RecallRepo

2013 Volkswagen GTI Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2013 Volkswagen GTI has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 416,077 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18V329000 2018-05-16 252 affected
Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the…

Consequence

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

AIR BAGS 15V483000 2015-08-04 415,825 affected
Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable…

Consequence

A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed…

Complaints by component

ENGINE
11
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
7
POWER TRAIN
5
AIR BAGS
4
1crashes1injuries1deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
1fires
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
2
STRUCTURE:BODY
2
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
TIRES
1
Total complaints42

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Dsg automatic transmission started going into neutral at various speeds and driving conditions. It feels as though the clutch disengages momentarily, causing the vehicle to slow down and engine to rev. This is definitely not safe when trying to merge or drive on the highway. This is a know issue…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2025-04-21

“I'm on my way to work on the highway going uphill and the temperature red light starts flashing. I decided to slow down because the flashing light had me concerned. The temperature gauge stayed at normal position so I was able to bring it home. I waited awhile and then checked under the hood for…”

ENGINE · reported 2021-02-18

“I was driving at normal highway speeds and when I went to slow down for a red light my brakes were not engaging until my pedal was pushed well over half way down. This was a very serious issue. I started noticing that if I pumped my brake pedal, the brakes would become more effective, but the…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2020-11-18

“Sunroof spontaneously exploded on the highway.”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2020-09-04

“Intake manifold was replaced under warranty in 2015. In late 2019 the vehicle displayed a service engine warning which turned out to be the intake manifold again. Out of warranty the service cost me in excess of $1000. I see the warranty was extended on older years for the same exact reason but…”

ENGINE · reported 2019-11-01

“Without warning the vehicle puts itself into neutral was told nothing can be done unless it's able to be diagnosed or replicated this is a known issue on earlier models that resulted in an extended warranty due to the safety concerns. Did contact dealer and voa”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2019-04-13

“Car was driven in a neighborhood. First noticed some smoke coming out of the hood, stopped the car, more and more smoke came out and couldn't even see anything if anyone were to be in the car. Notice some fire start to appear at the bottom of the car, called 911. The entire hood was on fire by the…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2018-11-10

“Car was driven in a neighborhood. First noticed some smoke coming out of the hood, stopped the car, more and more smoke came out and couldn't even see anything if anyone were to be in the car. Notice some fire start to appear at the bottom of the car, called 911. The entire hood was on fire by the…”

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · reported 2018-11-10

Defect investigations

Investigation EA18003 Opened 2018-04-18 · open

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure…

Investigation EA18003 Opened 2018-04-18 · open

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure…

Investigation EA18003 Opened 2018-04-18 · open

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure…

Investigation PE15010 Opened 2015-03-24 · closed 2015-09-28

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a…

Investigation PE15010 Opened 2015-03-24 · closed 2015-09-28

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a…

Investigation PE15010 Opened 2015-03-24 · closed 2015-09-28

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a…

Investigation RQ17009 Opened 2017-11-13 · closed 2018-05-04

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure…

Investigation RQ17009 Opened 2017-11-13 · closed 2018-05-04

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2013 Volkswagen GTI as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.