2011 Volkswagen GTI recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2011 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 2
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 55
Latest campaign: May 16, 2018

Recall summary by component2

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Unknown or other	1	May 16, 2018	18V329000
Air bags	1	Aug 4, 2015	15V483000

Safety recalls2

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

May 16, 2018Latest campaign


May 16, 201818V329000	Unknown or other If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V329000 What's wrong 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 affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 18V329000 · May 16, 2018
Aug 4, 201515V483000	Air bags: frontal 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. DetailsHide details for campaign 15V483000 What's wrong 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 that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag. Risk 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 free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Campaign NHTSA 15V483000 · Aug 4, 2015

May 16, 201818V329000

Unknown or other

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

DetailsHide details for campaign 18V329000

What's wrong: 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 affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Risk: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 18V329000 · May 16, 2018

Aug 4, 201515V483000

Air bags: frontal

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.

DetailsHide details for campaign 15V483000

What's wrong: 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 that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Risk: 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 free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign: NHTSA 15V483000 · Aug 4, 2015

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Volkswagen recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2011 Volkswagen GTI? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component55

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

55Complaints filed

0Involving a crash

1Involving a fire

0Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Fires
Engine	20	36	0
Power train	16	29	0
Electrical system	8	15	1
Unknown or other	5	9	0
Air bags	3	5	0
Fuel/propulsion system	3	5	0
Steering	2	4	0
Exterior lighting	2	4	0
Engine and engine cooling	1	2	0
Structure	1	2	0
Seat belts	1	2	0
Suspension	1	2	0
Service brakes	1	2	0
Visibility/wiper	1	2	0

An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Engine and engine cooling
“See attached document for complaint”
Filed 08/21/2026 · ODI 11758501
Electrical system
“The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen GTI. The contact stated that he lost the function of the steering wheel, horn, controls, and air bag. The air bag warning indicator light was illuminated.”
Filed 08/10/2022 · ODI 11478572
Unknown or other
“My horn had stopped working and I brought it to the dealership to get it diagnosed.”
Filed 07/15/2022 · ODI 11474199

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2011 Volkswagen GTI recall questions

How many recalls does the 2011 Volkswagen GTI have?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns for the 2011 Volkswagen GTI. The most recent, 18V329000 (reported May 16, 2018), concerns unknown or other. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2011 Volkswagen GTI?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 20 complaints out of 55 filed with NHTSA (36%). Across all complaints, owners reported 0 crashs and 1 fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2011 Volkswagen GTI?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Volkswagen recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Volkswagen dealer.

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