2013 Volkswagen GTI problems and complaints
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen GTI. The most-reported areas: Engine (11), Fuel/Propulsion System (7), Power Train (5).
Key takeaways
- 34 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 1 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 1 reported injury.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 11 | 32% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 | 21% |
| Power Train | 5 | 15% |
| Air Bags | 4 | 12% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 9% |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 6% |
| Structure | 2 | 6% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 6% |
| Visibility | 2 | 6% |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 3% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 3% |
| Tires | 1 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Volkswagen GTI 2 DR FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2013 Volkswagen GTI 4 DR FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train - filed 2025-04-22
DSG automatic transmission started going into neutral at various speeds and driving conditions. It feels as though the clutch disengages momentarily, causing the vehicle to slow down and engine to rev. This is definitely not safe when trying to merge or drive on the highway. This is a know issue with VW DSG transmissio...
Engine - filed 2021-03-01
I'M ON MY WAY TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY GOING UPHILL AND THE TEMPERATURE RED LIGHT STARTS FLASHING. I DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THE FLASHING LIGHT HAD ME CONCERNED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STAYED AT NORMAL POSITION SO I WAS ABLE TO BRING IT HOME. I WAITED AWHILE AND THEN CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR COOLANT LEVEL AND IT WA...
Service Brakes - filed 2020-12-04
I WAS DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN I WENT TO SLOW DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT MY BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGING UNTIL MY PEDAL WAS PUSHED WELL OVER HALF WAY DOWN. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. I STARTED NOTICING THAT IF I PUMPED MY BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE REALLY WAS NOT SAF...
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More for the 2013 Volkswagen GTI
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.