10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,553 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Volkswagen GTI drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2010 Volkswagen GTI Owner Comments

problem #9

Jan 222021

GTI

  • 20,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My vehicle will automatically go from being in drive to acting like its in neutral. And will not move or go anywhere. And this all happenened when I was in dr9ve drving down the road.

- La Conner, WA, USA

problem #8

Feb 032021

GTI

  • 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Gti. The contact stated that while her son was driving 25 mph, the gear shift warning indicator was flashing. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed about NHTSA campaign number: 09V333000 (power train) however, the VIN was not included. The contact called cox Chevrolet incorporated (2900 cortez rd w, bradenton, fl 34207, (941)348-6417) however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

problem #7

Oct 152020

GTI

  • 74,000 miles
The vehicle I purchased was under used dealer warranty engine and transmission I went ahead and did almost $4000 in repairs to this car to make it drive somewhat normal from the original jerky start from after purchase (no it did not drive like this when I test drove) I attempted to get a new transmission because VW recommended this to remedy the issue but when I tried to contact the dealer he told me that I should stop beating on it I have come across a lot of research showing there is an open recall on this car for the sudden shifts and bucking I already had the intake manifold repaired by VW but I need help getting the transmission recall that went unnoticed by Volkswagen its a real problem in this year and marque

- Merrick, NY, USA

problem #6

Feb 202019

GTI

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Rear main seal fails under 60K miles happen to a lot of 2.0T engines. Volkswagen should provide extended warranty

- Fresh Meadows, NY, USA

problem #5

Sep 042018

GTI

  • 123,000 miles
Traveling at 45 mph down a two way highway, I went to pass a slow moving vehicle when the epc turned on once again.I lost power and tried to return back into my lane the vehicle in front spiked on the brakes, I tried stopping but due to the ABS module going bad (VW knows about the problems with them) I had no ABS, traction control, or airbags. The brakes locked causing me to go off the road way hitting a berm along with a tree causing my vehicle to flip over onto the roof. Upon impact the airbag system did not activate causing minor injuries. I contacted the Volkswagen manufacture to inform them of the problems with the vehicle some time ago, they told me that there was not recall and that they were not going to do anything about the problems. There has been a service bulletin about the epc with a recommend fix. The six gold pins were put in to replace the original ones which worked for some time but failed again. Thankfully I did not have my two very small children with me.

- Summerville, SC, USA

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problem #4

Jun 052018

GTI

  • 66,000 miles
Water pump failure, two failures in 8 years, the second failure with 20,000 miles on the pump. It failed while I was driving and car began to overheat.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #3

Jul 222016

GTI

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Dsg transmission mechatronics unit failed at 70,000 miles July 2016. Transmission goes into limp mode...won't go into reverse and jumps down to and remains in first gear when in D. all service done on schedule. Mfr refuses to cover replacement of unit due to limited warranty.

- Salem, OR, USA

problem #2

May 052015

GTI

  • 81,979 miles
The car sputtered, shook, and made an awful sound similar to a ton of marbles in a drier machine. The timing chain went at roughly 82,000 miles. According to VW literature they stated that the reason they went back to a timing chain is that it is a lifetime, nonserviceable part. The timing chain going on an interference type engine destroyed my engine to the order of almost $4000. VW did not want to assist with anything.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #1

Jul 102013

GTI

  • 38,000 miles
The first incident that I had was starting with the car making weird noises that were coming from the engine/transmission when the car would start. It is hard to explain the noise, but it sounded like something was winding up. I took the car to dealership. They weren't able to establish what was wrong with the car. Check engine light didn't come on, and car did not reproduce the same noise when I took it to the dealership. I was told that they couldn't see anything wrong with the car. 09/05/2013, more noise, and this time was followed by hard downshifts, and hard bucking. Every time the car would accelerate, or if you were coming to the stop, it would shift hard, car would buck. I was told that the dsg mechatronic unit has failed. Transmission replaced 04/09/2014 my wife was driving the car. Speed 45 to 50 mph. She noticed that the car wasn't able to accelerate. Engine was revving up, but car wouldn't go. Pulled over on the shoulder, before someone rear ended her. She looked at the dash board, and she noticed that "D" was flashing. She took the car to dealer to see what is going on. I was told that a power supply relay was the cause of this problem, and it wasn't covered by the power train warranty. Part # 4H0-951-253-a relay car was picked up on 04/24/2014 05/08/2014 I stopped at the red light, was going to make a right turn, but the car wouldn't want to accelerate. It felt like it was in neutral. Engine was revving, but car wouldn't move. I looked at the dash board, and "D" light was flashing. I pulled onto the side of the road, so I don't get rear ended. I tried to select the neutral gear, "N" was flashing. Each gear position that I selected was flashing. I drove the car back to dealer, and told them what have happened. Car is currently at the dealer.

- Kirkland, WA, USA

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