2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2012

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI repairs by problem area

Engine (46%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (5%)

Brakes and Traction Control (2%)

Suspension and Steering (6%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (25%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (14%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 371 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI.

2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI repair cost distribution

$2500+ (1%)

$1000 - $2499 (4%)

$500 - $999 (13%)

$100 - $499 (32%)

< $100 (49%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 180 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Chile
Dec 2017 - Aug 2019
Feb 2018

32860 mi

$200
One of the four ignition coils went dead, the previous owner changed two of the originals at 45.000km and now i am replacing the other two at 53.000. This is a common problem for vw. I recommend that you do it outside the dealer because they charge way to much for a simple coil change. The car can be used for short trips or to get to the garage. 
Mar 2019

39060 mi

$300
Replaced the front shocks 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

Engine not specified

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Dec 2011 - Jan 2012
Jan 2012

US $44
With 200 miles on the vehicle, the water pump began making a loud whistling noise. It was determined to be faulty. Two front wheel center caps fell off during normal driving. Upon inspection of center caps, it was found that the clips that hold it into the wheel had snapped. Dealer claimed that they were not covered because they were a trim item. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New York, United States
Dec 2012 - Apr 2013
Mar 2013

3000 mi
something in the clutch is moving. something is loose. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ontario, Canada
Jan 2012 - Jun 2016
May 2014

38000 mi
Fault in right rear ABS sensor circuit; electrical issue: one wire inside harness had open circuit. Replaced ABS harness. 
Dec 2014

45260 mi
Engine light on; Exhaust flap sticking open and closed; replaced flap 
Feb 2015

46500 mi

C $600
Heater fan wouldn't start. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 105hp 1.6L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual AWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Finland
Jan 2012 - Dec 2014
Dec 2012

22940 mi

€150
Door handles do not work properly when minus centigrade, you need to pull the handle twice to get the door open. 
Oct 2013

39440 mi

€400
Door handles needed to be pulled twice Gas tank hatch always open 
Oct 2014

63240 mi

€700
Manual gear box, could not get in first gear. replaced the "gear guide"? 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 270hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual AWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Alberta, Canada
Feb 2012 - Apr 2014
Nov 2012

6180 mi
Leaking seal on rear drive differential "bevel box". Replaced seal and did alignment. 
Aug 2013

13640 mi
Bevel box seal leak. Rear drive connection to transmission leaking oil 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 256hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual AWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Oregon, United States
Jan 2012 - Apr 2015
Feb 2013

6500 mi
Front speaker had a bass rattle. It required replacement. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Apr 2012 - May 2014
Mar 2013

6000 mi
Got the error message "Keyless malfunction." Dealer replaced the "brain" that deals with the proximity key that allows keyless locking/unlocking and starting the car. Repair worked for a day. 
Nov 2013

10100 mi
Keyless entry system repaired by fixing wiring in driver's door. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Feb 2012 - Jun 2018
Jun 2012

2000 mi
replaced warped right front wheel well liner 
Sep 2013

15000 mi
updated software on RCD-510 entertainment system due to bugs when connecting with Bluetooth. 
Oct 2013

15500 mi

US $35
left rear bumper reflector cracked. Replaced with new part. Dealer claimed rock damage, but an odd location for this. Friend had same problem with his car. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Virginia, United States
Nov 2016 - Mar 2018
Aug 2017

71000 mi

US $800
Airbag sensor fail Sensor for front passenger side failure 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Alberta, Canada
Feb 2012 - Jun 2022
Dec 2012

11780 mi
Steering wheel functions (radio computer, nav, horn) stopped working. A clockspring wire had broken. 
Sep 2014

29140 mi

C $1365
Front differential was leaking. Repaired under warranty 
Apr 2016

41220 mi
Subframe bolts needed replacing. Symptom was creaking while driving and turning. Air flow sensor 
Feb 2018

63860 mi

C $200
[audio] System stopped working. Repaired 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Pennsylvania, United States
Mar 2012 - Jun 2016
Jun 2013

