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Volkswagen GTI 2001

The 2001 Volkswagen GTI has a 1.8 L engine. It gets 22 MPG combined (20 city, 26 highway), per the EPA. 2 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Compact Cars Front-wheel (FWD)
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Illustration of a typical sedan. Not a photo of the GTI.

Specs

Engine
1,800 cc
4
Cylinders4
TransmissionAutomatic · 4 speeds
DrivetrainFront-wheel (FWD)
Body styleCompact Cars

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Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
20 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Emissions
251 g/km
COâ‚‚

Recalls

2 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 07V063000 · 2007-02-20 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH 04V584000 · 2004-12-16 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

AIR BAGS 1 injured 2025-11-06 · NHTSA

Today is 11/05/2025 incident happened yesterday evening 11/04/2025 The driver airbag in the steering wheel auto deployed when I started the car I went to step out from my car while it was warming up and barley turning the steering wheel the airbag exploded with my arm still on the wheel hitting and fracturing my ulna …

AIR BAGS 2018-05-25 · NHTSA

THE CAR, A 2001 VW GTI 1.8T, WAS BEING DRIVEN AT LOW (RESIDENTIAL STREET -- 25 MPH OR LESS) SPEEDS AND MADE A RIGHT TURN. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL PROBABLY GRAZED THE CURB, OR POSSIBLY HIT A POTHOLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CAR LOST POWER, POSSIBLY DUE TO THE ENGINE STALLING (IT'S A…

AIR BAGS 2011-05-12 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN HE ABRUPTLY TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID A CRASH. THE CONTACT DROVER OVER A POTHOLE AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A MANUFACT…

AIR BAGS 2011-01-31 · NHTSA

2001 VW GTI PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INADVERTANTLY DEPLOYED. SIDE SEAT AIRBAG AND HEADLINER DEPLOYED. DASHBOARD AIRBAG DID NOT. NO ACCIDENT OCCURED. DEPLOYMENT WAS WHEN CAR WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, STRAIGHT ROAD, NO BUMPS, NO TURNS, NO POTHOLES, NO DEBRIS ON ROAD, NO IMPACT WITH ANYTHING. NO IDEA WHY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. …

SEATS Fire 2010-12-28 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATED FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH THE PASSENGERS JACKET. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NO LONGER UTILIZING THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION AND THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECUR…

TIRES 2010-06-19 · NHTSA

HAVE POTENZA G 019 GRID TIRES MADE BY BRIDGESTONE,,,AS THEY WEAR THEY KEEP GETTING LOUDER AN LOUDER,,,I HAVE DONE EVERY THING BY HERE TIRE BOOK,,,AND STILL THEY ARE LOUD,,,READ SOME OF THE REVIEWS ON TIRE RACK.COM ITS CRAZY. *TR

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2010-03-10 · NHTSA

THE COIL PACK FAILS, I HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE AND NO MATTER WHAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON IN NO TIME AT ALL AND IT'S COIL PACK FAILURE, WHICH ALSO TRIGGERS OTHER SENSORS LIKE THE COOLANT SENSOR WHICH I HAVE REPLACED AS WELL. I THINK THE LONGEST TIME MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF WAS 3 WEEKS! THIS CAR COSTS…

SEATS 1 injured 2010-03-10 · NHTSA

IN MY 2001 GTI GLX VR6 THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT, HEATS UP SO MUCH THAT IT BURNS MY LEGS, ACTUAL RED BURN MARKS! EVEN IF TURNED DOWN TO THE LOWEST SETTING THE SEAT WILL BURN ME. I KNOW IN MY FRIENDS 2002 JETTA THEY HAD THEIR HEATER IN THE SEAT REPLACED BY VW FOR THE SAME ISSUE FREE OF CHARGE. I HAVE BEEN TO VW A…

AIR BAGS,EQUIPMENT 2009-07-28 · NHTSA

I HAVE A 2001 VW GTI AND MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WRONGFULLY DEPLOYED. I RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE TO MY REAR RIM FROM A STREET CURB THAT CAUSED MY AIRBAGS TO WRONGFULLY DEPLOY. I WAS NOT IN A COLLISION, NOR IN SERIOUS DANGER, ALTHOUGH WHEN MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED I WAS FRIGHTENED AND VEERED TO MY LEFT LANE. LUCKILY NO ONE W…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,EQUIPMENT 2008-12-09 · NHTSA

I BOUGHT A PAIR OF AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHTS FROM A MEMBER ON EBAY FOR MY 2001 VW GTI. I BOUGHT THESE HEADLIGHTS FROM A SELLER . I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND FOGLIGHT (WHICH IS INCORPORATED INTO THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING) IS TURNED ON IT WILL CAUSE THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT TO MELT BEC…

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2008-05-14 · NHTSA

2001 VW GTI BOUGHT USED. AT 79,000 MILES HAD 80K SERVICE DONE AT DEALERSHIP WHICH INCLUDED CHECKING TIMING BELT. AT 82,000 TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. NEEDED TO REPLACE ENGINE COST ME $5300 IN WHICH VW WOULD NOT PAY FOR AS WARRANTY ONLY COVERS ORIGINAL OWNER. VW CLAIMS BELT IS SUPPOSED T…

SUSPENSION,TIRES Crash 1 injured 2008-04-13 · NHTSA

REVISED/UPDATE: ORIGINAL COMPLAINT 10222650 3-29-08. AS PER TIRE FORENSICS SPECIALIST RIGHT REAR TIRE HAS 2 NAIL PUNCTURES LIKELY PICKED UP ON THE FREEWAY, UNFORESEEN. HE SAID THAT DUE TO PUNCTURES,SLOW TO FAST PRESSURE CHANGES, THE TIRE HEATED UP, INNER SIDEWALL DE-VULCANIZED. SO MY TIRE FLATTENED, CAR LOST CONTROL…

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2001 Volkswagen GTI have?
The 2001 Volkswagen GTI has a 1.8 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2001 Volkswagen GTI?
It gets 22 MPG combined (20 city, 26 highway), per the EPA.
Does the 2001 Volkswagen GTI have recalls?
2 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Exterior Lighting (2007-02-20).
What are the common problems of the 2001 Volkswagen GTI?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Air Bags.

Other years

Other models by Volkswagen

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