Model year record

2008 Volkswagen GTI recalls & problems

The 2008 Volkswagen GTI has 1 safety recall and 67 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (43 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints67filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingSep 24, 2007

Headlights

Recall 07V442000340,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.
Risk: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2008 Volkswagen GTI 2-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2008 Volkswagen GTI 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

GTI

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,300/year to fuel

GTI

24mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	43	1	0	15,500 mi
Exterior lighting	7	0	0	2,115 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	4	0	0	75,000 mi
Engine	4	0	0	106,220 mi
Air bagsFrontal	3	2	2	42,000 mi
Tires	3	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Other fuel types › Turbo/supercharger	3	0	0	—
Seat belts	2	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasoline	2	0	0	—
Visibility	1	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0	—
Electrical system	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electronic stability control (esc)
THE RPMS ONLY GO TO 4000 THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWN, ONE OF THE FANS DOES NOT WORK ....THERE ARE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE MASS AIR INTAKE FLOW ISSUES WITH THAT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF ISSUES. IT'S AFFECTED THE ELECTRICAL, SPEED CONTROL, AIRBAGS, VISIBILITY AND WIPER,LIGHTING, FUEL SYSTEM MASS AIR INTAKE SENSOR
Jan 1, 2020 · 10 miles
Engine
EA888 HAS A KNOWN TIMING CHAIN AND CHAIN TENSIONER ISSUE THAT CAUSES ENGINE FAILURE.
Mar 12, 2018 · 77,878 miles
Unknown or other
THE CAR JERKS OUT WHEN U ACCELERATE. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S IN MANUAL WHEN TAKING OFF.
Jul 9, 2018 · 164,956 miles
Engine
2.0 T USE OF EXCESSIVE OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES
Aug 1, 2017 · 128,500 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
CAR LOSS POWER HAD TO BE TOWED TO VOLTSWAGON LATER THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED CAUSING A LOST OF POWER WHILE ON THE ON RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE DONE TO THE MOTOR FROM THE INTERNAL METAL FRAGMENTS FROM WHERE THE PUMP WORKS WITH THE CAM SHAFT AND THE METAL FELL INTO THE MOTOR. HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE REPLACE MENT MILEAGE 135000.
Jun 12, 2017 · 135,000 miles
Engine
RECENTLY I PREFORMED A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK ON MY VEHICLE AND AS SUGGESTED BY ALL MARK 5 GTI OWNERS I CHECKED THE CAM FOLLOWER. I FOUND THE CAM FOLLOWER COMPLETELY WORN THROUGH. I CONTACTED VW TO MAKE SURE I WAS UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HANDED OUT TO ALL 2006-2007 AND SOME 2008 OWNERS TO FIND OUT I WAS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. RIGHT NOW I HAVE A THE PIECE OFF MY OLD CAM FOLLOWER SOMEWHERE IN MY ENGINE AND VW REFUSES TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE DUE TO THEIR NEW IMPROVED MODEL APPARENTLY THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. VW KNOWS THAT THE CAM FOLLOWER IS FAULTY BUT REFUSES TO SERVICE MANY OTHER 2008 OWNERS SUCH AS MYSELF. RIGHT NOW IT FEELS LIKE MY CAR IS A TICKING TIME BOMB…
Nov 15, 2016 · 84,440 miles
Engine
THE CAM FOLLOWER HAS PREMATURELY WARN OUT CAUSING THE INTAKE CAMSHAFT TO WEAR PREMATURELY AS WELL, WHICH HAS IN TURN CAUSED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. THIS IS A LONG-TERM, DEGENERATIVE ISSUE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS FOR SOME 2006-2008 GTI'S BUT NOT MY VIN. THEIR WARRANTY EXTENSION WAS NOT BROAD ENOUGH AS THESE SAME PARTS HAVE FAILED IN MY CAR.
Aug 15, 2016 · 128,000 miles
Electrical system
I'VE RECENTLY HAD FREQUENT HEADLIGHT BULB FAILURES AND OTHER HEADLIGHT RELATED ISSUES DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR. PRIOR TO INSTALLING ANOTHER EXPENSIVE NEW BULB I DID SOME INVESTIGATION INTO THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING AND I WAS COMPLETELY STUNNED AND CONCERNED AT WHAT I FOUND. THE WIRING INSULATION/COVERING IS MISSING ON THE MAJORITY OF THE WIRES. ESPECIALLY AT THE MAIN CONNECTOR WHERE THE COVERING ON ALL WIRES IS MISSING. THE MAJORITY, APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE WIRES ARE BARE. ANY WIRE INSULATION REMAINING IS CRACKED AND FRAIL. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLES WIRING AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS ISSUE…
Mar 29, 2016 · 103,257 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

VEHICLE STALL/LOSS MOTIVE POWERClosedLed to recall 09V333000
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) TRANSMISSIONS, WHICH FEATURE A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX WITH TWO WET RUNNING CLUTCHES (DUAL CLUTCH) IN WHICH THE CLUTCH MECHANISM AND GEAR CHANGES ARE ELECTROHYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BY A MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT.THE DSG MECHATRONIC CONTROLLER INCLUDES EXTENSIVE SELF DIAGNOSTIC FUNCTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION AND PREVENT SYSTEM/COMPONENT DAMAGE IN THE EVENT OF COMPONENT FAILURES OR HARSH OPERATING CONDITIONS.THE BASIC HIERARCHY OF FAULT MODES INCLUDES SOME THAT ONLY RESULT IN THE STORAGE OF A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) AND CAUSE NO LOSS OF FUNCTION, SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND REDUCE VEHICLE OPERATION TO A LIMP HOME MODE, AND SOME THAT STORE A DTC AND CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER (I.E., OPEN CLUTCH).THE DRIVER IS ALERTED TO THE LATTER TWO MODES BY THE DASH GEAR POSITION INDICATOR (PRNDS)…
PE09035 · opened Jul 17, 2009 · closed Nov 19, 2009