2 NHTSA safety recalls cover the 2013 Volkswagen GTI. Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about this model year. Every recall repair is free at any Volkswagen dealer.
Is yours affected? Recalls cover ranges of VINs, not every 2013 Volkswagen GTI. Check your GTI by VIN and confirm open recalls at NHTSA.gov.
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Owners filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen GTI, reporting 1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, 1 deaths. Volkswagen has issued at least 857 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
Read Volkswagen GTI owner complaints and bulletins, every year
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in 3 investigations. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen GTI. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
“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.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11151280
“THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER, FRONT PASSENGER, AND SIDE PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11098496
“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.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11656161
“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.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11398578
“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.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11377947
Search the official database: NHTSA. Excerpts are quoted from the public record, shortened at a sentence and with personal details removed.
Not every 2013 Volkswagen GTI is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any Volkswagen dealer.