Representative 2014 model. Photo: Phil Guest from Bournemouth, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2013 Volkswagen GTI recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2013 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: 34
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 2013 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 component34

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

34Complaints filed

1Involving a crash

1Involving a fire

1Injuries reported · 1 death

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Engine	11	32	0	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	7	21	0	0	0
Power train	5	15	0	0	0
Air bags	4	12	1	0	1
Electrical system	3	9	0	1	0
Service brakes	2	6	0	0	0
Structure	2	6	0	1	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	2	6	0	1	0
Visibility	2	6	0	0	0
Unknown or other	1	3	0	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	1	3	0	0	0
Tires	1	3	0	0	0
Visibility/wiper	1	3	0	0	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

Power train
“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.”
Filed 04/22/2025 · ODI 11656161
Engine
“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.”
Filed 03/01/2021 · ODI 11398578
Service brakes
“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.”
Filed 12/04/2020 · ODI 11377947

Other Volkswagen GTI model years

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2013 Volkswagen GTI recall questions

How many recalls does the 2013 Volkswagen GTI have?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns for the 2013 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 2013 Volkswagen GTI?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 11 complaints out of 34 filed with NHTSA (32%). Across all complaints, owners reported 1 crash and 1 fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2013 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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