2007 Volkswagen GTI: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 77 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (49% of complaints); the 2006 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Sep 2007
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I hydroplaned and was t-boned on the passenger side. The only air bags that went off were the side curtains on the passenger side”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2023
“The front passenger airbag has been verified by a service centre to have some kind of issue, is a safety hazard and they confirmed other of the same type airbags have had faults as well (in their experience).”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2023
“The transmission shifter automatically puts the car in neutral and wont let the car move foward, its an electronic component that tells the transmission what gear the car is on.”Owner report · Power Train · Apr 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“Air bag failure for car, took to dealership and there is a tsb 69-11-01 for updating the seat occupant module j706 but faults would not clear so recommend replace j706 with seat ocvuonat sensor but volkswagen says the part is obsolete and they don't make it anymore and there are no after market module available! The airbag system is faulty and won't work with out this module and now no one can ride in the far!!”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2019
“Tl* the contact's son owned a 2007 volkswagen gti. While the contact's son was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle left the road and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver was fatally injured. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was towed to a storage lot where an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and found no failure. A police report was filed. Medical attention was not required. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2017
“The gears on the screen in my car start to flash, then I can't go over 30 mph nor can I go into reverse. I was driving on the road when it first happens.”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2016
“I was traveling at approximately 40 mph when another vehicle ran a stop sign. I t-boned the other vehicle. The front of my car impacted the front passenger fender and door of the other vehicle. I did not have time to apply the brake, only enough to let off of the gas pedal before the collision occurred. I was wearing my seat belt at the time of the accident. My vehicle was not drivable and sustained front end damage and engine compartment damage. My airbags did not deploy even though I was traveling at 40 mph. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2014
“While taking an on-ramp onto the highway my car got stuck in 2nd gear and would not upshift. I tried switching to manual mode but that did not work either. The prnds was flashing and I had to pull over and shut the vehicle off. It worked normal after that for a few miles. I filled up at a gas station and when leaving the car went into neutral and the prnds was flashing again. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2013
“While driving, the vehicle (auto transmission) appeared to have gone into neutral and the gears on display began flashing. Only stopping, shifting to park, and then back into gear would allow the car to engage gears again. 2007 vw gti w/ dsg transmission. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2013
“After starting from a stop light, car was fine, then went in to second gear, and car jerked as if it was shifted into neutral. Continued driving and this happened again, but each time, in a different gear. The second happening was just as described above, each after driving around for about more than a hour. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2013
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD A REQUIRED CAP INSTALLED WHICH DISABLES THE HEADLIGHT HORIZONTAL AIM AND SOME VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A CAP THAT DISABLES THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE LOW BEAM HORIZONTAL AIMING SCREW AND INSTALL ONE IF MISSING, AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF A CAP IN THE SOCKET OF THE VERTICAL AIMING SCREW AND IF PRESENT, THE CAP WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
How other years compare
Check your exact GTI by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2007 Volkswagen GTI reliable?
NHTSA has 77 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2007 Volkswagen GTI. The most complained-about area is power train (49% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2007 Volkswagen GTI problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 37,000 miles or less.
Does the 2007 Volkswagen GTI have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.