What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2011 Volkswagen GTI

Typical pattern

9.1% of complaints about the 2011 Volkswagen GTI came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2011 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (20 complaints), typically at 5.8 yr or about 76,000 miles.

Complaints
66
Median age at failure
6.7 yr
Median mileage
54,000 n=56
Crash / fire / tow
3% of reports
Safety recalls
2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
20 reports · 76,000 mi
5.8 yr
5%
Power train
17 reports · 19,000 mi
2.4 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

18V329000 2018-05-16
Other

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.

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

15V483000 2015-08-04
Air bags:frontal

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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 1.0 yr in service
WHILE MOVING AND COMING TO A STOP AND THEN ACCELERATING TO PROCEED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD REV BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE SITUATION AT THE TIME IS TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. *TR
Power train 5,920 mi 1.1 yr in service
I WAS MERGING ONTO THE 5 SOUTH FREEWAY FROM THE 110 SOUTH FREEWAY, SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MANUALLY. AFTER SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR AND DEPRESSING THE THROTTLE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV FREELY AS IF IN NEUTRAL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. SINCE THE CAR WAS COASTING AND UNRESPONSIVE, I BEGAN TO LOSE SPEED WHILE MERGING. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN POWER BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, THEN SHIFTING BACK INTO DRIVE AND DOWNSHIFTING MANUALLY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT VERY EASILY IF THERE WAS MORE TRAFFIC. *TR
Power train 3,000 mi 2 mo in service
WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER HAVING SLOWED DOWN FOR A TURN, THE CLUTCH FAILS TO ENGAGE AND I GET A FALSE NEUTRAL. THE RPM GOES ALL THE WAY TO 5000, 6000, BUT THE CAR DOESN'T SPEED UP BECAUSE IT'S IN NEUTRAL, EVEN WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN D. THIS IS DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE IMMEDIATELY REPLICATED AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
Engine 38,000 mi 3.8 yr in service
MY 2011 VW GTI WITH ONLY 38000 MILES LOST FIRST IGNITION COIL. THERE ARE MULTIPLE RECALL FROM VW FOR THIS PART, BUT NOT FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. AS RESULT, VEHICLE LOOSING POWER DURING DRIVING. *JS

Other GTI model years

20222019201720162015201120102009200820072003200220012000

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