2019 Volkswagen GTI Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other GTI years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 179 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Volkswagen GTI. That is the most of any GTI model year in the database (31 years). The most reported problem area is engine (133 complaints, 74%), typically at around 400 miles. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 179owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2019 Volkswagen GTI problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 133 | 74% | 400 | “manual transmission” (18%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 62 | 35% | 470 | “clutch fully” (21%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 37 | 21% | 525 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 23 | 13% | 350 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 16 | 9% | 600 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 3% | 373 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 2% | 76 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 1% | 2,800 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 1% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 1% | 675 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2019 Volkswagen GTI recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
Risk: Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.
Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or AudiÂs customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module; steering:column locking:anti-theft device
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647) (RQ23007) — opened Dec 12, 2023, closed Jul 1, 2024, led to recall 24V110.
- Vehicle Stalling - Manual Transmission (DP19003) — opened Sep 3, 2019, closed Jun 30, 2020.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I own a vehicle built from two salvage vehicles: a 2019 VW Golf Sportwagen (VIN [XXX] - the body) and a 2019 VW GTI (VIN [XXX] - the engine, suspension, fuel tank/system, etc). The vehicle is registered and titled under the Sportwagen VIN. Safety Recall 20UF requires replacement of the suction jet…
While simply driving 75mph (speed limit during time of incident) on the highway, i heard a loud explosion sound and the sunroof had completely shattered and was blown upwards. Glass began and continued to fly off, creating a large hole, while trying to get to a stopping point. The was only very…
The front collision brake assist goes on when there is no obstacle. It has given me obstacle warnings before, but this time it slammed on the brakes and brought me to a stop. This "safety" feature is going to get me rear ended. I have not taken it to a dealer because internet search shows me it is…
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen GTI SE. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact lives in Hawaii. However, there are no Volkswagen dealers on the island. The contact was told by the manufacturer that the recall repairs would need…
Rough idle on start. RPM is not maintaining to keep the engine running. After a few try, it starts ok and drive off the parking lot, but the engine dies after about 10 seconds over 30mph. It feels like gasoline is not igniting corretly. Scanned Error Code P0171: System Too Lean Bank 1 P0190: Fuel…
Other Volkswagen GTI years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 GTI | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 GTI | 29 | 2 |
| 2023 GTI | 6 | 5 |
| 2022 GTI | 28 | 6 |
| 2021 GTI | 4 | 1 |
| 2020 GTI | 8 | 3 |
| 2019 | 179 | 4 |
| 2018 GTI | 17 | 3 |
| 2017 GTI | 52 | 2 |
| 2016 GTI | 66 | 4 |
| 2015 GTI | 97 | 6 |
| 2014 GTI | 10 | 1 |
| 2013 GTI | 34 | 2 |
| 2012 GTI | 40 | 2 |
| 2011 GTI | 55 | 2 |
| 2010 GTI | 53 | 1 |
| 2009 GTI | 167 | 2 |
| 2008 GTI | 67 | 1 |
| 2007 GTI | 77 | 1 |
| 2006 GTI | 43 | 2 |
| 2005 GTI | 8 | 1 |
| 2004 GTI | 7 | 1 |
| 2003 GTI | 53 | 1 |
| 2002 GTI | 124 | 2 |
| 2001 GTI | 74 | 2 |
| 2000 GTI | 45 | 3 |
| 1999 GTI | 8 | 2 |
| 1998 GTI | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 GTI | 10 | 0 |
| 1996 GTI | 9 | 1 |
| 1995 GTI | 18 | 2 |
See all Volkswagen GTI problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Volkswagen GTI?
Owners most often report engine, power train, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 133 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Volkswagen GTI?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2019 Volkswagen GTI a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other GTI model years, the 2019 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.