2019 Volkswagen GTI Owner Complaints

I own a vehicle built from two salvage vehicles: a 2019 VW Golf Sportwagen (VIN [XXX] - the body) and a 2019 VW GTI (VIN [XXX] - the engine, suspension, fuel tank/system, etc). The vehicle is registered and titled under the Sportwagen VIN. Safety Recall 20UF requires replacement of the suction jet pump to prevent risk of fire. The recall was performed on the Sportwagen prior to its crash, but not on the GTI. Since the Sportwagen no longer has it's original engine/fuel tank, but that from the GTI, this means my vehicle has the defective, unsafe part. Because the dealer service department goes by the registered body VIN, they refused to perform the recall. I called VWoA Customer Care, who advised me that they could not do anything, and that the dealer service department must request an exception from VWoA and inspect the vehicle. I have attempted reaching out to my two nearest VW dealers, including my regular dealer, and they have either refused to perform the recall, or refused to get back to me. One dealer even said I should perform the repair myself, and when I pressed for VW to perform the recall, he said he'd have to call his regional manager and call me back at the end of the week. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11754905

Incident

Aug 5, 2026

While simply driving 75mph (speed limit during time of incident) on the highway, i heard a loud explosion sound and the sunroof had completely shattered and was blown upwards. Glass began and continued to fly off, creating a large hole, while trying to get to a stopping point. The was only very little shards of debris that had gotten inside the vehicle while driving, but had potential to put me and a passenger at risk of serious injury. No vehicles were close to mine that could have caused debris to hit the area and no other vehicles were affected. There was no cracks or chips in the glass prior to the incident. There is reason to believe that it is a manufacturing error or installation error prior to purchasing the vehicle in 2020. Supporting that, i have researched reports of other Volkswagen Golf GTI models dealing with the same or similar issues with the sunroof exploding upwards with zero cause or explanation. There has not been an inspection or investigation of the damage as is happened around 3:00pm on this date ( January 30th, 2026).

NHTSA ID

11714588

Incident

Jan 30, 2026

The front collision brake assist goes on when there is no obstacle. It has given me obstacle warnings before, but this time it slammed on the brakes and brought me to a stop. This "safety" feature is going to get me rear ended. I have not taken it to a dealer because internet search shows me it is a widespread problem for which there is no fix. I would like it permanently disabled.

NHTSA ID

11675819

Incident

Jul 9, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen GTI SE. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact lives in Hawaii. However, there are no Volkswagen dealers on the island. The contact was told by the manufacturer that the recall repairs would need to be done by a dealer. It was suggested that the vehicle be shipped to O'ahu at the contact's expense. The contact stated that the manufacturer did not offer any assistance when asked if a local independent mechanic could repair the vehicle. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11655500

Incident

Apr 18, 2025

Rough idle on start. RPM is not maintaining to keep the engine running. After a few try, it starts ok and drive off the parking lot, but the engine dies after about 10 seconds over 30mph. It feels like gasoline is not igniting corretly. Scanned Error Code P0171: System Too Lean Bank 1 P0190: Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor A Circuit Dealership can't replicate the issue and find the issue. Could be related to Fuel System Recall.

NHTSA ID

11618799

Incident

Sep 17, 2024

There has been no incident. I am filing this complaint because I have been unable to get an expected date of repair from VW by calling VW.

NHTSA ID

11589689

Incident

May 17, 2024

VEHICLE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE NOTICED MY CAR STALL WHEN LEAVING A PARKING SPOT WHERE I WILL GET HALFWAY OUT OF THE PARK, AND THEN THE RPM GOES TO 0 AND I HAVE TO PUT IT INTO PARK, TURN THE KEY, AND AFTER A LONGER THAN NORMAL STARTUP TIME, IT GOES.

NHTSA ID

11397180

Incident

Feb 14, 2021

Mileage

21,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 75MPH, MY 2019 VOLKSWAGEN GTI SE PANORAMIC SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY SHATTERED GLASS FALLING INTO THE CAR. THE ENTIRE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND A VERY LARGE HOLE (APPROX. 1' X 1.5' LARGE) NEAR THE FRONT OF SUNROOF WAS PRESENT. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT THE SUNROOF. GIVEN THE LOUD BANG AND THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO THE SUNROOF, I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE A ROCK OR SOME OTHER OBJECT HIT THE SUNROOF.

NHTSA ID

11374175

Incident

Nov 11, 2020

Mileage

13,400 mi

AS I SLOWED DOWN COMING TO A STOP SIGN, I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AS IF IT WAS AN AUTO OFF/AUTO ON FEATURE. THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN BACK ON AUTOMATICALLY. THIS HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER AT THE NEXT STOP LIGHT. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11362123

Incident

Sep 30, 2020

Mileage

440 mi

MY GTI HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY STALL WHILE COMING TO A STOP EVEN THOUGH THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED. IT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE GEAR SHIFT IN REVERSE AS WELL AS IN NEUTRAL, IN EITHER CASE THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED AND IT SHOULDN'T BE STALLING IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

NHTSA ID

11344148

Incident

Aug 8, 2020

Mileage

13,168 mi

16000 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF. PURGE VALE REPLACED, TWO WEEKS LATER LEAK DETECTION PUMP FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS LEAK DETECTION PUMP IS ON NATIONAL BACK-ORDER WITH UNKNOWN TIME OF ARRIVAL.

NHTSA ID

11341611

Incident

Jun 2, 2020

Mileage

16,000 mi

CAR STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY COMING TO A STOP. HAPPENS WITH CLUTCH IN OR IN NEUTRAL. HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE DAY 1 OF OWNERSHIP OF BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH 80 MILES ON ODOMETER. CONTINUES AT 10 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP WITH 6K MILES ON ODO. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. IT DID NOT OCCUR FOR 6 MONTHS BETWEEN DECEMBER 2019 AND JUNE 2ND 2020. ON JUNE 3RD VW INSTALLED 24FD UPDATE. UPON DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR STALLED 3 TIMES. TWICE AT STOPLIGHTS IN 1ST GEAR WITH CLUTCH IN. ONCE IN NEUTRAL AFTER I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327231

Incident

Jun 3, 2020

Mileage

5,800 mi

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH FOOT DEPRESSED ON CLUTCH.

NHTSA ID

11322084

Incident

Apr 23, 2020

Mileage

250 mi

I HAVE A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN GTI 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHILE I WAS OUT RUNNING ERRANDS TO THE LOCAL FOOD STORE AND HARDWARE STORE, I CAME TO A COMPLETE AND FULL STOP AT A STOP SIGN. AT THIS TIME THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL DISENGAGED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. I NOTICED THE CAR HAD A SOFT STALL. THIS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF ABOUT 6 TIMES. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE CAR HAS THE AUTO STOP FEATURE THAT TURNS THE ENGINE OFF AT A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP BUT MY CAR IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THAT OPTION. I FEEL AS IF THE ENGINE IS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS CUTTING OFF. I ALSO FEEL IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION THINKING THAT THE CAR IS IN A DIFFERENT GEAR AND NOT ENOUGH RPMS TO SUSTAIN THAT GEAR. I ALSO FEEL IT COULD BE A VACUUM LEAK WHICH IS NOT SENDING THE RIGHT SIGNALS TO THE ENGINE COMPUTER OR SOMETHING ELSE. AT THE TIME OF THIS HAPPENING IT WAS SUNNY AND IN MID FIFTIES IN TEMPERATURE.

NHTSA ID

11318971

Incident

Mar 21, 2020

Mileage

762 mi

MY 2019 VW GTI-S IS EQUIPPED WITH A DSG TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING IT IN MANUAL SPORT MODE ON THE FREEWAY ON SUNDAY 1 MARCH 2020. AFTER GETTING OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND ONTO THE CITY SURFACE STREETS, THE CAR STALLED WHEN I CAME TO A STOP. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD NOT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE START/STOP DEFEAT FEATURE OFF BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. ANOTHER 6-7 STALLS OCCURRED AS I DROVE THE CAR THE FEW MILES BACK HOME AFTER DROPPING OFF A FRIEND. THERE WERE 4-5 PREVIOUS INDIVIDUAL INCIDENTS PRIOR TO SUNDAY. ON MONDAY 2 MARCH WHILE I DROVE THE CAR HOME ON THE FREEWAY IN STOP AND GO COMMUTE TRAFFIC THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS; HOWEVER AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY THE CAR STALLED AGAIN 3 SEPARATE TIMES AFTER I CAME TO A FULL STOP AT THE SIGNALS AND STOP SIGNS LEADING TO MY HOME. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I AM WORRIED SINCE THE PRINCIPAL DRIVER OF THIS CAR WILL EVENTUALLY BE MY WIFE. SHE IS OFTEN DRIVING ON THE STREETS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. IT IS EASY TO GET READ ENDED AS THE DRIVER IN BACK OF YOU EXPECTS YOU TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY AWAY FROM THE GREEN SIGNAL LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AFTER YOU HAVE STOPPED. IT TAKES TIME TO SHIFT THE GEAR LEVER BACK INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK TO START THE CAR AGAIN. SINCE I AM PUTTING IN THE "BREAK-IN" MILES ON THE CAR I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT SITUATION AND HAVE GOTTEN HONKED FOR NOT MOVING AWAY SWIFTLY FROM THE INTERSECTION AS ONE NORMALLY WOULD ON THE CITY STREETS. THE GTI CURRENTLY HAS 671 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I AM TAKING THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND HOPING THAT THEY WILL BUY IT BACK SO I CAN GET MY WIFE INTO A SAFER MODEL.

NHTSA ID

11315812

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

Mileage

640 mi

THE CAR IS RANDOMLY STALLING OUT ON ME. AFTER READING SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET I NOW SEE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. IT IS CURRENTLY AT MY LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CENTER. IT HAPPENED AFTER MY FIRST 10K MIKE SERVICE AND HAS STALLED 4 OR 5 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO DAYS ONCE ON A HIGHWAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING.

NHTSA ID

11315716

Incident

Feb 29, 2020

CAR IS VW GOLF GTI WITH SIX-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. CAR HAS 400 MILES FROM NEW. WHILE COMING TO A STOPLIGHT AT SLOW SPEED, WITH CLUTCH PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED AND TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE ACTION WAS SO QUIET THAT IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ENGAGED FIRST GEAR AND RELEASED THE CLUTCH PEDAL, BUT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. ONLY THEN DID I REALIZE THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. AFTER DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND PRESSING THE START BUTTON, THE ENGINE RE-STARTED IMMEDIATELY AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF AS NORMAL.

NHTSA ID

11310854

Incident

Feb 23, 2020

Mileage

400 mi

MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS AND AT IDLE. HAPPENS WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY TO THE FLOOR, IN NEUTRAL, AND ALSO WHILE IN GEAR. CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES IN SEQUENCE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. ALSO HAS STALLED AFTER GETTING OFF HIGHWAY 6 TIMES NOW, EACH TIME WHILE SLOWING FOR A RED LIGHT OR STOPPED. TOTAL OF 9 OR SO STALLS NOW. CAR IS BRAND NEW, PURCHASED WITH 33 MILES ON IT. NOW UP TO ABOUT 300 MILES TOTAL.

NHTSA ID

11310675

Incident

Feb 20, 2020

Mileage

220 mi

2019 WHITE GTI SE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION PURCHASED ON 11/27/19 IN DALY CITY, CA. CURRENT MILEAGE ~ 2,300. CAR ENGINE SHUTS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY/ RANDOMLY AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, EITHER AT NEUTRAL OR IN 1ST GEAR OR REVERSE WITH CLUTCH FULLY ENGAGED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS OVER TWO WEEKS AGO AFTER I SWITCHED DRIVING MODES FROM SPORT TO ECO MODE. THE ENGINE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY SHUT DOWN ALMOST EVERY TIME I CAME TO A STOP, TO THE POINT OF THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF CONTINUOUSLY AND UNABLE TO REMAIN ON AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR ON A HILL. I TOOK MY CAR OUT FOR A DRIVE A FEW HOURS LATER AND IT DROVE NORMALLY, UNTIL IT SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN MY CAR IS WARMED UP AND AT NORMAL TEMPERATURES, USUALLY AFTER DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. EVERY TIME IT'S HAPPENED, IT WAS ON CITY STREETS AND INTERSECTIONS. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND THEY RESET THE ECU, AND WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. HAVEN'T HAD THE PROBLEM REAPPEAR UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO, AND WAS EVEN ABLE TO RECORD A VIDEO OF IT OCCURRING. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME NOW FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11310215

Incident

Jan 30, 2020

Mileage

2,100 mi

CAR STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHEN FULLY STOPPED. THE STALL HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES: TWICE WHILE MOVING AT ROUGHLY 5MPH TOWARDS A RED LIGHT, AND TWICE WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS. IN EACH CASE, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS FULLY ON THE FLOOR AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. IT IS BRAND NEW CAR AND THE FIRST STALL HAPPENED AT ROUGHLY 160 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE LAST STALL WAS AT 191.

NHTSA ID

11309970

Incident

Feb 16, 2020

Mileage

160 mi

CAR STALLED TWICE SITTING IN NEUTRAL AT A STOP SIGN.

NHTSA ID

11309570

Incident

Feb 16, 2020

Mileage

550 mi

NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES, STALLS AT LOW SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. MUST RESTART CAR TO GET IT MOVING AGAIN. HAPPENS VERY OFTEN WITH CLUTCH DEPRESSED/NOT DEPRESSED, WHETHER IN GEAR OR IN NEUTRAL. HAPPENS IN AN INTERSECTION WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID

11308781

Incident

Feb 11, 2020

Mileage

822 mi

CAR STALLED WHEN IN NEUTRAL AT A STOPLIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11308507

Incident

Feb 11, 2020

Mileage

250 mi

I PURCHASED THE CAR AS NEW IN TAMPA, FL ON JANUARY 17, 2020. THE TRIM LEVEL IS AUTOBAHN, AND ITS TRANSMISSION IS A SIX SPEED MANUAL. ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP, WITH BOTH CLUTCH PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE HAS DIED. IN TWO OF THESE INCIDENTS THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART ON FIRST ATTEMPT, BUT ONLY ON THE SECOND TRY. THE CURRENT ODOMETER READING IS JUST UNDER 400 MILES. THE TIME BETWEEN THESE INCIDENTS WAS 2 TO 10 DAYS APART. NONE OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON A THOROUGHFARE. ONE WAS ON MY DRIVEWAY, WHEREAS THE OTHER TWO WERE IN A STORE OR RESTAURANT PARKING AREA. ASIDE FROM THESE THREE EPISODES, THE CAR DRIVES PERFECTLY. TWO DATE FROM THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF JANUARY, 2020, WHEREAS THE THIRD WAS ON FEBRUARY 1, 2020.

NHTSA ID

11306864

Incident

Jan 19, 2020

Mileage

200 mi

THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO PERIODICALLY STALL WHEN I'M TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS, SUCH AS IN PARKING LOTS, OR SLOWING DOWN TO TAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. IT HAS RECURRED ENOUGH (~4 TIMES IN 220 MILES) TO KNOW IT IS NOT DRIVER ERROR.

NHTSA ID

11297514

Incident

Jan 6, 2020

Mileage

220 mi