2013 Volkswagen GTI problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2013 Volkswagen GTI include 1 fatality report, 1 crashes and 1 fires across 34 filings.

34
Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
1
Injuries
88.8
Severity index

Severity index 88.8 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 88.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 11 complaints (32.4%)11 32%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 7 complaints (20.6%)7 21%Power TrainPower Train: 5 complaints (14.7%)5 15%Air BagsAir Bags: 4 complaints (11.8%)4 12%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 3 complaints (8.8%)3 9%Service BrakesService Brakes: 2 complaints (5.9%)2 6%StructureStructure: 2 complaints (5.9%)2 6%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2 complaints (5.9%)2 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE1132.4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM720.6%
POWER TRAIN514.7%
AIR BAGS411.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM38.8%
SERVICE BRAKES25.9%
STRUCTURE25.9%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)25.9%

Complaints filed per year

06112013: 22014: 62015: 32016: 12017: 52018: 112019: 12020: 32021: 12025: 11314151617181119202125
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20132
20146
20153
20161
20175
201811
20191
20203
20211
20251
Filings in 2020 to 2025 ran 0.3x those in 2017 to 2019 (5 against 17).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V32900016/05/2018UNKNOWN OR OTHERVolkswagen 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
15V48300004/08/2015AIR BAGS:FRONTALVolkswagen 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

Other Volkswagen GTI model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 2 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.