Avg. Price Paid:$11,747 - $12,092
Original MSRP: $22,220 - $27,665
MPG: 23 City / 32 Hwy
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Volkswagen GTI Recalls & Reliability

These scores and this review are from when the car was new.

Scorecard

Overall: 2007 Volkswagen GTI U.S. News Best Cars 8.6
Critics' Rating: 9.2
Performance: 8.6
Interior: 8.4
Safety: 9.1
Reliability:
How we calculate scores
Research analyzed for this review

Pros & Cons

  • Sporty and powerful performance, among the very best in its class
  • Versatile hatchback design on both 2- and 4-door models
  • Very well-regarded interior design and outstanding front sport seats
  • Competitive, comprehensive list of safety features and technology
  • Firm ride might be too "sporty" for some
  • Volkswagen reliability remains a concern

Research Other Years

Review Last Updated: 5/2/08

Recalls

There has been 1 safety recall issued from NHTSA.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSRecall Date: 09/17/2007
  • Consequence: INAPPROPRIATE, NON-STANDARD LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 07V442000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 340000
  • Summary: 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 IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
  • Notes: VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. Q8. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Reliability

Our reliability score is based on the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) rating or, if unavailable, the J.D. Power Predicted Reliability rating.

Dependability Ratings1 2007
Overall Dependability
Powertrain Dependability
Feature & Accessory Dependability
Body & Interior Dependability

1These scores come from consumer ratings of their vehicles after three years of ownership.

  • Key:
  • Among The Best
  • Better Than Most
  • About Average
  • The Rest

J.D. Power and Associates Power Circle Ratings do not include all information used to determine J.D. Power and Associates awards. See JDPower.com for more information on Power Circle Ratings. Your experience may vary.

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Warranty

Volkswagen provides basic warranty coverage for four years or 50,000 miles. The GTI also comes equipped with a limited powertrain warranty for five years or 60,000 miles.

Automobile Magazine notes that although Volkswagen's reliability is uncertain, "this GTI feels like it has more build quality than anything within miles of its price point. It exudes substance in ways that worthy, sometimes faster speed machines from the Far East -- the Subaru Impreza WRX, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and the Mazdaspeed 3, for instance -- just don't." MSN is dubious, reporting, "I just wish the test GTI's reliability was better. The car performed admirably until the last day, when the radiator fan suddenly stopped working in stop-and-go traffic on the freeway. With only 2,000 miles on it, the GTI had to be limped off on an exit ramp." Consumer Guide points out, "VW gets below-average customer-satisfaction scores for vehicle reliability and dealer service."

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