IllustrationREAR CUP HOLDER (LOCATED ON THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS CENTER CONSOLE) IS BULKY. THIS IS A NUISANCE AND A DISTRACTION PARTICULARLY IF THERE IS A REAR PASSENGER WHO IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH WHILE I AM DRIVING. *NM
2006 Volkswagen Gti
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Gti years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
130–25K
925–50K
750–75K
575–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
40 reports with mileage · 3 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
3 reports1) THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ACCESS PLATE AT THE BASE OF BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SEAT TOWARDS THE DOORS. 2) WHEN I GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR, I KICK OFF THE PLASTIC ACCESS DOOR. 3) THIS IS MORE A NUISANCE, BUT NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED. I WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE THE DOOR AND HOPE IT FITS TIGHTER THAN THE ORI…
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1) THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ACCESS PLATE AT THE BASE OF BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SEAT TOWARDS THE DOORS. 2) WHEN I GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR, I KICK OFF THE PLASTIC ACCESS DOOR. 3) THIS IS MORE A NUISANCE, BUT NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED. I WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE THE DOOR AND HOPE IT FITS TIGHTER THAN THE ORIGINAL. *NM
IN MARCH 2006 I PURCHASED A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE SPEEDOMETER READS 10% FASTER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY. I HAVE VERIFIED THIS ERROR USING A GPS AND BY DRIVING A MEASURED MILE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE I MUST MENTALLY CORRECT THE SPEEDOMETER READING. THIS…
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IN MARCH 2006 I PURCHASED A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE SPEEDOMETER READS 10% FASTER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY. I HAVE VERIFIED THIS ERROR USING A GPS AND BY DRIVING A MEASURED MILE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE I MUST MENTALLY CORRECT THE SPEEDOMETER READING. THIS IS A DISTRACTION WHICH DIVERTS MY ATTENTION FROM THE TASK OF DRIVING. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE. BOTH THE DEALER AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA ACKNOWLEDGE THE ERROR, BUT CLAIM THAT THE ERROR IS WITHIN ACCEPTABLE TOLERANCE LIMITS. I DISAGREE. *JB
Official recalls
207V442000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Sep 24, 2007
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NONCOMPLIANCE CAN INHIBIT PROPER HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT FOR ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROPERLY AIMED HEADLAMPS COULD CAUSE REDUCED ROAD VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
07V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Feb 20, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.