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5 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
A seal on a small pump inside the fuel tank can fail. Gasoline then flows into the system that is supposed to catch only fuel vapors, and it can leak out of the charcoal canister under the car. Leaking gasoline near anything hot or sparking can catch fire. Dealers will replace that pump for free. If your car was already fixed under the earlier 2016 recall, it still needs this newer repair.
The ignition switch is the part behind the key that turns the car's power on. On these cars it can fail, and hot weather makes that more likely. If it fails while you are driving, the electrical system can shut down and the engine can stall, leaving you without power in traffic. Dealers will replace the ignition switch at no charge. Letters went out in early 2024, so the repair may already be waiting for your car.
The tire pressure warning system may be slow to catch a problem in one situation: when all four tires are losing air at the same time. The system compares the tires to each other, so if they all go down together it may not warn you quickly enough. Driving on badly underinflated tires raises the chance of a crash. Dealers will update the system's software for free.
On these cars a small switch by the gear lever can get a mineral build-up on its contacts. When that happens, you can pull the key out of the ignition even though the lever is not in "Park." If the handbrake is not set, the car can roll away on its own after you get out, and someone could be hurt or the car could crash. Dealers will add an extra switch and circuit board free of charge.
The brake calipers — the parts that squeeze the brake pads against the wheels — were built with pistons that did not get enough protective coating. Over time that can make the brakes work less well than they should, so the car may not slow down or stop the way you expect. Volkswagen and Audi say owners should not drive these vehicles until the brake system has been checked. Dealers bleed the brake lines to fix it.
⚠ NHTSA advises: do not drive this vehicle until repaired.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Volkswagen GTI. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2019 | 179 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: