1.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
103,257 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Volkswagen GTI electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Volkswagen GTI Owner Comments

problem #1

Mar 292016

GTI

  • 103,257 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I've recently had frequent headlight bulb failures and other headlight related issues during my ownership of the car. Prior to installing another expensive new bulb I did some investigation into the wiring inside the headlight housing and I was completely stunned and concerned at what I found. The wiring insulation/covering is missing on the majority of the wires. Especially at the main connector where the covering on all wires is missing. The majority, approximately 80% of the wires are bare. Any wire insulation remaining is cracked and frail. I am concerned about the safety of this vehicles wiring and the potential for fire due to electrical shorts as well as the potential for this issue to cause other problems with the electrical circuit of the car. There is no routine maintenance as an owner that could have prevented this from happening. I contacted Volkswagen of America and I was told that due to the age and mileage (103,257) of the vehicle they couldn't do anything. I believe this to be an engineering failure to provide adequate insulation to the wiring in an environment prone to heat and should be subject to a formal inquiry of other vehicles of the same make and model. The headlight failure indicator on the dash came as I started the car and I verified the light was out. The wiring issue was found while the car was stationary during the replacement of the bulb.

- Merritt Island, FL, USA

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