13000 mi
Loud whine indicating impending WP failure. replaced pump, timing belt. Replaced timing belt cover. 
Mar 2014

21000 mi
Crankcase breather replaced under warranty. 
Jun 2016

34000 mi
Left rear speaker not working. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Nova Scotia, Canada
Apr 2012 - Sep 2018
Aug 2013

1240 mi
Noise from driver's door when car is in motion. Found loose bolt on striker. Tightened bolt and adjusted door. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Virginia, United States
Mar 2012 - Sep 2012
Apr 2012

2000 mi
Sirius Satellite cutting in and out Keyless entry not functioning at proper distances 
May 2012

2300 mi
Rear windshield washer nozzle clogged. When used first time, line burst leaking into trunk Keyless entry not functioning at proper distances 
Jun 2012

4000 mi
Keyless entry not functioning at proper distances 
Sep 2012

4000 mi
Keyless entry not functioning at proper distances. Intermittent, but sometimes had to get within 2-3 feet. After five failed attempts, I asked that the car be replaced. VW did so with no hassle. VW took great care of me. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Jun 2012 - May 2014
Jun 2013

10000 mi
Water pump impeller came loose and ate through housing and engine timing belt. Very common for R's with build dates Feb-March 2012. 
Oct 2013

12300 mi
Battery died, dealer replaced it under warranty. Car is 18 months/12.6K miles old. Dealer said this is normal on German-built VW's. The US made ones fair better, battery-wise. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in British Columbia, Canada
Sep 2014 - Sep 2015
Sep 2014

16120 mi
In Tank low pressure transfer pump not supplying adequate fuel pressure to the cam driven direct injection fuel pump, resulting in fuel starvation and power loss during times of high engine load and speed. Pump replaced under warranty. 
Apr 2015

18700 mi
All major components of the fuel system replaced. Fuel tank, in tank low pressure fuel transfer pump, it's controller, fuel lines, engine driven direct injection pump, and all injectors. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Massachusetts, United States
May 2014 - Jun 2018
May 2014

31000 mi
Water pump leaking. Replaced under warranty 
Jun 2014

33000 mi
P2015 check engine light. Entire manifold replaced under warranty. 
Jul 2016

88000 mi

US $900
Misfires on cold start. Carbon mechanically cleaned from intake valves. 
Mar 2017

106000 mi

US $300
Intake manifold failed. Replaced under warranty. Carbon cleaned from intake valves at same time. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Aug 2011 - Sep 2017
Mar 2012

6000 mi
Front Turn Signal would not turn off. 
Mar 2013

16000 mi
Water Pump failure caused a slow but constant loss of fluid. Water pump replaced under warranty. Common GTI problem. 
Jun 2013

18000 mi
Rear Hatch would not close 
May 2014

27100 mi
Water pump leaking coolant. 2nd failure. 
Dec 2015

43000 mi

US $350
Carbon Buildup due to Direct Injection design. 
Jan 2016

27300 mi
Faulty HPFP (fuel pump). Common GTI problem. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Oklahoma, United States
Nov 2012 - Dec 2014
Jul 2013

32800 mi
Intake manifold was replaced due to a faulty sensor. 
Mar 2014

43000 mi

US $300
car was misfiring on cold start-up. I changed the plugs, coil packs and eventually the EGR valve. 
Jun 2014

51000 mi

US $55
Tie rod ends were squeaking and needed replacement. this was the second set needed! 
Jul 2014

51500 mi

US $100
Battery died needing replacement 
Sep 2014

54000 mi

US $600
High pressure fuel pump ffailed 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Massachusetts, United States
Feb 2014 - Dec 2018
Jul 2015

54000 mi

US $150
Rear wheel bearing became very noisy (driver's side). Replaced bearing/hub assembly. 
Apr 2017

82000 mi

US $40
Latch for rear tailgate broke- I replaced it. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Jul 2012 - Jul 2022
May 2013

7000 mi
Service Now warning came on ~3k miles prematurely, dealer reset it 
Aug 2013

7000 mi
Coolant leak from water pump, water pump replaced under warranty 
Jun 2014

13000 mi
The knob to adjust the outside mirrors broke off with normal use and was repaired under warranty 
Aug 2014

13200 mi
EPC warning light came on then turned off after a short time. Dealer viewed stored codes but couldn't diagnose specific issue, no repair needed. 
Dec 2014

14000 mi
Water pump failed for the second time (first at 9k miles). Replaced under warranty. 
Jan 2016

11700 mi
ECU updated per recall - fixed a malfunctioning warning light. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in British Columbia, Canada
Mar 2012 - Jun 2022
May 2012

4340 mi
Bluetooth module died. Dealer replaced under warranty 
Feb 2017

39060 mi

C $800
heck engine light one. Control manual had air valve stuck in open position. 3 hours labour to change $90 of parts. 
Dec 2017

45880 mi
Haven't attempted a fix. pushing it back in does not solve problem 
Oct 2020

74866 mi

C $820
High pressure fuel pump replacement. covered under warranty but as my car was tuned, the repair was not covered. 
Apr 2021

76260 mi

C $1500
intake manifold stuck in WOT ( 2nd time), also cleaned out valves 
Jun 2022

84320 mi

C $1200
A/C compressor was dead (and had been for 6 years) 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Minnesota, United States
Jul 2012 - Nov 2018
Feb 2014

18800 mi
Replaced camshaft adjuster unit because the inlet screen had popped out. Extreme cold weather (-25F) may have contributed. 
Jan 2015

19500 mi
Code 2015, intake flapper motor failed. Replaced intake assembly. 
May 2015

32500 mi
Car was losing power under turbo pressure and CEL came on. Dealer found that intake fitting downstream of the turbo was loose. Dealer tightened fitting. This is also just a few months after the dealer replaced the complete intake. 
Dec 2015

37000 mi
Replaced intake manifold. Car through a CEL (code 2015) on previous day though no adverse performance had been noticed. Dealer replaced intake at no charge because an extended warranty had been offered on this component by VW. 
May 2016

40000 mi
Intake manifold replaced again. Through CEL, engine hesitated occasionally, and couldn't achieve full throttle. 
Apr 2017

49000 mi

US $100
Check engine light flashing and EDC light on accompanied by very rough idle and loss of power. Cyl 1 coil was bad and replaced, cyl 3 has intermittent misfire but coil not replaced. Trip took about 2 hours. 
Nov 2018

66000 mi
Intake manifold replaced. Turbo seals also found with slight leak but not repaired at this time. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
May 2014 - Sep 2019
Aug 2014

50000 mi

US $10
Rear cargo cover/parcel shelf hinge pin broke off. Drilled out old pin, used a nut/bolt and nylon standoff to replace the pin. 
Dec 2014

55000 mi

US $257
Minor coolant leakage on LH lower corner of radiator (a few drops on the garage floor). Coolant level was still full. Replaced radiator and PZEV temperature/anti-tamper sensor. Refilled w/G12++ coolant and distilled water. 
Jun 2015

60000 mi
Windshield is delaminating at several places around the edges. Very unusual for a 3 year old car, typically not seen until 15+ years. Purely a cosmetic problem at this time. 
Mar 2016

68000 mi
Very light misfiring at idle for a long time. Now much worse after a cold start. Eventually set code P0303 misfire cylinder #3. Moved the #3 coil and spark plug to different cylinders to see if the misfire would move. Misfire stayed at #3. 
Jun 2016

70000 mi

US $328
Injected Seafoam Spray in the intake at high idle to clean carbon buildup that was causing misfires at idle and check engine light. Significant smoke after the process, so I repeated it again with a 2nd can. Moderate improvement, not 100%. Dealer found faulty intake manifold runner, code P2008. Covered by a warranty extension for this part. I had sharply lower fuel economy for months (a symptom of this) but the code never came up with my scantool. Intake manifold replaced. Dealer offered a manual carbon cleaning while the intake manifold was already removed. Cost was $328 since manifold removal was paid by VW due to the faulty intake runner. Normal price is $1100 for manual carbon cleaning at this dealer. 
Apr 2017

79000 mi
Electric coolant after-run pump is making a bearing-like rattling noise intermittently. Didn’t try to fix it; will listen to see if the noise gets louder or more consistent before replacing the pump. 
May 2017

82000 mi

US $5
Coolant was low and I can smell a coolant smell under the hood after driving the car. Unable to find any leaks or stains or other evidence of leakage. Since this time I have been keeping an eye on the coolant level and the loss rate is very low, probably less than 1 cup of coolant per year. 
Mar 2018

87025 mi

US $30
Car was misfiring. Code P0302, cylinder #2 misfire. Inspected cylinder #2 spark plug. Appearance was normal. Swapped cylinder #1 and cylinder #2 ignition coils. Misfire code moved to cylinder #1. Replaced the #1 ignition coil (formerly at cylinder #2). 
Apr 2019

94000 mi

US $10
Car had a coolant odor outside and in the engine compartment after driving, which has been going on for years. The coolant level drops extremely slowly and I couldn't find any visual evidence of leakage. Coolant was due to be changed anyway, so I added Bars Leaks sealant along with the new coolant. Seems to have fixed the problem; the odor has gone away. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Colorado, United States
Oct 2012 - Dec 2016
Nov 2013

15000 mi
Water pump leaks 
Jul 2014

22300 mi
water pump 2nd time 
Sep 2015

32000 mi
Ck engine light on, was a sensor on the radiator, emissions related to replace the sensor whole radiator was replaced. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Michigan, United States
Dec 2014 - Nov 2017
Nov 2015

60700 mi

US $2000
misfire at idle. we checked injectors, cleaned valves, checked ECU and it ended up being a deflector plate inside the valve cover that had been damaged but a quick lube shop. clunk on bumps, a bushing that only clunked when partially loaded. 
Mar 2016

65000 mi

US $900
replace shocks and 2 new tires 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Virginia, United States
Mar 2012 - May 2014
May 2013

21000 mi
The dashboard developed a bubble and had to be replaced. 
Jan 2014

17800 mi
CEL from bad sensor in intake. Very common issue on 2.0 TSI engine. 
May 2014

32000 mi
Rough idle. Dealership could not duplicate. Last straw decided to get rid of vehicle before warranty ends. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Jan 2015 - Feb 2019
Jan 2016

US $25
failed coil-pack, replaced by owner. 
Feb 2016

72000 mi
Faulty fuel injector replaced under warranty 
Sep 2017

90000 mi
timing chain replacement battery replaced new Throttle Body and alignment 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Pennsylvania, United States
Apr 2015 - Jun 2022
Apr 2015

61000 mi
Waterpump replaced under warranty 
Mar 2016

85000 mi

US $630
Began getting a CEL for Intake Manifold Flap errors. The Entire manifold was replaced under the TSB extended warranty. Rear Rotors were quite rusty 
Jan 2018

135000 mi
I started getting bulb failure notices on the MFI....11 of them! And the corresponding lights were in fact not working. Then all at once they began working again. After researching the fuse lay out I discovered the F16 (under the hood) had gotten so hot that the plastic had melted but the fuse itself did not burn out. It was only impeded by the melted plastic. I replaced the fuse and all seems well. 
Mar 2018

145000 mi

US $150
Began Getting Cylinder Misfire codes...changed Coils and Plugs but still getting codes......engine idles rough but runs fine under throttle.....fuel mileage is unaffected......suspect carbon build up 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Texas, United States
Sep 2012 - Jul 2015
Nov 2012

8500 mi
Roof bracket around sun roof was rattling and needed to be replaced. 
Jul 2015

27000 mi

US $100
Underbody shield came off and wire to oxygen sensor was exposed. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
May 2012 - Jun 2022
Feb 2014

23000 mi
Water pump seal connecting water pump to block failed. Replaced water pump and two sealing rings. 
Oct 2014

