9 consumer complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Volkswagen GTI. Click any complaint to view the full owner description.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGJune 30, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLSWAGEN GTI. HE STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOSING SPEED TO 30 MPH AND THEN RE-GAIN NORMAL SPEED AFTER 10 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 118,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICAugust 29, 2008
ABS MODULE FAILURE. *TR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJune 22, 2005
CAR ALARM WOULD GO OFF WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE AND THE HORN WOULD GO OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, THE ALARM HORN ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES OF CONTINUOUS HONKING THE WIRES TO THE ALARM HORN STARTED TO MELT. I ATTEMPTED TO DISCONNECT THE POWER TO THE HORN AND WAS BURNED BY THE WIRES. EVENTUALLY THE HORN DIED BUT SMOKE CONTINUED TO POUR OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE COWLING.
Fire reported1 injury(ies)
NHTSA #10126236POWER TRAINMay 16, 2005
THE REVERSE GEAR IS VERY WEAK IN STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS.THE GEAR CHIPS THEN BREAKS OFF AND FALLS INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL CAUSING AN EXPLOSION OF THE HOUSING AND THE LOSS OF ALL THE GEAR FLUID. REPLACEMENT OF COMPLETE UNIT IS THEN NECESSARY. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TRANSMISSION IN 56000 MILES. LOCAL DEALERS JUST POINT FINGERS TO THE DRIVER OF THE CAR. I ALSO KNOW OF THREE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE MORE THAN A MERE COINCIDENCE. FURTHERMORE, ALL THESE INCIDENCES OCCUR ON VOLKSWAGEN GTI'S, JETTAS AND GULFS BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1993-1998. IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE DRIVER. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT SAFE NOR RELIABLE.
STRUCTUREMay 1, 2003
THE VEHICLES DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN THE CONSUMERS HAND. *NLM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITYDecember 2, 2001
ELECTICALCOMPONENTS KEEP GOING, NOW SUN ROOF WON'T CLOSE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMNovember 24, 1998
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE COMPUTER MODULE HAS FAILED TO OPERATE 8 TIMES. VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS THEN TOWED BECAUSE IT WILL NOT RESTART. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHEELSOctober 1, 1998
LUGS:NUTS:BOLTS, ONE ON EACH TIRE, CANNOT BE REMOVED. DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE EXTRA FOR A SPECIAL DRILL TO REMOVE LUGS NUTS AND BOLTS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THIS PROBLEM WAS PERTAINING TO LUGS: NUTS:BOLTS MANUFACTURER. (1-800/669-8788). *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGMarch 17, 1997
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN MOTION AND WHEN FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL. DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK