2005 Volkswagen GTI
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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These records cover every 2005 Volkswagen GTI. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 2005 Volkswagen GTI. Newest first.
On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Risk and remedy
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.
Remedy
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.
Owner complaints
8 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system · Power train · Unknown or other
problem unknown, but I was driving at 40mph in 4th gear when my rpm’s dropped to zero and my battery light came on and I had a total loss of power and was unable to accelerate, when I pulled over and stepped on the gas pedal it did not rev and rpm’s stayed at zero. This was very dangerous. This…
problem unknown, but I was driving at 40mph in 4th gear when my rpm’s dropped to zero and my battery light came on and I had a total loss of power and was unable to accelerate, when I pulled over and stepped on the gas pedal it did not rev and rpm’s stayed at zero. This was very dangerous. This happened again a couple weeks later driving in second gear when the same thing happened. The only thing I could do was pull over and restart my car and everything seemed functional again after restarting. I took it to an auto shop where they said it was my throttle body and cleaned it out but a week later while sitting in my car with the radio and air conditioning on my car does the same thing where the rpm’s drop to zero and battery light comes on, engine is still running, ac stops blowing cold, radio flashes off and back on and unable to apply gas as it would do nothing. I had to restart the car to regain function. The last time this happened I was stopped at a red light and again the Rpm’s drop to zero and battery light comes but the engine is still running, I have to quickly restart the car again as it seems the only way to reset it. This is just ridiculous and absolutely dangerous, how can a car just suddenly decide to lose all power to the gas pedal. If I was on the freeway or traffic I could cause a huge accident because of this issue. This needs to be fixed asap.
- Structure › Body
Hood latch doesn't line up and subsequently hood latch failed at 40 m.p.h. Hood then immediately flew up, hitting front window, cracking it and blocking vision. Hood was destroyed, almost crashed into oncoming traffic, and it completely knocked sunroof off of it's tracks. After researching online, this IS a common problem. The hood latches are defective from factory.
- Structure
I have a significant water leak in passenger side of hatchback interior, presumably related to rear sunroof drain recall. did not receive any recall notice from VW in regards to the sunroof drain complaints, and just discovered the "water ingress settlement vin lookup." my vin was included, yet…
I have a significant water leak in passenger side of hatchback interior, presumably related to rear sunroof drain recall. did not receive any recall notice from VW in regards to the sunroof drain complaints, and just discovered the "water ingress settlement vin lookup." my vin was included, yet the recall date passed on 12/31/2011. I am unsatisfied that given the seriousness of the leak, and resulting damage to the interior of my vehicle, VW did not contact me for inspection/repairs. according to VW, my vehicle currently has no open recalls. however, this water leak renders my vehicle unusable during inclement weather, fogging up every window surface to the point my view IS completely obstructed. *tr
- Steering
The hydraulically assisted steering rack on my car blew its seal(s) after 3 years and 14K miles. This IS the second rack to fail on my car in 38K miles. The original was replaced under factory warranty at 23K miles, the second failure IS being denied a claim due to out of warranty status. *Tr
- Electrical system
My cars electronics would shut off while driving, a few times the car completely stalled while I was driving. The alternator the volkswagen puts on the automatic gtis are too small to power everything in the car. They put a 90amp on the car, when it needs something bigger, auto part stores sell a…
My cars electronics would shut off while driving, a few times the car completely stalled while I was driving. The alternator the volkswagen puts on the automatic gtis are too small to power everything in the car. They put a 90amp on the car, when it needs something bigger, auto part stores sell a 120 amp. I brought my car to the VW dealership I bought it from, and the guy that sold me the car told me "there IS no one here that cares about your problem" so I went home and called VW national office, they took all my information and said they would look into it. During the time they were looking into the problem my battery wouldn't stayed charged, so I bought the 120 amp alternator and a new battery and just replaced them myself. I agree with the other person that complained about this, only happens when it gets really hott outside and you have to run your ac at a higher speed. *Tr
- Power train › Manual transmission
My clutch failed prematurely because of a defective dual mass flywheel. VW maintains that clutch failed as a result of poor driving skills. Dual mass flywheel in this vehicle collects too much oil and silicone due to poor product design. This buildup causes the clutch to overheat and prematurely…
My clutch failed prematurely because of a defective dual mass flywheel. VW maintains that clutch failed as a result of poor driving skills. Dual mass flywheel in this vehicle collects too much oil and silicone due to poor product design. This buildup causes the clutch to overheat and prematurely wear. VW refuses to replace flywheel and clutch, which they state IS not covered by the warranty. The flywheel should be replaced under warranty because of its faulty design, and the clutch should be replaced as a result of the poorly made flywheel. *Tr
