2014 Volkswagen GTI Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2014 Volkswagen GTI, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine426.7%
- Driver assistance320.0%
- Electrical213.3%
- Powertrain (other)213.3%
- Steering213.3%
- Airbags16.7%
- Brakes16.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated while shifting the vehicle into drive(D) there was a lag before the vehicle responded. The contact stated that the engine revved before the transmission jolted into gear. The contact stated that the vehicle shook abnormally. Additionally, while accelerating the vehicle was revving loudly before jolting into the next gear. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to the local dealer however, the vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,669.
2014 VOLKSWAGON GTI, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 57,000 TO 62,494. I READ UP ON THE ENGINE LIGHT REGARDING P2015 CODE, WHICH IS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM, THAT VOLKSWAGON RECOGNIZED AS A PROBLEM, BUT INSTEAD OF RECALLING, THEY DECIDED TO EXTEND WARRANTY TO 120,000 MIKES, BUT ONLY AS A LOTTERY PICKING OF VIN NUMBERS, SO IF YOUR VIN WASN'T ON LIST, AND YOU HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, YOU HAD TO PAY FOR THIS POOR QUALITY INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. THEY WOULD CLEAN IF ONLY CLEANING, $1200. IF IT INVOLVED THE WORSE CASE, IT TOOK CHANGING MANIFOLD, OF WHICH THAT WOULD BE, NEEDLESS TO SAY, MUCH MORE, MIND YOU AT 60,000 MILES THIS EXPENSIVE COST. SO YEAH, LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MUCH EXPENSES AT THIS EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. SO ONE THING IS KNOWING VOLKSWAGON RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM, BUT TREATED FIX AS ONLY SOME WOULD QUALIFY FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND IF YOU EXPERIENCE PROBLEM AND YOUR VIN WASN'T ON LIST YOU HAVE TO PAY. YOU CALL VOLKSWAGON HEADQUARTERS OR CUSTOMER CARE, BECAUSE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND MANUFACTURER IS WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU AND UNDERSTAND EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, EXPLAINING YOU HAD TWO OF THEIR PRODUCTS, AND THEY MAKE THINGS GOOD AND GO THE DISTANCE, THEN THAT'S GOOD, BECAUSE ALL YOU WANT IS A FIX/CORRECTIVE ACTION; HOWEVER, WHEN YOU SPEAK TO DEALERSHIP AND REPORT TO HEADQUARTERS, AND ALL THEY WANT TO QUOTE TO YOU IS THAT IT'S OUT OF THEIR HANDS, THAT YOUR CAR'S VIN # IS NOT LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ON THE LIST (LOTTERY/POT LUCK), ... SO YOU'RE STUCK WITH A YOUNG CAR WITH ENORMOUS EXPENSES, AFTER THE EXPENSIVE PURCHASE WAS NOT LONG. 2014 VOLKSWAGON GTI. THE OTHER IS JUST EXTREME EXPENSE FOR CLEANING OR REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT COMPANY RECOGNIZES PROBLEMS, BUT HANDLES WHETHER WARRANTY IS EXTENDED OR NOT BASED ON WHETHER YOUR CAR'S VIN WAS INCLUDED, LIKE ON A LOTTERY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I started my car and drove to a local 7-11 on my way to work and could not turn the key to shut the engine off. I proceeded to work and asked my friend to help me. After a struggle he got the key out,and 3 days later parked my car at a clients only to not be able to start the car. My steering wheel locking was random and was afraid it would lock up while driving. Was told at the dealership there was no recall even after I searched and found this to be problem enough that VW extended their warranty
I noticed a common problem among MK6 GTI owners of the steering wheel messing up, causing many issues such as broken airbags, the horn not work, cruise control stopped, etc., and since I have the issue (air bag symbol, horn, no cruise control) as well I was wondering what could be done. This happened after a near-accident/close call and when I tried to honk it didnt work. It could've been for any situation and a car horn is very important. That on top of the fact that if I did crash there was a risk of me not even having an air bag. Not to mention the countless inconvenient long drices with no cruise control. I checked the wiring and the wheel/horn is connected properly, and everything else on the dasg works fine.The car has been in a minor accident before and I did take it to a VW dealership for mechanical and body work, so the car should've been fine had they fixed the issue, but the problem is I had zero idea about the recall and I'm assuming they didnt bother to check since I didnt mention, and so the issue was hidden away. I did in fact however call the dealership and call to ask if they perhaps incorrectly ordered a wrong oart or something, but they assured me that the car was handled to their best extent. I doubt fixing the issue would have been a bother, so they wouldve done it had they know. I'm 99% sure this is the recall affecting my car, and I sure would like some help. Thank you
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I started my car and drove to a local 7-11 on my way to work and could not turn the key to shut the engine off. I proceeded to work and asked my friend to help me. After a struggle he got the key out,and 3 days later parked my car at a clients only to not be able to start the car. My steering wheel locking was random and was afraid it would lock up while driving. Was told at the dealership there was no recall even after I searched and found this to be problem enough that VW extended their warranty
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE ABS LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT, STEERING WHEEL FAULT WARNING LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING PROMPTING A FAULT DESCRIPTION ON MY CENTER DASH SAYING "FAULT: ABS/ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION CONTROL". FROM MY RESEARCH THIS FAULT WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE 2009 (MK5) GTI WHICH SHARES THE SAME ENGINE, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND DRIVETRAIN AS THE 2010-2014 (MK6). ON THE DIFFERENT VOLKSWAGEN FORUMS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IT IS STILL AN APPARENT FAULT WITH THE CAR WITH HUNDREDS OF INQUIRIES ABOUT HOW TO REPAIR AND FIX THIS PROBLEM ON OUR OWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated while shifting the vehicle into drive(D) there was a lag before the vehicle responded. The contact stated that the engine revved before the transmission jolted into gear. The contact stated that the vehicle shook abnormally. Additionally, while accelerating the vehicle was revving loudly before jolting into the next gear. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to the local dealer however, the vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,669.