32200 mi
Water pump again 
Feb 2015

38000 mi
high pressure fuel pump failed 
Nov 2016

60200 mi

US $300
Cel on for bad intake manifold. Manifold replaced under factory 120,000 warranty on this part Paid 300.00 dollars for carbon cleaning of head intake ports and valves. Also had water pump replaced with VW updated part at no charge. 
Oct 2019

89000 mi
intake manifold replaced under factory extended warranty again. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Connecticut, United States
Aug 2013 - Dec 2015
Dec 2013

26000 mi
Leaking Oil when hot. Tightened loose oil pan plug from dealership. 
Oct 2014

36700 mi
Check Engine light and failure to start led to replacement of Intake Manifold. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New Jersey, United States
May 2012 - Dec 2017
Aug 2013

10500 mi
Water pump failed. Replaced under warranty. 
Sep 2016

53000 mi

US $550
Window regulator failed - DS front window 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New Jersey, United States
Apr 2012 - Aug 2015
Jul 2013

5300 mi
When turning wheels sharp to the right there was a noise coming from suspension. Dealer fixed it under warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New York, United States
Jan 2012 - Nov 2013
Jun 2013

20000 mi
Right rear window not functioning. A few days later it fell off the track again. I was able to still use it if I opened/closed it without using the auto function. 
Nov 2013

22000 mi
Loss of power and check engine lit on dashboard. Right rear window regulator replaced. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New York, United States
Dec 2011 - Jun 2016
Jan 2013

19200 mi
Returned for routine maintentance and I was informed of a programming update for climate control 
Mar 2014

22000 mi
The car was losing coolant without an apparent leak. The dealer determined that the leak was in the water pump and replaced that part. 
Sep 2014

27000 mi
The high pressure fuel pump failed and the engine was not making power 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Indiana, United States
Jul 2011 - Jun 2018
Feb 2014

18300 mi
Check engine light went due to condensation in the fuel line. The problem cleared itself but the check engine light still needed to be reset. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ohio, United States
May 2016 - Sep 2018
Dec 2017

82000 mi
code was for the intake manifold flap motor. Was covered by an extended warranty though VW. 
Sep 2018

96000 mi

US $134
Had multiple faults int he steering control module. When driving over bumpy roads the electric steering would drop out. I erased the faults on my own and tried to relearn the steering angle sensor it would not work. Put the car up and checked the connections on the rack for any corrosion, no corrosion found. Looked up the faults on alldata and found a tech bulletin on the exact faults. Took it to the dealer and had them do the programming update for the faults. Have not had the problem happen again. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Alberta, Canada
Sep 2011 - May 2018
Nov 2016

33140 mi
Clutch had squeal - repaired as per TSB. Flywheel still scorched though. 
Jun 2017

35960 mi

C $140
Failed start. Rough idle prior to kick-down. Bogging down on acceleration intermittently (will continue to occur until car shuts down and restarted on a 'good performance' start-up) 
May 2018

45880 mi

C $300
Loud compressor noise, increasing with load. Intermittent in nature. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New York, United States
Nov 2013 - Jul 2022
Aug 2015

24000 mi
Repacement water pump due to slow leak. This was rhe second time it was replaced for the same reason. Supposedly replaced by a newer version. Pads were worn out abd rotors were scored. Surprisingly the fronts were less worn than the rears. 
Jul 2022

51000 mi
Have engine light on due to P2015 Intake Manifold Flap Sensor code but are not experiencing any noticeable performance issues or noises. Seems that it could be covered under a 15yr/150K miles emissions warranty for my particular engine type and date of delivery. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Texas, United States
Mar 2013 - Mar 2013
Mar 2013

16000 mi
Coolant warning illuminated. Checked Temperatures over OBDII (normal) and drove to dealer to top up coolant. Water pump found leaking. Replaced under warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Aug 2012 - Dec 2015
Nov 2012

4500 mi
Front Passenger Seat-belt buckle rattles if the road is bumpy. Replaced under warranty. 
Feb 2014

13000 mi
Coolant Pump Leak. Repaired Under Warranty at Dealer. 
Oct 2014

16000 mi

US $230
Faulty battery did not hold a charge. Just outside of the two year warranty, had to replace with fully out of pocket spending. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Illinois, United States
Oct 2014 - Jul 2017
Dec 2015