- Air bags · Equipment · Seats
On 11/6/07 I had to bring my 2005 VW GTI to an auto body shop for repairs. My car IS still not repaired because volkswagen has not provided the parts needed. a headlined and passenger side seat cover and air bag. Can you help me? *tr
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
I bought a new volkswagen GTI in '02. Every six days when the temperature went over 85 degrees, the car died and left me stranded. This also happened in moving traffic, and I lost throttle, steering, transmission, and braking ability. VW replaced the car two months later. the same problems…
I bought a new volkswagen GTI in '02. Every six days when the temperature went over 85 degrees, the car died and left me stranded. This also happened in moving traffic, and I lost throttle, steering, transmission, and braking ability. VW replaced the car two months later. the same problems occurred. Every electrical system in the car then began to fail. After two months of research and analysis, since I am a retired federal engineer, I noticed that the factory was putting 90 amp alternators in the automatic transmission cars, and when it got hot, and the cooling fans came on, the alternator could not supply enough power to the battery, which discharged over a 5 or 6 day interval, then stranded people. I reported this to volkswagen of america. they thanked me for solving a problem their engineers had been unable to fix. I was horrified, when I got a 2005 GTI, to again find myself stranded on the road, helpless, when it got hot. sure enough, there was a 90 amp alternator in that car, not the required 120 amp. this was 3 years after they acknowledged they had a problem. I was then told that this was not a factory error, but a deliberate decision by VW to save money by using the cheaper alternator. they have stranded totally disabled people like myself, and families, for the past 3 years, to save a few dollars. I was told by VW that when the owner gets stranded, the correct alternator IS then put in the vehicle. by then, the electronics have been fried, as has happened with my new car. I ask the government to step in, and order VW to recall all 2002-2005 VW gtis with automatic transmissions, and to replace my vehicle, which has failed 4 times so far, with a vehicle with the proper alternator in it. *jb
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10253215Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10253214Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10253213Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10252942Damage to Data Link Connector (DLC) from Aftermarket Devices (Cannot Communicate with Vehicle OBD System)
- 10252220All Vehicles with Bluetooth Phone Kit Installed ? Streaming Audio from Phone to Radio
- 10243065VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10243034VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10243011VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242996VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242400VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242399VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242381VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242375VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242372VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242358VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10241749Quick Reference Update Guide
- 10241345Electric Coolant Fans Continue to Run after Ignition is Switched OFF
- 10241344Electric Coolant Fans Continue to Run after Ignition is OFF
- 10241342Electric Coolant Fans Continue to Run after Ignition is OFF
- 10241340Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standard VW 502 00/505 00/505 01 and VW 504 00/507 00
- 10241339Oil Consumption Measurement
- 10241335Oil Consumption Measurement
- 10241333Oil Consumption Measurement
- 10241311Gasoline Quality
- 10241310Software Version Management
- 10241266Squeaks, Rattles, Noise, Repair Materials
- 10241265Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
- 10241177Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
- 10239831Battery, Testing and Charging Using Midtronics VAS6161, MCR340V, InCharge 940, or GRX3000 Charger
- 10239789To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open in the grid line. The check must be performed with the engine running and heated rear window switched on. Switch OFF the ignition and visually locate the damage. Proceed with checking any other lines as necessary. Once the damaged line is identified, repair utilizing the Repair kit by Permatex ITEM 09117.
- 10239592Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239591Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239590Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239541Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the Refrigerant Circuit (U.S.Only)
- 10239534HVAC, Unpleasant Odor
- 10239533HVAC, Unpleasant Odor
- 10239532HVAC, Unpleasant Odor
- 10239403If key blade is found to stick or bind when opening or closing, check position of roll pin that secures key blade to mechanism. If roll pin is sticking out on either side (as shown below), do not replace key. Instead, use appropriate sized punch and hammer to drive in the roll pin so that it is flush with edge of mechanism.
- 10239270Volkswagen Warranty Policies and Procedures ? April 2014
- 10239262In SAGA, the time units for the Volkswagen DoubleCheck labor operation were reduced in error from 50 time units to 30 time units during the system update posted on July 4th.
Every Volkswagen GTI model year
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