VOLKSWAGEN GTI · model year

2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI

19 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2018VOLKSWAGENGTI carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 2 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 2018 GTI is service brakes with 6 filings, followed by engine (3) and power train (3). 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 3 active recall campaigns, 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 2018 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.

19
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

19 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES6
ENGINE3
POWER TRAIN3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
TIRES1
WHEELS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1
STRUCTURE:BODY1

Recalls (3)

19V61500022/08/2019

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of

24V11000014/02/2024

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehi

18V36900001/06/2018

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake perfor

Recent Complaints

20250402SERVICE BRAKES

During moderate braking, the ABS system was violently pulsing the brakes on the left front wheel. This occured on about one dozen braking events over a 5-7 mile distance. Afterwards upon inspection, the left front brake smelled and radiated intense amounts of heat. There were no Warning Lights displayed at any time during or after. The tires, original equipment size, are almost brand new. All tires were at recommended air pressure. A Volkswagen dealer will inspect the vehicle today. The ABS hydraulic assembly is suspect. The vehicle has 46,000 miles and has had its brake fluid replaced in the past as part of normal recommended service.

20201019SERVICE BRAKES

6/1/20 BRAKES GOOD MEASURED 8 (IN THE GREEN) THIS IS WHEN I RECEIVED A NEW WATER PUMP (I KNOW! UNDER WARRANTY ISSUE ALSO IMO). MILAGE 25490. SEPTEMBER GOT NEW TIRES. ANTI LOCK BRAKES WENT OFF RIGHT A WAY X2. 10/10/20 TOOK CAR IN FOR 30,000 MILE CHECK AT 29,053 MILES. BRAKES MEASURED AT 3. MCKENNA SUGGESTED NEW BRAKES(PADS, ROTORS) $700.00. WHAT WOULD CAUSE BRAKES GOING FROM 8 TO 3 IN 4 MONTHS? I HAVE CONCERNS WITH ANTILOCKING BRAKES. I BELIEVE THEY ARE TOO SENSITIVE AND CAUSED BRAKE ISSUES

Mileage: 28,675

20200410STRUCTURE:BODY

VW CORPORATION DID NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY ON MY 2018 VW, GTI. MY 2018 VW, GTI WAS PARKED, AND I WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTER. THE SUNROOF WAS NOT HIT BY ANY DEBRIS. THE 2018 VW GTI IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO I TOOK THE DAMAGED VEHICLE TO OURISMAN VW OF LAUREL. OURISMAN VW STATED THAT VW DECLINED TO HONOR WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS IT BY A ROCK. THE ROOF WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING. VW STATED THAT AS A GESTURE OF GOOD FAITH BECAUSE I HAD BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER, THEY WOULD PICKED UP 40% OF THE REPAIR COST. I PICKED UP 60% OF THE COST, $3,239.38. I'M FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE VW SHOULD HAD PICKED UP THE ENTIRE REPAIR COST BECAUSE THE SUNROOF WAS NOT HIT BY ANY OBJECTS. THIS HAS HAPPEN TO OTHER VW CUSTOMERS AS WELL, CLASS ACTION FILED AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN ALLEGING EXPLODING SUNROOFS. VOLKSWAGEN EXPLODING SUNROOF CLASS ACTION UPDATE: A FEDERAL COURT RULED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2019, THAT CONSUMER PROTECTION CLAIMS AND CLAIMS OF FRAUDUL

Mileage: 21,115

20200304SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSIST ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A WARNING MESSAGE STATING AN OBJECT WAS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOTHING IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILLAGE WAS 14,426.

Mileage: 14,426

20200301POWER TRAIN

AN ISSUE EXISTS WHERE THE START STOP SYSTEM (S/S) CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT A STOP LIGHT. AT ONE POINT, THE DRIVER WAS IN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WHICH CAUSED MY S/S TO ACTIVATE, TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. THE DRIVER UNBUCKLED HIS SEAT BELT SO HE COULD PUT SOMETHING INTO THE GLOVE BOX, THEN RE BUCKLED HIS SEAT BELT. TRAFFIC BEGAN MOVING AGAIN, SO THE DRIVER HIT THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WAS A NOTIFICATION ON THE DASH STATING "PLEASE START ENGINE MANUALLY". THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE, SO THE VEHICLE NOTIFIED HIM TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO P OR N. THE DRIVER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO N, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE AND THEN RESUMED DRIVING. (AFTER CREATING A SMALL TRAFFIC JAM) LATER, THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT POLITELY EXPLAINED THAT THE S/S SYSTEM DOES THAT, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. TH

Mileage: 18,000

20200205SERVICE BRAKES

ON 3 OCCASIONS THE MANUAL PARKING BRAKE HAS RELEASE FULLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED UPHILL ON A SIDE STREET WITH A STEEP INCLINE. TWICE THIS WAS AFTER I HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR, AND ONCE WHILE IN THE CAR IT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HILL-HOLDER BRAKE RELEASED. EACH TIME, THE CAR WAS IN GEAR AND DID NOT ROLL MORE THAN A FEW INCHES; AND AN ADULT PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT AND WITNESSED IT AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKE. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED TIGHTLY, AND FULLY RELEASED WITH A BIG NOISE 2-20 SECONDS LATER. THE FROM THE SOUND MADE, IT SEEMS THAT THE RATCHETING PAWL ON THE HANDBRAKE SLIPPED OUT AND DID NOT CATCH ON THE NEXT TOOTH. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE AND HAS NOT MADE ADJUSTMENTS. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS A FEW WEEKS AFTER MY MOST RECENT SERVICE.

Mileage: 26,000

20191029VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAMELBACK VOLKSWAGEN (499 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014, (602) 648-9181) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GLASS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 19018636, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

Mileage: 5,000

20190705ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LOSS OF POWER CYLINDER 2 MISSFIRES LOSS OF CAM CRANK SYNCHRONIZATION AND LACK OF CAM SIGNAL EVEN AFTER REPLACING BOTH CAM SENSORS IT STILL READS 0 RPM AND HAS BECAME VERY FRUSTRATING

Mileage: 10,000

20190705ENGINE

LOSS OF POWER CYLINDER 2 MISSFIRES LOSS OF CAM CRANK SYNCHRONIZATION AND LACK OF CAM SIGNAL EVEN AFTER REPLACING BOTH CAM SENSORS IT STILL READS 0 RPM AND HAS BECAME VERY FRUSTRATING

Mileage: 10,000

20190626ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ACCELERATED SLOWER THAN NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND STATED THAT HE USED VOLKSWAGEN FACTORY SOFTWARE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND FAILURE CODES PERTAINING TO THE LOSS OF CAMSHAFT SYNCHRONIZATION AND FAILURE OF CYLINDER TWO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

Mileage: 10,000

20190626POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ACCELERATED SLOWER THAN NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND STATED THAT HE USED VOLKSWAGEN FACTORY SOFTWARE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND FAILURE CODES PERTAINING TO THE LOSS OF CAMSHAFT SYNCHRONIZATION AND FAILURE OF CYLINDER TWO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

Mileage: 10,000

20190405ENGINE

WHEN DOWN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY. (ONLY IN TRAFFIC) WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 3,2,1 THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR SOME REASON DECIDES TO BRAKE HARDER THAN SUPPOSED TO, MAKING THE CAR JERKY. ( REGULAR DRIVING AND COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT. ) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT'S THE AUTOBAHN EDITION.. ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING (COLD START) THE ENGINE VIBRATES ALOT MORE THAN NORMAL

Mileage: 1,000

20190405POWER TRAIN

WHEN DOWN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY. (ONLY IN TRAFFIC) WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 3,2,1 THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR SOME REASON DECIDES TO BRAKE HARDER THAN SUPPOSED TO, MAKING THE CAR JERKY. ( REGULAR DRIVING AND COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT. ) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT'S THE AUTOBAHN EDITION.. ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING (COLD START) THE ENGINE VIBRATES ALOT MORE THAN NORMAL

Mileage: 1,000

20190307CrashFatalSERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW DOWN/STOP THE CAR AT 50 YARDS OUT GOING 30 MILES PER HOUR RESULTING IN A COLLISION. MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE JUNE 2018 AND ITS CURRENTLY MARCH 2019.

Mileage: 7,000

20190307CrashFatalSERVICE BRAKES

I HAVE/ HAD A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI. AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION MY CAR HAD JUST BARELY NORTH OF 7000 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT AND I SAW DEER ABOUT 30-50 YARDS AWAY. I WAS GOING 25-30MPH, AS SOON AS I SAW THE DEER I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL FELT SPONGY AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP RESULTING IN A COLLISION.

Mileage: 7,000

20181205UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SUNROOF SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND HEARD A LOUD "BOOM." I LOOKED UP TO SEE THAT THE SUNROOF WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS MILD, THERE WERE NO BUMPS ON THE ROAD, NO BRIDGES NEARBY FROM WHICH SOMETHING COULD BE THROWN, AND NO SIGN OF EXTERNAL IMPACT TO CAUSE THE BREAKAGE.

20181106TIRES

2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI S. WAS ACTUALLY LEAVING MY HOUSE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE. AS I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE, DRIVING AT LIKE 10-15 MPH ON MY STREET. MY TPMS LIGHT COMES ON SAYING I HAVE LOW PRESSURE. I STOP IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK TO SEE. MY REAR DRIVER TIRE HAD A HUGE SIDEWALL BULGE AND YOU COULD SEE THE BEAD SITTING ON THE RIM LIP. THIS WAS WITHIN LESS THE 400 MILES OF THE VEHICLE BEING ON THE ROAD. I HAD NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES OR ANYTHING JUST SMOOTH PAVEMENT WENT IT HAPPENED(OR EVER). I PUT THE SPARE AND CONTINUED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. BUT I FEEL THIS TIRE BRAND IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE THE SAME TIRES ON MY 2017 FORD EXPLORER AND THEY ARE ALREADY WORN DOWN AT 15000 MILES. HANKOOK VENTUS TIRES ARE GARBAGE AND DEF A SAFETY CONCERN.

Mileage: 400

20181106WHEELS

2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI S. WAS ACTUALLY LEAVING MY HOUSE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE. AS I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE, DRIVING AT LIKE 10-15 MPH ON MY STREET. MY TPMS LIGHT COMES ON SAYING I HAVE LOW PRESSURE. I STOP IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK TO SEE. MY REAR DRIVER TIRE HAD A HUGE SIDEWALL BULGE AND YOU COULD SEE THE BEAD SITTING ON THE RIM LIP. THIS WAS WITHIN LESS THE 400 MILES OF THE VEHICLE BEING ON THE ROAD. I HAD NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES OR ANYTHING JUST SMOOTH PAVEMENT WENT IT HAPPENED(OR EVER). I PUT THE SPARE AND CONTINUED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. BUT I FEEL THIS TIRE BRAND IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE THE SAME TIRES ON MY 2017 FORD EXPLORER AND THEY ARE ALREADY WORN DOWN AT 15000 MILES. HANKOOK VENTUS TIRES ARE GARBAGE AND DEF A SAFETY CONCERN.

Mileage: 400

20180717UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE "FRONT ASSIST" AUTOMATIC FORWARD COLLISION WARNING AND BRAKING SYSTEM RANDOMLY ACTIVATES WHEN DRIVING, BRAKING THE CAR WHEN THERE IS NOTHING TO TRIGGER IT. (THIS IS OCCURRING EVEN ON EMPTY ROADS WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES IN SIGHT) THE LAST OCCURRENCE WAS ON AN EMPTY 4-LANE SUBURBAN STREET. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A GENTLE CURVE IN THE ROAD WHEN THE WARNING SOUND ACTIVATED AND THE CAR BRAKED.

Mileage: 3,000

Compare 2018VOLKSWAGENGTI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI have?
The 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI has 19 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI?
Yes, the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI?
The most-complained component for the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI is SERVICE BRAKES with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.