2019 Volkswagen GTI: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 179 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (65% of complaints); the 2017 and 2018 and 2020 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall Feb 2024
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 179 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The front collision brake assist goes on when there is no obstacle. It has given me obstacle warnings before, but this time it slammed on the brakes and brought me to a stop. This "safety" feature is going to get me rear ended. I have not taken it to a dealer because internet search shows me it is a widespread problem for which there is no fix. I would like it permanently disabled.”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Jul 2025
“The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen GTI SE. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact lives in Hawaii. However, there are no Volkswagen dealers on the island. The contact was told by the manufacturer that the recall repairs would need to be done by a dealer. It was suggested that the vehicle be shipped to O'ahu at the contact's expense. The contact stated that the manufacturer did not offer any assistance when asked if a local independent mechanic could repair the vehicle. The contact had not experienced a failure.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Apr 2025
“Rough idle on start. RPM is not maintaining to keep the engine running. After a few try, it starts ok and drive off the parking lot, but the engine dies after about 10 seconds over 30mph. It feels like gasoline is not igniting corretly. Scanned Error Code P0171: System Too Lean Bank 1 P0190: Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor A Circuit Dealership can't replicate the issue and find the issue. Could be related to Fuel System Recall.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2024
Show 7 more owner reports
“There has been no incident. I am filing this complaint because I have been unable to get an expected date of repair from VW by calling VW.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · May 2024
“Vehicle stalls at low speeds. I have noticed my car stall when leaving a parking spot where I will get halfway out of the park, and then the rpm goes to 0 and I have to put it into park, turn the key, and after a longer than normal startup time, it goes.”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2021
“While driving on highway at approx. 75mph, my 2019 volkswagen gti se panoramic sunroof spontaneously exploded. I heard a very loud bang followed by shattered glass falling into the car. The entire sunroof had shattered and a very large hole (approx. 1' x 1.5' large) near the front of sunroof was present. I did not see anything hit the sunroof. Given the loud bang and the extent of damage to the sunroof, I find it difficult to believe a rock or some other object hit the sunroof.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2020
“As I slowed down coming to a stop sign, I put the car in neutral. When I came to a complete stop, the engine shut off as if it was an auto off/auto on feature. The engine did not turn back on automatically. This happened immediately after at the next stop light. A few days later, the same thing happened.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2020
“My gti has a manual transmission. It will occasionally stall while coming to a stop even though the clutch pedal is fully depressed. It has happened with the gear shift in reverse as well as in neutral, in either case the clutch pedal was fully depressed and it shouldn't be stalling in these circumstances.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2020
“Car stalls at low speeds, particularly coming to a stop. Happens with clutch in or in neutral. Has been happening since day 1 of ownership of brand new vehicle with 80 miles on odometer. Continues at 10 months of ownership with 6k miles on odo. The problem is intermittent. It did not occur for 6 months between december 2019 and june 2nd 2020. On june 3rd vw installed 24fd update. Upon driving the car home from the dealership, the car stalled 3 times. Twice at stoplights in 1st gear with clutch in. Once in neutral after I pulled into my driveway. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2020
“16000 miles. Check engine light on and off. Purge vale replaced, two weeks later leak detection pump failed and needs replacement. Volkswagen claims leak detection pump is on national back-order with unknown time of arrival.”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2020
Recalls - 4 campaigns
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
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 2019 Volkswagen GTI reliable?
NHTSA has 179 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2019 Volkswagen GTI. The most complained-about area is engine (65% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2019 Volkswagen GTI problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 3,000 miles or less.
Does the 2019 Volkswagen GTI have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems. 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.