2017 VOLKSWAGEN GTI Fuel/propulsion System Problems

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 Risk: The failure caused pressurized gasoline to spray within the engine compartment, presenting a serious fire and explosion hazard. This defect posed a danger to the driver, passengers, and others nearby due to potential ignition of leaked fuel. Reproduction and Inspection: The condition was reproduced and confirmed by both an independent authorized Volkswagen mechanic and a Volkswagen dealership in Honolulu. The issue has not yet been inspected by Volkswagen of America, insurance representatives, or police authorities. Warning Signs or Prior Symptoms: A strong smell of gasoline inside the passenger cabin was present prior to discovery of the leak. No dashboard warning lights or error messages appeared. Summary: Fuel pump failure caused gasoline to spray under pressure. The problem was verified by an authorized VW mechanic and dealership in Honolulu, HI. The defective component remains available for inspection. Immediate safety risk due to potential ignition of fuel vapors.

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 potential for fire or explosion from fuel leakage. This is the second time my vehicle has experienced gasoline leaking from this same area. The issue appears to originate from a component in or near the fuel system (potentially the fuel line, rollover valve, or suction jet pump assembly), but the specific part has not yet been confirmed. The vehicle is currently at Honolulu Volkswagen for inspection, and the affected components are available for review upon request. At this time, no warning lights, dashboard messages, or prior symptoms appeared before the leak occurred. The odor of gasoline was the first sign of the issue. I believe this recurring fuel leak presents a significant fire hazard and warrants further investigation by Volkswagen and NHTSA.

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 it now.

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 the dealer to get it fixed and they gave me back the vehicle on December 19th. On [XXX] I put gas on the vehicle and it started to leak fuel again and this time it was way worse than before. I accuse the dealer of being responsible of performing a bad job on the recall as the vehicle had never leaked fuel before I had the recall done. I have the vehicle since February 2024. It worries me that there is a big possibility that the car can catch on fire if by any reason there is a spark near to me or there is any thing that can trigger the fuel to ignite. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6

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 ISSUES SEEMS TO BE COMMON IN THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL. I NOTICED IT BY SMELL AT FIRST, BUT DIDN'T INVESTIGATE UNTIL I NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN MY FUEL LEVEL OVERNIGHT, WHILE PARKED. ONCE I BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE I NOTICED A FUEL LEAK NEAR THE FUELING DOOR AT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

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

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

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 WELL. THE CAR HAS LEAKED FUEL ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS SINCE THEN. I'VE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT VOLKSWAGEN ADDRESSED IN SAFETY RECALL 20Y6. FAULTY ELEMENTS IN THE FUEL TANK ARE CAUSING GASOLINE TO PURGE INTO THE EVAP SYSTEM AND THEN LEAK THROUGH THE EVAP CANISTER, DOWN ONTO THE WHEEL WELL. VW APPARENTLY MADE A BUSINESS DECISION NOT TO INCLUDE 2017 GOLFS IN THAT RECALL, DESPITE BEING IDENTICAL CARS. A QUICK LOOK THROUGH THESE COMPLAINTS OR IN VARIOUS VOLKSWAGEN FORUMS WILL SHOW THAT THIS ISSUE IS COMMON AND POPPING UP IN MORE AND MORE 2017 CARS AT AROUND 35K MILES.

Mileage: 35,000

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/SERVICE ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY IN DRIVE MODE, DID NOT HAVE REPLICATION OF THE GASOLINE LEAK. 7-6-2020: VW CALLED AND SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THEY DROVE IT, HAD IT IDLE, PUT IT ON A FLAT AND AN ANGLED SURFACE, LOOKED AT EVERYTHING WHILE IT WAS ON A LIFT.. SAW NOTHING. I WAS OUT OF TOWN SO I PICKED THE CAR UP ON 7-13-2020. 7-13-2020: PICKED UP CAR AND DROVE HALF A MILE TO GAS STATION TO FILL UP. CAR IMMEDIATELY WOULD NOT ALLOW FUEL TO BE ADDED, POPPING THE GAS HANDLE LEVER EVERY HALF GALLON. I CALLED VW AND HE SAID TO TRY ANOTHER PUMP. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO CONTINUE CHECKING SO I DROVE THE CAR, IN DRIVE MODE, AND HAD NO PROBLEM. 7-15-2020: FINALLY HAD TIME TO TRY ANOTHER GAS PUMP, HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH CAR NOT ALLOWING GAS TO BE FILLED, POPPING GAS HANDLE LEVER AGAIN EVERY HALF GALLON. DECIDED TO TAKE IT BACK TO VW. BRIEFLY PUT THE CAR IN SPORT MODE AND FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS STARVED OF FUEL. HAD MY HUSBAND FOLLOW BEHIND ME TO VW. DECIDED TO PUT IT INTO SPORTS MODE ABOUT A MILE FROM VW AND HUSBAND CALLED ME WITHIN SECONDS TO TELL ME MY VW WAS LEAKING FUEL, VARYING FROM A STEADY DRIP TO STREAM. HALF A MILE UP THE ROAD I PULLED INTO VW SERVICE AND FUEL WAS LEGIT GUSHING OUT, CREATING A PUDDLE THE SIZE OF A SMALL BABY POOL, WERE THERE NOT A DRAIN FOR IT TO DRAIN INTO IN THE SERVICE GARAGE. CURRENTLY AWAITING WORD ABOUT DIAGNOSIS.

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 ADDRESSED THEM. NOW THE 2017 MODEL IS DOING THE SAME AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE ITEM UNDER WARRANTY. LEAVING THESE VEHICLE AT HIGH RISK OF CATCHING FIRE DUE TO FUEL BEING EXPELLED FROM THE TANK WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING.

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

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 PUDDLE OF GAS WAS ON MY DRIVEWAY (ABOUT ONE PINT OF LIQUID) - THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 2 DAYS WHEN THE PUDDLE APPEARED. NOTIFIED MY LOCAL VW DEALER AND SCHEDULED THE REPAIR. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WAS FILLED WITH FUEL - ASSUMING THAT I OVERFILLED THE TANK, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE HAPPENED. WHEN THE LEAK OCCURRED THE FUEL TANK WAS APPROXIMATELY 3/4 FULL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEAK DETECTION PUMP, N80 PURGE VALVE, AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS 55,578 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE OWNED IT JUST LESS THAN 3 YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 55,578

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 CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT FUEL SPILLED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK WHILE DRIVING AND THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000