Was going about 75 mph on the highway when my car dropped into neutral by itself causing me to have to cut across 4 lanes of highway to stop the car. 2014 gti with 67k miles. now being told its my gear shifter an module costing $2,300. I believe this is an essential part that should not be going defective an the dealer told me that their was no visible damage or reason to why it happened. "It is just a failed part"
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I started my car and drove to a local 7-11 on my way to work and could not turn the key to shut the engine off. I proceeded to work and asked my friend to help me. After a struggle he got the key out,and 3 days later parked my car at a clients only to not be able to start the car. My steering wheel locking was random and was afraid it would lock up while driving. Was told at the dealership there was no recall even after I searched and found this to be problem enough that VW extended their warranty
I noticed a common problem among MK6 GTI owners of the steering wheel messing up, causing many issues such as broken airbags, the horn not work, cruise control stopped, etc., and since I have the issue (air bag symbol, horn, no cruise control) as well I was wondering what could be done. This happened after a near-accident/close call and when I tried to honk it didnt work. It could've been for any situation and a car horn is very important. That on top of the fact that if I did crash there was a risk of me not even having an air bag. Not to mention the countless inconvenient long drices with no cruise control. I checked the wiring and the wheel/horn is connected properly, and everything else on the dasg works fine.The car has been in a minor accident before and I did take it to a VW dealership for mechanical and body work, so the car should've been fine had they fixed the issue, but the problem is I had zero idea about the recall and I'm assuming they didnt bother to check since I didnt mention, and so the issue was hidden away. I did in fact however call the dealership and call to ask if they perhaps incorrectly ordered a wrong oart or something, but they assured me that the car was handled to their best extent. I doubt fixing the issue would have been a bother, so they wouldve done it had they know. I'm 99% sure this is the recall affecting my car, and I sure would like some help. Thank you
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I noticed a common problem among MK6 GTI owners of the steering wheel messing up, causing many issues such as broken airbags, the horn not work, cruise control stopped, etc., and since I have the issue (air bag symbol, horn, no cruise control) as well I was wondering what could be done. This happened after a near-accident/close call and when I tried to honk it didnt work. It could've been for any situation and a car horn is very important. That on top of the fact that if I did crash there was a risk of me not even having an air bag. Not to mention the countless inconvenient long drices with no cruise control. I checked the wiring and the wheel/horn is connected properly, and everything else on the dasg works fine.The car has been in a minor accident before and I did take it to a VW dealership for mechanical and body work, so the car should've been fine had they fixed the issue, but the problem is I had zero idea about the recall and I'm assuming they didnt bother to check since I didnt mention, and so the issue was hidden away. I did in fact however call the dealership and call to ask if they perhaps incorrectly ordered a wrong oart or something, but they assured me that the car was handled to their best extent. I doubt fixing the issue would have been a bother, so they wouldve done it had they know. I'm 99% sure this is the recall affecting my car, and I sure would like some help. Thank you
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE ABS LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT, STEERING WHEEL FAULT WARNING LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING PROMPTING A FAULT DESCRIPTION ON MY CENTER DASH SAYING "FAULT: ABS/ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION CONTROL". FROM MY RESEARCH THIS FAULT WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE 2009 (MK5) GTI WHICH SHARES THE SAME ENGINE, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND DRIVETRAIN AS THE 2010-2014 (MK6). ON THE DIFFERENT VOLKSWAGEN FORUMS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IT IS STILL AN APPARENT FAULT WITH THE CAR WITH HUNDREDS OF INQUIRIES ABOUT HOW TO REPAIR AND FIX THIS PROBLEM ON OUR OWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .