2013 Volkswagen Gti recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Unknown Or Other
What's wrong, in plain English: A vehicle part that may fail. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
What could happen: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2013 GTI.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 18V329000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
2. Airbags
What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
What could happen: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2013 GTI.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 15V483000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-822-8987.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Consequence: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 2013 Volkswagen Gti owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Engine (12), Fuel system (7), Transmission / drivetrain (5), Airbags (4), Electrical system (3).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
04/22/2025 · Transmission / drivetrain
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 transmissions and warranted a safety recall on ear…
03/01/2021 · Engine
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 WAS DOWN TO THE BOTTOM BARELY ANY LEFT. S…
12/04/2020 · Brakes
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 SAFE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL TIRES PLU…
09/05/2020 · Body / structure
SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED ON THE HIGHWAY.
02/24/2020 · Engine
INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2015. IN LATE 2019 THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A SERVICE ENGINE WARNING WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AGAIN. OUT OF WARRANTY THE SERVICE COST ME IN EXCESS OF $1000. I SEE THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED ON OLDER YEARS FOR THE SAME EXACT REASON BUT NOT THE 2013. THIS NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
04/19/2019 · Transmission / drivetrain
WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE PUTS ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL WAS TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNLESS IT'S ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPLICATED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON EARLIER MODELS THAT RESULTED IN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS. DID CONTACT DEALER AND VOA
11/26/2018 · Transmission / drivetrain
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND COMMUNICATION WAS LOST WITH THE GEAR BOX. ALSO, THE RPMS INCREASED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK, SHUT OFF, AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY AUTO WORLD VOLKS…
11/13/2018 · Electrical system · fire
CAR WAS DRIVEN IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. FIRST NOTICED SOME SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD, STOPPED THE CAR, MORE AND MORE SMOKE CAME OUT AND COULDN'T EVEN SEE ANYTHING IF ANYONE WERE TO BE IN THE CAR. NOTICE SOME FIRE START TO APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, CALLED 911. THE ENTIRE HOOD WAS ON FIRE BY THE TIME FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. IT SEEMED THERE WAS GOING TO BE A…