2016 VOLKSWAGEN GTI Complaints

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle experienced a rough start, and the temperature gauge was fluctuating. Additionally, an unknown triangle warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact became aware that the coolant level was significantly low, and that the vehicle was overheating while activating the heater. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where the water pump was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was overheating, and he noticed that coolant was leaking underneath the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving on a bridge, the low coolant level warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was overheating. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic several times and the water pump was replaced four times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the water pump was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The VIN was not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the sunroof leaked water into the fuse box. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen GTI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V543000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI. The contact stated that soon after purchasing the vehicle, she had difficulty placing gas into the fuel tank as fuel would spill out during fill up. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V647000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to a dealer who informed her that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was then referred to the manufacturer who also confirmed that the vehicle was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was unknown.

THE CAR ON IS LEAKING GASOLINE FROM BACK OF THE GAS TANK, THE CAR VAS IN MOTION AND I SMELL GASOLINE FROM MY CAR AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE BECAUSE IS NEAR THE WHEEL.

FAILED THERMOSTAT HOUSING/COOLANT LOSS. ACTIVE COOLANT LEAK FROM WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT HOUSING AT 35,956 MILES. DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT ASSEMBLY, WATER PUMP, UNION.

THE SUCTION PUMP (PART 5Q0-201-029) IN THE EVAP EMISSION CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE FAILED ON FEBRUARY 7 2021 CAUSING FUEL TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND THEN INTO THE PURGE VALVE. THIS LED TO HEAVY FUEL SMELL IN MY VEHICLE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SUCTION PUMP, CHARCOAL CANISTER AND PURGE VALVE. NOTE THAT THIS FAILURE WITH EXACT SAME DESCRIPTION WAS IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE SAFETY RECALL 20Y6 (HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/RCL/2016/RCRIT-16V647-1179.PDF) ISSUED BY NHSTA ON OCTOBER 13 2016 AND MY VEHICLE WAS PART OF THIS RECALL. IT WAS CLAIMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS FIXED ON MY VEHICLE ON JUNE 28 2017 AS PART OF THIS RECALL BY VW DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THE SUCTION PUMP WHICH FAILED ON FEBRUARY 7 2021 HAD THE MANUFACTURING DATE STAMP OF 15.08.15 WHICH INDICATES THAT PERHAPS VW DIDN'T REPLACE THE SUCTION PUMP AS PART OF THE RECALL REPAIR OR REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER FAULTY SUCTION PUMP WHICH STILL HAD THE ISSUE (SINCE THE MANUFACTURING DATE OF THE FAILED SUCTION PUMP IS ALMOST 2 YEARS BEFORE THE DATE OF RECALL REPAIR). VW OF AMERICA HASN'T PROVIDED ME CLEAR ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS STATED BELOW (SEE ATTACHED LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 13 2021, THAT I SENT TO VW OF AMERICA RAISING THESE CONCERNS): I) WOULD THIS SUCTION PUMP THAT FAILED AND WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED ON 15.08.15 WILL HAVE THE FIX FOR THE ISSUE IDENTIFIED IN 20Y6? II) WHAT WAS THE MANUFACTURING DATE OF THE SUCTION PUMP ORIGINALLY INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED? VW OF AMERICA REPLIED TO ME ON FEBRUARY 15 2021 STATING THAT THEY WON'T HELP ME WITH THIS REPAIR AS THE PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE ME ANSWERS TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS I RAISED. IF THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY, ISN'T VW STILL RESPONSIBILE TO FIX THE ISSUE THAT MY VEHICLE SUFFERED AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE THEM TO PROVIDE ME CLEAR ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE TWO QUESTIONS.

CLUTCH MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED AT 34,700 MILES. BECAUSE HYDRAULIC FLUID CONTAMINATED CLUTCH PLATE AND FLYWHEEL THOSE WERE ALSO REPLACED. FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS ON A COMMERCIAL STREET. SYMPTOMS: CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKED OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR

MY THERMOSTAT HAD A COOLANT LEAK AT 37K, AND THIS WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE VW DEALERSHIP IN 12/20. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AT THE VW DEALERSHIP. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ISSUE IS QUITE COMMON ON 2015-2018 VW GTIS (AND IT LOOKS LIKE IN ADDITION TO THE THERMOSTAT, THE WATER PUMP IS OFTEN PRONE TO LEAKAGE) AND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ON VW FORUMS HERE: HTTPS://WWW.REDDIT.COM/R/GOLFGTI/COMMENTS/DRNA5M/MK775_THERMOSTAT_HOUSING_ISSUE_AND_COOLANT_LOSS AND HERE: HTTPS://WWW.GOLFMK7.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?THREADS/FAILED-THERMOSTAT-HOUSING-COOLANT-LOSS-INFO-GATHERING.368847 THE THERMOSTAT SHOULD NOT BE LEAKING SO EARLY IN THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. THIS LEAK CAN LEAD TO A LOSS OF COOLANT, WHICH IN TURN CAN DAMAGE OR DESTROY THE ENGINE. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA, AND THEY DECLINED TO COVER IT, AS THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A DEFECTIVE PART THAT CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE NOT WORKING, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT A RECALL WOULD HELP OTHER OWNERS PROTECT THEIR VEHICLES.

ENGINE THERMOSTAT AND PUMP FAILURE WITH GRADUAL COOLANT LEAK. COOLANT REQUIRED REFILLING MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN 45,000 MILES, SOMETIMES COOLANT GETTING DANGEROUSLY LOW WITHOUT WARNING UNTIL CAR IS ON INTERSTATE. THERMOSTAT/PUMP HAS ALSO BEGUN OVERCOOLING ENGINE, NOT ALLOWING IT TO GET UP TO OPERATING TEMP WHEN ON INTERSTATE AND SHUTTING OUT USAGE OF CRUISE CONTROL. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH MK7 GTI.