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2001 Volkswagen GTI Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Volkswagen GTI, most often about the electrical (28% of complaints, typically around 47,500 miles). It is 6th of 25 GTI model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2001 Volkswagen GTI problems
Electrical
21 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 47,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, horn.
While driving the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of acceleration. The dealer determined one of the ignition coils must be replaced. Please provide further details.
Ignition switch has failed three times. Failure of ignition switch prevents normal functioning of many electrical systems. This problem is a fire hazard. Overheating of the switch assembly melts plastic housing and damages insulation and conductor of wires connected to the switch. Problem only occurs when driving…
Air bags
19 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
I was rear ended in nov 2003. My car was pushed into the vehicle in front of me with enough force to signal the airbags to deploy. The airbag did not deploy. I did not find this out until after the accident when the airbag light came on and it was at the dealer for repair. The dealer told me that the signal had gotten…
Car was fine at night when parked. Airbag fault light came on in the morning, and will not turn off. Already as happened before and had airbag replaced. As happened again less than two years later. Will keep parts replaced this time.
Visibility and wipers
10 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 32,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
While driving vehicle's heater core failed. As a result vehicle was hesitant to stalling, then the check engine light came on and vehicle started loosing power. There's a recall for the heater core 92v05000 but VIN # is outside the remedy scope, because a different type of heater core was used, per the manufacturer.
Two months ago my passenger side window broke - it was the regulator (cost me $400 +), that got fixed and two weeks ago my driver side window broke, I have not taken it to get fixed until I checked on recalls but I did not locate any. I am sure it is the regulator and will probable cost another $400. Have any others…
Engine
6 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
My blinkers stopped working in august 2002. Dealer repaired under warranty. January 2003 check engine light came on. Car off warranty; turbo cut off valve replaced and coolant temp sensor. Check engine light came on a couple weeks later. Took GTI to dealer again. Dealer replaced the fuel pump relay. Now, 3 days later…
Since car was bought in 2001 mil light has been coming on in raining conditions. Vw said it was the catalytic converter and replaced in at no charge in march of 2003. Since replacement light still comes on, and is now permanently on. When car is wet you can see sparks coming from the ignition coil. There are…
Lights
6 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: turn signal, brake lights, headlights.
My blinker lights don't work properly. When I put the turn signal they will blink a few time and then go off. I took it to my local vw dealer and a mechanic recommended that I replace all four turn signal lightbulb. I did and still have the same problem. Please have vw look into this as general motors just had a…
Premature brake switch failure: after 41k miles the brake switch started to fail and burned out my brake lights. A collegue saw that I was driving without brake lights and warned me. Volkswagen customer service had no recall in the computer even I know that the beetle has one going on and is using the same part. No…
Fuel system
5 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: delivery, fuel injection system.
My blinkers stopped working in august 2002. Dealer repaired under warranty. January 2003 check engine light came on. Car off warranty; turbo cut off valve replaced and coolant temp sensor. Check engine light came on a couple weeks later. Took GTI to dealer again. Dealer replaced the fuel pump relay. Now, 3 days later…
Certified pre owned vw golf glx vr6 2001, bought sept 2002 with 12k miles. Been in service at least 12 times for stalling, relay, clicking in dashboard, check engine light. 3 years still not fixed, and vw not able to find the problem. Car is not safe to drive as it tends to stall (not to a complete stop) but engine…
Transmission
5 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: clutch assembly, manual transmission, automatic transmission.
I want to report a manufacturing defect regarding the clutch on my 2001 Volkswagen GTI glx. The car has only 34,000 miles on it and the clutch needs to be replaced already. I have driven a standard transmission for nearly 9 years. Vw says the clutch needs to be replaced early due to wear and tear. Typically clutches…
When I passed 24000 miles, after having driven my car extremely carefully (2001 Volkswagen GTI gls 1.8t), the clutch began to slip to the point where the car was undriveable, and I had to buy a replacement clutch as well as the installation which cost around $700. I have spoken with several other vw owners (same…
Equipment
4 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: appliance.
I bought a Volkswagen GTI 1.8t in 2001. It had numerous failures on me. Ignition coil failure, window collapsed sudently, shift is stuck in parking, catalyst converter failure, rear brake pads worned out very fast while the front pad was like new. I am extremely disappointed in Volkswagen. Their customer service was…
Engine misfires on damp mornings creating sudden loss of acceleration and intermittent stall condition. Mil light may flash but doesn't remain lit after episode. Diagnosed as second coil failure in just 2 years totaling over $1,200 in repairs. This is the vr6 engine with a single coil unit - the "good" coil not…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Volkswagen GTI recalls
Lights: switch
Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on april 27, 2007, and will be conducted in several staggered mailings through september 21, 2007. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06v-183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the VIN number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Lights: switch
Risk: This may result in intermittent or inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hazard flasher switch/relay kit. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the hazard switch and flasher system function may degrade over time because of distortion and material transfer of the contacts of certain hazard switch relays which occurs due to substantially increased electrical current load from higher wattage turn signal bulbs.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Inadvertent side-airbag deployment
Summary
The subject vehicles are equipped with side-thorax and side-head curtain airbags to protect the front and rear outboard occupants in a side-impact crash.this investigation identified a total of 499 reports (482 owners reports and 17 warranty claims).the crash sensing system?s algorithm may recognize certain non-crash impacts (wheel, tire and undercarriage impacts) as deployable events.the 97 alleged injuries were minor in nature and consist of abrasions, bruises, ear ringing and headaches.there was no alleged loss of control crash as a result of side-airbag deployment.odi also obtained counts of alleged inadvertent side-airbag deployments from peer manufacturers.the data shows that the subje
Turn signal/hazard flasher failure
Summary
This investigation was opened on october 19, 2004, based on nine reports on 2000 through 2001 jetta and gti vehicles alleging that the turn signals and or hazard flashers fail to blink, or flash.some of the complainants reported that the lights would blink only a few times and then stop.several of the complainants reported that having the hazard flasher switch replaced repaired their vehicles.by letter of december 13, 2004, volkswagen notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall of 350,000 model year 2000 through 2002 jetta, golf and gti vehicles to repair the turn signal and hazard flasher system.vw reports 216 owner reports, 4 field reports and 4960 warranty claims on this popu
Questions about the 2001 Volkswagen GTI
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Volkswagen GTI?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (21 complaints, typically around 47,500 miles); air bags (19 complaints, typically around 61,000 miles); visibility and wipers (10 complaints, typically around 32,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Volkswagen GTI have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 20, 2007 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Volkswagen GTI?
- It is 6th of 25 GTI model years by number of complaints, with 74 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.