2017 VOLKSWAGEN GTI Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
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, 201...
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 ...
Description of the Problem: The fuel pump failed and began spraying gasoline during operation. The malfunction was documented on video by an authorized Volkswagen mechanic and confirmed by a Volkswagen dealership in Honolulu, Hawaii. The component is available for inspection if required. Safety Ris...
On October 13, 2025, while driving my 2017 Volkswagen GTI, I noticed a strong odor of gasoline inside and around the vehicle. After parking and inspecting the car, I observed a large pool of gasoline forming in front of the rear passenger-side wheel well. This poses a serious safety risk due to the...
Rear back-up camera fails repeatedly. The image portrayed on the dash is garbled and I am unable to determine vehicles, obstacles or persons behind me when backing. Problem is very reproducible although the dealer has not diagnosed the problem. The car is out of warranty. The only message displa...
I had fuel leaking from my carbon canister. I was driving the previous day and noticed a gasoline smell. I thought it was something I ran over. The next day, while performing errands, I noticed the smell even more. Then I exited the vehicle to see the fuel pouring out of the car. The dealership has ...
I had fuel leaking from my carbon canister. I was driving the previous day and noticed a gasoline smell. I thought it was something I ran over. The next day, while performing errands, I noticed the smell even more. Then I exited the vehicle to see the fuel pouring out of the car. The dealership has ...
The steering wheel clockspring mechanism has failed causing the vehicle steering wheel operated controls (including the horn) to stop working. The airbag warning lamp illuminated on the dashboard, indicating the airbag system may not be functional. Apparently Volkswagen has issued a recall/extended...
The steering wheel clockspring mechanism has failed causing the vehicle steering wheel operated controls (including the horn) to stop working. The airbag warning lamp illuminated on the dashboard, indicating the airbag system may not be functional. Apparently Volkswagen has issued a recall/extended...
Earlier in 2024, Volkswagen of America issued a recall for the Suction Jet Pump, on the 14th of December i went to VW of Pompano Beach in Florida, to get the recall done, however, after they delivered back the car, it started to leak fuel after i put gas on it. On December 17th I took it again to t...
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping. In addition, the contact stated while refueling, the f...
Mileage: 49,000
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH up an incline, the vehicle lurched forward without warning. The contact then stated that while the vehicle was idling, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle and the fuel gauge went from half ta...
Mileage: 77,304
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The EPC warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart after an hour. The vehicle was taken to the residence and the contact observed a hissing sound ...
Mileage: 80,000
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen GTI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repa...
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated upon pulling into a parking spot, the vehicle started sputtering. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pushed the vehicle into the parking spot. The contact noticed that gas was leaking from the fuel tank onto the ground. The ...
Mileage: 22,000
THE FUEL TANK AND CHARCOAL CANISTER IN THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE, ONCE BY THE DEALER I PURCHASED FROM (WEEKS PRIOR TO PURCHASE) AND AGAIN NOT EVEN A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FLOODED WHILE FUELING, HOWEVER I NEVER TOP OFF MY VEHICLES. THIS ISSUE...
FUEL TANK WOULD NOT ACCEPT REFUELING. WHEN CHECKED OUT WAS FOUND THAT TANK WAS LEAKING GAS. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY TYPE.
Mileage: 34,000
INTERIOR TRIM IN FRONT OF SHIFTER IS UNREASONABLY SHARP. WHEN REMOVING ITEMS, LIKE CELL PHONE, OR WALLET FROM THE STORAGE CUBBY IN FRONT OF THE SHIFTER MULTIPLE FINGERS HAVE BEEN SNAGGED AND SLICED DEEPLY. THE FIRST TIME I WAS CUT THE CUT WAS SMALL ON THE TIP OF MY RIGHT RING FINGER. BECAUSE OF THE ...
Mileage: 61,000
COULD NOT PUMP GAS INTO THE GAS TANK. COULD INSERT THE PUMP NOZZLE INTO THE OPENING TO THE GAS TANK. WHEN TRIED TO PUMP GAS, GAS WOULD NOT GO INTO THE TANK AND SPILL OUT. THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THE VW GTI 2015 MODEL. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A GAS PUMP.
Mileage: 34,000
THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE CENTER CONSOLE STORAGE OF THIS VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING DEEP CUTS AND GASHES ON PEOPLE'S HANDS. SPECIFICALLY, THE SILVER SHARP METAL TRIM PIECE IN FRONT OF THE SHIFTER BOOT BECOMES SLIGHTLY LIFTED OVER TIME AS IT SEPARATES FROM A PLASTIC THAT HOLDS IT, AND THE SHARP E...
THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE CENTER CONSOLE STORAGE OF THIS VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING DEEP CUTS AND GASHES ON PEOPLE'S HANDS. SPECIFICALLY, THE SILVER SHARP METAL TRIM PIECE IN FRONT OF THE SHIFTER BOOT BECOMES SLIGHTLY LIFTED OVER TIME AS IT SEPARATES FROM A PLASTIC THAT HOLDS IT, AND THE SHARP E...
THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAS BEGUN TO BECOME UNADHERED TO THE BODY CAUSING IT TO RAISE UP AND CREATE A GAP BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE ROOF CAUSING EXCESS NOISE WHILE DRIVING. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DENIED MY CLAIM DESPITE HAVING A PENDING CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MANY MODELS REGARDING THE SAME I...
Mileage: 41,000
FIRST NOTICED STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. FUEL SMELL DISSIPATED AFTER AROUND 45 MINUTES. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE CAR, IT BEGAN BUCKING AS IF THERE WAS A FUEL PRESSURE ERROR. BY THE TIME I LIMPED THE CAR INTO MY DRIVEWAY, FUEL WAS POURING OUT OF THE SAME WHEEL W...
Mileage: 35,000
THERE IS A CONSTANT COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND WATER PUMP AREA. IT STARTED AS A SLOW LEAK, EVERY 10,000 MILES OR SO I WOULD HAVE TO TOP IT OFF AND NOW IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO FILL IT BACK UP EVERY DAY. LOOKED INTO IT ONLINE AND IT SEEMS THAT NEARLY EVERYON...
Mileage: 65,000
DISCOVERED COOLANT LEAK ON OIL PAN AND CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION. DEALERSHIP INSPECTION REVEALED A FAILED WATER PUMP HOUSING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED HOUSING, THERMOSTAT AND THERMOSTAT GASKET UNDER WARRANTY.
Mileage: 45,000
THE VW GTI IS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 32,753 MILES. DRIVING THROUGH A SHOPPING PLAZA, STEAM SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RISE FROM THE HOOD. UPON PARKING AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, STEAM CONTINUED TO RISE AND THE SWEET SMELL OF COOLANT WAS OBVIOUS. COOLANT BEGAN LEAKING OUT AND FORMED A PUDDLE UNDER THE VEHICLE....
Mileage: 32,753
7-3-2020: DROVE CAR IN DRIVE MODE AND SPORT MODE THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON, STOPPED TO TALK TO SOMEONE AND CAR SAT ON A FLAT SURFACE, IDLING WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS GASOLINE LEAKING OUT OF THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL. PARKED THE CAR FOR THE NIGHT, HAD NO MORE LEAKAGE. 7-4-2020: DROVE TO VW DEALER/SE...
Mileage: 33,500
AT 47,000 MILES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW FUEL TO BE PUT INTO THE TANK. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD THAT THE SUCTION PUMP INSIDE GAS TANK WAS OVER PRESSURIZING THE TANK CAUSING FUEL TO SHOOT OUT OF THE GAS FILLING TUBE. THIS EXACT SAME ISSUES WAS IN THE 2015 AND 2016 MODELS AND RECALL 20Y6 ADDR...
Mileage: 47,000
I AM HAVING THE EXACT ISSUE FROM THE 2015-2016 GTI SUCTION PUMP RECALL. MY CAR IS A 2017 GTI AND IS LEAKING THROUGH THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FILTER. WHEN I TRY TO FILL THE TANK IT'S CUTTING OFF THE FLOW FROM THE GAS NOZZLE AS IF THE TANK WAS FULL BUT WHEN I CHECK THE TANK IS ALMOST EMPTY.
Mileage: 40,200
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL AT A RATE OF ONE GALLON OF FUEL EVERY FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND SUCTION PUMP NEEDED TO BE REP...
Mileage: 90,000
STARTED TO NOTICE A FUEL ODOR IN THE VICINITY OF THE RIGHT-REAR WHEEL WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED INSIDE MY GARAGE. MOVED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE ON MY DRIVEWAY. DROVE THE CAR ONCE OR TWICE DURING THE FOLLOWING WEEK. AS THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY THE ODOR PERSISTED. THEN ONE AFTERNOON A PUD...
Mileage: 55,578
THE COOLANT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN LOWER AND I BROUGHT MY CAR TO VW DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY WANTED TO CHARGE $140 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO PRESSURE TEST THE SYSTEM. I HAD THEM TOP OFF THE COOLANT FOR NOW BUT AFTER DOING RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING IS PRONE TO LEAKING. I W...
Mileage: 50,000
VEHICLE STARTED LOSING COOLANT AROUND 25K MILES. VISIBLE LOSS IN RESERVOIR AND COULD SMELL COOLANT AFTER DRIVING. AT 30K MILES, VISIBLE PUDDLE OF COOLANT UNDER CAR. CAR WAS SERVICED AT VW OF OCALA, FL, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND RELEVANT GASKETS/SEALS. THIS MATCHES WH...
Mileage: 30,000
THERMOSTAT HOUSING LEAK CAUSES COOLANT LEAK AND LOW COOLANT WARNINGS. WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHEN LOW COOLANT WARNING ILLUMINATED.
Mileage: 36,974
THERMOSTAT HOUSING LEAK CAUSES COOLANT LEAK AND LOW COOLANT WARNINGS. WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHEN LOW COOLANT WARNING ILLUMINATED.
Mileage: 36,974
CAR SUFFERED A FAILURE OF THE THERMOSTAT AT 26837 MILES CAUSING A LOSS OF COOLANT. COOLANT ODOR WAS APPARENT SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AT LOW MILEAGE.
Mileage: 26,000
AFTER 55K MILES, MY CAR HAD A WATERPUMP LEAK THAT SEEMS COMMON IN THE FORUMS I ATTEND.
Mileage: 55,168
48K ON THE CAR, AND I WAS INFORMED OF THE LEAKING THERMOSTAT HOUSING THAT IS APPARENTLY KNOWN FOR GOING ON THIS CAR AS A DEFECTIVE PART: VW DID NOT TELL ME! I WAS INFORMED BY MY TECH WHO FORTUNATELY DISCOVERED THE ISSUE 1500 MILES BEFORE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. VW SHOULD NOT CHARGE FOR THIS REPLACEMENT...
Mileage: 48,417
2017 VW GTI 4 DOOR. SE TRIM. A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER REACHING 40K MILES, AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL BLOCKS AND MAKING IT ONTO A MAIN ROAD, THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WHILE IN MOTION AT ABOUT 20-25MPH. THIS WAS AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE A VERY CLUNKY FEELING SHIFTING TRANSMISSION FOR A FEW DAYS LEADING...
Mileage: 40,150
I CAN HEAR LOUD WINNING NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR AT 35 MPH AND HIGHER. I THINK IT COULD BE WHEEL BEARINGS OR BAD ROTORS. I HAVE ABOUT 48000MILES ON THE CAR .
I FIND THAT MY COOLANT LEVEL SLOWING GOES DOWN AND I'VE HAD TO REFILL SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY. MAYBE 2 TIMES A YEAR SINCE I OWNED IT. NEVER HAD TO REPLACE COOLANT ON ANY OTHER CARS. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL CAUSE A BIGGER ISSUE DOWN THE LINE.
Mileage: 22,000
THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING ON THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A SIGNIFICANT LEAK, ALLOWING COOLANT TO DRIP ON THE ROADWAY AND ALSO ENDANGERING THE CAR'S ENGINE FROM OVERHEATING AND POSSIBLE POWER LOSS. THIS COULD OF COURSE CAUSE A SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACE AND COULD ALSO RESULT IN THE CAR LOSING POWER ON THE STREET C...
Mileage: 21,000
ENGINE IS LOSING COOLANT. STARTED AT ~50K MILES MARKED. COOLANT NEEDS TO BE TOPPED OFF. NOW THE CAR IS AT 71K MILES. LOW COOLANT TRIGGERED WARNING LIGHT AGAIN! COOLANT NEEDS TO BE TOPPED OFF. THERE APPEARS TO BE WHITE CRUSTY MARKED NEAR THE ENGINE OIL PAN AND SEEM TO BE COMING OFF FROM THE THERMOSTA...
Mileage: 50,000
THERMOSTAT HOUSING & ASSOCIATED SEALS ON THE CURRENT 1.8L AND 2.0L VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI EA888 GEN 3 ENGINE ARE PRONE TO FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT. THIS COULD AFFECT ANY VW/AUDI VEHICLE USING THE 1.8 OR 2.0L EA888 GEN 3 ENGINE. VW HAS A LONG HISTORY OF WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT HOUSING ISSUES AN...
Mileage: 25,000
MY WINDSHIELD HAS HEAVY PITTING AND SMALL CHIPPING AFTER JUST 50,000 MILES. LOOKING ONLINE IN THE VARIOUS VW FORUMS (VWVORTEX, MK7GOLF, ETC), I DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW NOW. THE GLASS IS THIN AND CHEAP. THE PITTING IS VERY VISIBLE WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN AND IS VISIBLE AT NIGH...
Mileage: 40,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL SPILLED ONTO THE GROUND WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE FUEL TANK. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO FILL UP THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL HAD DROPPED. THE CONTAC...
Mileage: 50,000
NUMEROUS CRACKS APPEARED IN THE SUNROOF FRAME OF THE 2017 VW GTI CAUSING LEAKING AND INSTABILITY OF PANORAMIC SUNROOF. VW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO PREVENT CRACKING IN PANORAMIC SUNROOFS. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN WAS PERFORMED WITHIN THE FIRST 1000 MILES AND NOT ONLY FAILED TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM,...
NOTICED BURNING COOLANT SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND THE CAR WAS STOPPED. COULD HEAR A SIZZLING NOISE WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE HOOD OPEN. THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS AT THE MINIMUM LINE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED A LEAKING THERMOSTAT HOUSING. D...
Mileage: 34,655
AT AROUND 28,000 MILES, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS NEAR FREEZING AND THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING OVERNIGHT, I NOTICED A ROTATIONAL SQUEAKING/CHIRPING NOISE WHEN THE INTERIOR FAN SPEED WAS ON THE LOWER SETTINGS. THE FREQUENCY WOULD CHANGE WHEN THE FAN SPEED CHANGED. THE ISSUE GOT WORSE WHEN MAKING...
Mileage: 28,000
THE "COMBI" VALVE ON MY GTI STAYS STUCK OPEN CAUSING MORE EXHAUST GASES TO FLOW THROUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AS A RESULT NMY CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER REPLACING TO COMBI VALVE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN
Mileage: 20,000
I WAS DRIVING MY 2017 GTI ON A CITY STREET IN RENTON, WA, AT 35MPH HEADING EAST ON S 180TH STREET. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD NEAR ME. AS I AM DRIVING, I HEAR A LOUD BANG AND LOOK UP TO SEE MY SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHATTERED. AS THE SUNROOF SHATTERED, SMALL PIECES OF GLASS CONTINUED TO FA...
Mileage: 20,000
THERE IS A PIECE OF RUBBER PROTRUDING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT BECAME ENTANGLED ON THE LACE OF MY RIGHT SHOE, AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE MY RIGHT FOOT TO BRAKE (THE FOOT WAS TRAPPED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL). I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO BRAKE USING MY LEFT FOOT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION A...
Mileage: 9,000
THE DRIVERS SIDE B-PILLAR IS NOT WELDED TOGETHER CORRECTLY AND CAUSES POPPING AND TAPPING SOUNDS AS VEHICLE FLEXES WITH MOVEMENT. VOLKSWAGEN REPLACED MY PREVIOUS 2016 GTI WITH SAME ISSUE. NO KNOWN CRASH TESTING HAS BEEN DONE ON VEHICLES WITH MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT APPEARS TO BE EXTREMELY WIDESPRE...
Mileage: 5,000
REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE STATIONARY UNDER A CAR PORT IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURE. BOUGHT THE CAR BAND NEW SATURDAY. OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW 0. SUNDAY (THE DAY AFTER BUYING THE CAR) THE REAR WINDOW WAS SHATTERED. CAR HAD A LITTLE OVER 200 MILES ON IT WHEN I PICKED IT UP FROM DEALER...
Mileage: 300