED VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT OFFER TO COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR EXPENSES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND HAVE ACTUALLY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE PROBLEM. AT NO POINT DURING MY MAINTENANCE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP DID THEY EVER INFORM ME OF THE ISSUE OR POSSIBILITY OF PART FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR A NEW TIMING CHAIN WHICH IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON DECEMBER 18, 2018.

NHTSA ID

11053440

Incident

Nov 29, 2017

Mileage

73,530 mi

ON OCTOBER 9TH, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR. IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER INSPECTION, I'M TOLD THAT THE TIMING 'MYSTERIOUSLY' ADVANCED AND DESTROYED ALL THE ENGINE VALVES. AND NOW MY ONLY TWO OPTIONS ARE TO EITHER REPLACE THE ENGINE OR THINK ABOUT BUYING ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 85K MILES, ALWAYS MAINTAINED AT A VW BRANDED MAINTENANCE FACILITY, AND EVERYTHING KEPT FACTORY STANDARD (NO AFTERMARKET OR THIRD-PARTY COMPONENTS). THANKFULLY THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY EARLIER IN THE DAY. ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS BY OTHER VW OWNERS, THERE WAS A COMMON CULPRIT THAT LED TO THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. MANY REPORT A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER THAT BROKE AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE, WHICH THEN LED TO IMMEDIATE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE. I CONTACTED VW HQ DIRECTLY AND PLEADED MY CASE. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO ASSIST ME FINANCIALLY IN REPAIRING/REPLACING MY CAR. NOW I'M SEEKING OTHER AVENUES TO HOLD VW RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWINGLY INSTALLING DEFECTIVE PARTS ON THEIR VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

11035149

Incident

Oct 9, 2017

Mileage

84,500 mi

WATER PUMP FAILED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HAD THE FUEL PUMP FAIL, AIR INTAKE, EXCESS CARBON BUILD UP ON VALVES, AND NOW TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE ROCKER ARM FOR NUMBER 3 CYLINDER BROKE IN HALF CAUSING TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DURING ALL OF THE EVENTS. VW WON'T ASSIST IN REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE 2.0 TSI ENGINE HAS A WELL DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF ENGINE FAILURE WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILS. THEY WON'T FIX IT UNLESS IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. IF YOU HAVE THIS MODEL OF ENGINE GET IT CHECKED BEFORE YOU ARE OUT AN ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11031471

Incident

Sep 27, 2017

Mileage

92,000 mi

P2015 INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH CIRCUIT RANGE/ PERFORMANCE BANK 1.

NHTSA ID

10991666

Incident

May 23, 2017

Mileage

66,666 mi

THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER IS FAULTY

NHTSA ID

10949643

Incident

Feb 5, 2017

Mileage

43,779 mi

SUNROOF EXPLODED LIKE A GUN SHOT WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY 60 MPH. HAD JUST ENTERED EXPRESS LANE AND FOUND IT VERY DISORIENTING AND DISTRACTING SINCE I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT AT. HAD TO CHECK ALL THE WINDOWS AND MY PERSON FOR GLASS OR INJURY BEFORE I LOOKED UP AND SAW THE LARGE HOLE IN THE SUNROOF. SUNROOF GLASS APPEARS TO BE PROTRUDING OUTWARD - LIKE IT WAS PUSHED OUT FROM THE INTERIOR. NOT ALL THE GLASS CHIPS RECOVERED INSIDE THE CAR APPEAR TO EQUAL THE AREA OF THE HOLE IN THE SUNROOF.

NHTSA ID

10927115

Incident

Nov 16, 2016

Mileage

47,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, I PRESSED THE BRAKES ONE TIME AND THEY WORKED, THE NEXT TIME THEY DIDN'T. NO SLOW DEGRADATION, THEY JUST WENT FROM WORKING FINE TO NOT WORKING AT ALL. THE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY SUCH THAT THERE WAS NO ASSIST AND WHEN MORE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTED ONTO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN BASICALLY NO STOPPING OF ANY KIND. NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN CONTACTING VW ABOUT THIS, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T EVEN EQUIPPED WITH A SENSOR CAPABLE OF DETECTING THAT THE BRAKES HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEIR MANUAL EXPLICITLY CALLS OUT THE DANGERS OF OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE VACUUM BOOSTER. WITH SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT AS THE BRAKES, SHOULDN'T THERE BE AT LEAST A WARNING LIGHT? LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT LOW SPEED, BUT THAT WAS JUST BLIND LUCK.

NHTSA ID

10883458

Incident

Jun 12, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL, DRY CONDITIONS WHEN I BEGAN TO GET MDI NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT FAILED LIGHTING. A TOTAL OF 11 NOTIFICATIONS CAME ACROSS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. THE 30A FUSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX HAD MELTED. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR....THE PLASTIC MELTED WITHOUT BURNING OUT THE FUSE. THIS ISSUE AFFECTS A WIDE RANGE OF YEARS AND MODELS AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED JUST ON THE TIQUAN???. IT IS MIND BOGGLING THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL ITEM ON ALL MODELS AS THE LACK OF LIGHTING IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ID

10872104

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICEL DAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10861973

Incident

Dec 15, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi