Total Complaints
68 filings
VOLKSWAGEN GTI · model year
68 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2010VOLKSWAGENGTI carries 68 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2010 GTI is engine with 17 filings, followed by power train (9) and electrical system (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2010 GTI, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
68 filings
Crashes Reported
7 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 17 |
| POWER TRAIN | 9 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR
The seatbelt is failing as it does not retract back into its holder and I am uncertain as to how safe and effective it is. Note that I have not done anything to cause this damage to it, it is through use and time. Volkswagen Group should approve fixes to it without additional cost to the customer.
under emergency braking at around 70mph all 4 wheels locked up and abs/traction lights illuminated on dash. Caused a minor accident and flat spot on all 4 tires. ABS did not work. This is a know recall for 2009 models of the same vehicle. I replicated the issue a second time at a slower speed on a secluded road with the same results. There are numerous complaints about the same situation on this and other model VW cars of this year all over the internet forums. The ABS module was diagnosed as defective by mechanic shop.
About a month ago, while driving , the abs light, brake light and ESP light came on. After about 2 weeks of troubleshooting, a local mechanic troubleshot the issues to a faulty ABS module. After many phone calls with my local VW dealership I was able to set an appointment for a diagnostic. They determined " Diag ABS system no communication advised on replacement module". The module costing $2,886.04 in parts and labor. With the part not in stock and the dealership saying " no way of knowing when we'll get one in". Over 130,000 VW's same year and model have had this same issue and been recalled but for some reason my vehicle doesn't have a recall on this vin. Both the VW dealership and VW customer care refuse to do anything. I believe this vehicle like many others were missed or ignored during the recall. My vehicle brakes have been sticking and have locked on me once already in the last month while driving. It is a safety hazard to drive.
Steering lock mechanism has broke twice. Key cannot be removed from steering lock causing it to run and not able to turn off. Once car eventually can be turned off or dies you can no longer remove the key or start the car.
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle started jerking and failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the intake manifold was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 67,000.
Mileage: 67,000
WHEN HOT TRANSMISSION IS GETTING STUCK! WHEN WARM I CANNOT GO ONTO REVERSE WHEN SHIFTER IS IN R PUSHING THE GAS DOES NOT GET IT TO MOVE! ALSO WHEN DRIVING WILL D ON DASH BOARD WILL START BLINKING AND WILL NO LONGER SWITCH GEARS ACCELERATOR WILL GO INTO RED! I NEED TO PULL OVER AND RESTART CAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING! I HAVE READ ONLY THAT OTHER VW MODELS HAD RECALLS BECAUSE OF WIRES IT WAS SWITCHING TO N !I THINK THIS CAR IS ALSO HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND BE INCLUDED! IT DOES IT MORE ONCE THE CAR IS WARM AND SOME TIMES THE CHECK OIL PRESSURE IN THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCES! I HAVE READ ONLINE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND OR GET NEW CAR!
Mileage: 90,000
WHEN HOT TRANSMISSION IS GETTING STUCK! WHEN WARM I CANNOT GO ONTO REVERSE WHEN SHIFTER IS IN R PUSHING THE GAS DOES NOT GET IT TO MOVE! ALSO WHEN DRIVING WILL D ON DASH BOARD WILL START BLINKING AND WILL NO LONGER SWITCH GEARS ACCELERATOR WILL GO INTO RED! I NEED TO PULL OVER AND RESTART CAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING! I HAVE READ ONLY THAT OTHER VW MODELS HAD RECALLS BECAUSE OF WIRES IT WAS SWITCHING TO N !I THINK THIS CAR IS ALSO HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND BE INCLUDED! IT DOES IT MORE ONCE THE CAR IS WARM AND SOME TIMES THE CHECK OIL PRESSURE IN THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCES! I HAVE READ ONLINE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND OR GET NEW CAR!
Mileage: 90,000
MY VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY GO FROM BEING IN DRIVE TO ACTING LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL. AND WILL NOT MOVE OR GO ANYWHERE. AND THIS ALL HAPPENENED WHEN I WAS IN DR9VE DRVING DOWN THE ROAD.
Mileage: 20,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFT WARNING INDICATOR WAS FLASHING. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V333000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT CALLED COX CHEVROLET INCORPORATED (2900 CORTEZ RD W, BRADENTON, FL 34207, (941)348-6417) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
Mileage: 108,000
THE VEHICLE I PURCHASED WAS UNDER USED DEALER WARRANTY ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION I WENT AHEAD AND DID ALMOST $4000 IN REPAIRS TO THIS CAR TO MAKE IT DRIVE SOMEWHAT NORMAL FROM THE ORIGINAL JERKY START FROM AFTER PURCHASE (NO IT DID NOT DRIVE LIKE THIS WHEN I TEST DROVE) I ATTEMPTED TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE VW RECOMMENDED THIS TO REMEDY THE ISSUE BUT WHEN I TRIED TO CONTACT THE DEALER HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD STOP BEATING ON IT I HAVE COME ACROSS A LOT OF RESEARCH SHOWING THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS CAR FOR THE SUDDEN SHIFTS AND BUCKING I ALREADY HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPAIRED BY VW BUT I NEED HELP GETTING THE TRANSMISSION RECALL THAT WENT UNNOTICED BY VOLKSWAGEN ITS A REAL PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR AND MARQUE
Mileage: 74,000
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MESA,AZ AT THE RATE OF SPEED 72 MPH AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF, I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED THROUGH TRAFFIC, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT FROM THE FAST LANE TO SHOULDER, MY HEART WAS RACING, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TRY TO START IT DIDN'T START FOR A FEW MINUTES, DROVE HOME FEW MILES AWAY. WITH NO PROBLEMS. NEXT MORNING WOULDN'T START. WITH 59,500 MILES I WAS STOCKED. HAD THE CODES READ COILS, SPARK PLUGS, SO I CHANGED THEM. STILL DIDN'T START. 3 DAY LATER, (SHE'S GARAGE KEPT) AND STARTED UP. WELL IN THE LAST 6 MONTH'S IT HAS DONE THE SAME THING 9 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY, 4 TIMES IN THE CITY. TOOK IT TO VW DEALERSHIP THEY READ CODES P0087 WITCH IS LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE, FUEL FILTER. SO BUYING ALL NEW PARTS, I GOT FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE & FUEL FILTER AT VW DEALERSHIP, FUEL PUMP OVER THE INTERNET ALL NEW PARTS. THE VW PARTS MANAGER TOLD ME THAT VW HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH CONTROL MODULE ON OTHER MODELS, I THINK HE SAID THAT THEY WERE RECALLED O
Mileage: 59,500
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MESA,AZ AT THE RATE OF SPEED 72 MPH AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF, I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED THROUGH TRAFFIC, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT FROM THE FAST LANE TO SHOULDER, MY HEART WAS RACING, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TRY TO START IT DIDN'T START FOR A FEW MINUTES, DROVE HOME FEW MILES AWAY. WITH NO PROBLEMS. NEXT MORNING WOULDN'T START. WITH 59,500 MILES I WAS STOCKED. HAD THE CODES READ COILS, SPARK PLUGS, SO I CHANGED THEM. STILL DIDN'T START. 3 DAY LATER, (SHE'S GARAGE KEPT) AND STARTED UP. WELL IN THE LAST 6 MONTH'S IT HAS DONE THE SAME THING 9 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY, 4 TIMES IN THE CITY. TOOK IT TO VW DEALERSHIP THEY READ CODES P0087 WITCH IS LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE, FUEL FILTER. SO BUYING ALL NEW PARTS, I GOT FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE & FUEL FILTER AT VW DEALERSHIP, FUEL PUMP OVER THE INTERNET ALL NEW PARTS. THE VW PARTS MANAGER TOLD ME THAT VW HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH CONTROL MODULE ON OTHER MODELS, I THINK HE SAID THAT THEY WERE RECALLED O
Mileage: 59,500
DURING MODERATE ACCELERATION, ENGINE CUTS POWER, EPC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE, AND ENGINE WILL NOT TURN MORE THAN 3000 RPM, AND HAS NO POWER TO ACCELERATE. ENGINE DEVELOPS MISFIRES AND IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. ENGINE MAY STALL. TURNING KEY OFF AND BACK ON DOES NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY WILL TURN THE EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OFF, BUT UNDER NEXT MODERATE ACCELERATION, EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, AND PROBLEMS COME BACK. CHECK ENGINE DTC CODES RANGE FROM MISFIRES TO SYSTEM TOO LEAN AND AIR INTAKE LEAKS, AND FOR ACCELERATOR/THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR B MALFUNCTIONS. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE AND IN THE CITY. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. IT HAS ALSO STALLED DURING ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING ON AUGUST 6TH 2019 AND HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN.
Mileage: 148,000
DURING MODERATE ACCELERATION, ENGINE CUTS POWER, EPC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE, AND ENGINE WILL NOT TURN MORE THAN 3000 RPM, AND HAS NO POWER TO ACCELERATE. ENGINE DEVELOPS MISFIRES AND IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. ENGINE MAY STALL. TURNING KEY OFF AND BACK ON DOES NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY WILL TURN THE EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OFF, BUT UNDER NEXT MODERATE ACCELERATION, EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, AND PROBLEMS COME BACK. CHECK ENGINE DTC CODES RANGE FROM MISFIRES TO SYSTEM TOO LEAN AND AIR INTAKE LEAKS, AND FOR ACCELERATOR/THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR B MALFUNCTIONS. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE AND IN THE CITY. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. IT HAS ALSO STALLED DURING ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING ON AUGUST 6TH 2019 AND HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN.
Mileage: 148,000
REAR MAIN SEAL FAILS UNDER 60K MILES HAPPEN TO A LOT OF 2.0T ENGINES. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD PROVIDE EXTENDED WARRANTY
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE WILL STUDDER AND CAUSE EPC LIGHT TO COME ON WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING BACK ON WILL SOMETIMES CORRECT PROBLEM BUT WILL COME BACK SHORTLY AFTER. CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE WITHOUT STALLING OUT. ALMOST LIKE THE COMPUTERS FORGOT HOW TO ACCELERATE THE CAR AND USE THE ENGINE. CAR WAS GETTING ONTO HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT DOES HAPPEN DURING REGULAR DRIVING. CAR JUMPS AND STUDDERS AND THE ENGINE WANTS TO SHUT DOWN SINCE IT CANT ACCELERATE OR SHIFT HIGHER, RPMS GO DOWN TO POINT OF CAR STALLING.
Mileage: 85,000
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE WILL STUDDER AND CAUSE EPC LIGHT TO COME ON WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING BACK ON WILL SOMETIMES CORRECT PROBLEM BUT WILL COME BACK SHORTLY AFTER. CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE WITHOUT STALLING OUT. ALMOST LIKE THE COMPUTERS FORGOT HOW TO ACCELERATE THE CAR AND USE THE ENGINE. CAR WAS GETTING ONTO HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT DOES HAPPEN DURING REGULAR DRIVING. CAR JUMPS AND STUDDERS AND THE ENGINE WANTS TO SHUT DOWN SINCE IT CANT ACCELERATE OR SHIFT HIGHER, RPMS GO DOWN TO POINT OF CAR STALLING.
Mileage: 85,000
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE WILL STUDDER AND CAUSE EPC LIGHT TO COME ON WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING BACK ON WILL SOMETIMES CORRECT PROBLEM BUT WILL COME BACK SHORTLY AFTER. CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE WITHOUT STALLING OUT. ALMOST LIKE THE COMPUTERS FORGOT HOW TO ACCELERATE THE CAR AND USE THE ENGINE. CAR WAS GETTING ONTO HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT DOES HAPPEN DURING REGULAR DRIVING. CAR JUMPS AND STUDDERS AND THE ENGINE WANTS TO SHUT DOWN SINCE IT CANT ACCELERATE OR SHIFT HIGHER, RPMS GO DOWN TO POINT OF CAR STALLING.
Mileage: 85,000
TRAVELING AT 45 MPH DOWN A TWO WAY HIGHWAY, I WENT TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE WHEN THE EPC TURNED ON ONCE AGAIN.I LOST POWER AND TRIED TO RETURN BACK INTO MY LANE THE VEHICLE IN FRONT SPIKED ON THE BRAKES, I TRIED STOPPING BUT DUE TO THE ABS MODULE GOING BAD (VW KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THEM) I HAD NO ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, OR AIRBAGS. THE BRAKES LOCKED CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD WAY HITTING A BERM ALONG WITH A TREE CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER ONTO THE ROOF. UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. I CONTACTED THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURE TO INFORM THEM OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SOME TIME AGO, THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT RECALL AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. THERE HAS BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE EPC WITH A RECOMMEND FIX. THE SIX GOLD PINS WERE PUT IN TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL ONES WHICH WORKED FOR SOME TIME BUT FAILED AGAIN. THANKFULLY I DID NOT HAVE MY TWO VERY SMALL CHILDREN WITH ME.
Mileage: 123,000
TRAVELING AT 45 MPH DOWN A TWO WAY HIGHWAY, I WENT TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE WHEN THE EPC TURNED ON ONCE AGAIN.I LOST POWER AND TRIED TO RETURN BACK INTO MY LANE THE VEHICLE IN FRONT SPIKED ON THE BRAKES, I TRIED STOPPING BUT DUE TO THE ABS MODULE GOING BAD (VW KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THEM) I HAD NO ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, OR AIRBAGS. THE BRAKES LOCKED CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD WAY HITTING A BERM ALONG WITH A TREE CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER ONTO THE ROOF. UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. I CONTACTED THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURE TO INFORM THEM OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SOME TIME AGO, THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT RECALL AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. THERE HAS BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE EPC WITH A RECOMMEND FIX. THE SIX GOLD PINS WERE PUT IN TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL ONES WHICH WORKED FOR SOME TIME BUT FAILED AGAIN. THANKFULLY I DID NOT HAVE MY TWO VERY SMALL CHILDREN WITH ME.
Mileage: 123,000
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
Inadvertent Door Opening
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
LGES High Voltage Battery Failures
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.