87000 mi
Under their extended warentee, VW replaced the manifold sensor (which was either sticking or just reporting it was sticking) and the entire manifold. $0. Also a software update and a recalled air ad wire harness. All &0 
Jun 2017

99000 mi

US $250
Wireless ignition switch 
Jul 2017

99000 mi
The bluetooth antenna is dying, and keeps forgetting my saved devices. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Minnesota, United States
Aug 2012 - Dec 2016
May 2015

20700 mi

US $200
A/C stopped producing cold air. System was down to 130 grams. The tech could not find a leak and recharged the system to 550 grams, including a dye to find any possible leak in the future. A rattle came from front passenger side door at speeds below about 40 mph. Tech located rattle on rear driver side door, cleaned window and door seals and applied silicone lubricant to that area. This did NOT fix the reported rattle. 
Sep 2015

25000 mi
A/C was becoming weaker for the second time this y ear. At last visit, dye was injected into refrigerant. A technician, while replacing the coolant pump as part of a Service Action, found the leak and replaced the A/C condenser assembly. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Michigan, United States
Mar 2012 - Oct 2018
Nov 2012

4000 mi
Airbag light, switch replaced 
Dec 2013

8000 mi
Vibration when engine under load conditions between 1800-3000 rpm. 
Nov 2016

26000 mi

US $115
check coolant light 
Oct 2017

38 mi

US $600
Rear passenger caliper frozen resulting in complete wear of pad, scoring of rotor. Pads and rotors replaced both rear wheels. Caliper not replaced. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Jun 2015 - Sep 2018
Jun 2015

19000 mi
coolant pump failed. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Georgia, United States
Jul 2014 - Jan 2019
Mar 2018

68000 mi

US $550
Water pump started a slow leak. Common issue, quick replacement. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Dec 2015 - Apr 2017
Apr 2017

56000 mi

US $120
Intake manifold failed, fixed under warranty 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Arizona, United States
Nov 2011 - Jun 2022
Oct 2012

10000 mi
Parking brake release button broke off months ago. Arranged repair during scheduled maintenance. Whole parking brake handle was replaced and is now working perfectly. 
May 2014

30000 mi
High-pressure fuel pump failed and was replaced under warranty. 
Nov 2014

37000 mi
Replaced driver's window controls, as auto-up speed working. 
Feb 2015

40000 mi
Leaking water pump replaced. 
Aug 2015

46000 mi
The wastegate on the turbo failed. The turbo unit was replaced. 
May 2016

56000 mi
Plastic end on coolant hose cracked and failed, draining coolant. Hose was replaced. 
Apr 2017

72000 mi

US $148
Seized actuator for fuel door preventing door from being opened. Car towed to dealership (on fumes). Dealer had to order actuator (2 days). Broke existing fuel door to release actuator for replacement, and new door was sent out for paint, but had to be done twice (extra day delay). Part was replaced and car was returned.  In addition, the passenger side rear tail light bulb assembly had a broken clip and kept popping out. Had been broken for some time and I had ignored it. Reported at last scheduled maintenance (March), part ordered and arrived in mid-April. Replaced during this visit. 
Apr 2018

85000 mi

US $265
Actuator motor for hatch stripped causing hatch to fail to close and a grinding noise from the motor when lifting the hatch via the badge handle. Hatch actuator motor replaced. 
Feb 2020

100000 mi

US $400
Replaced drivers-side window control unit, as there were two bad switches. 
Sep 2021

115000 mi

US $60
Replaced headlight bulbs. Tough to do with my big hands and not being able to see in the enclosure. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Pennsylvania, United States
Mar 2017 - Mar 2018
Dec 2017

104000 mi

US $1400
The ECU/EMU had to be replaced 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Georgia, United States
Jul 2012 - Oct 2013
Aug 2012 Driver's side tail light wasn't sealed properly, condensation appearing in tail light housing. Severe rattle under low boost from the turbo. Clearly a wastegate rattle. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Washington, United States
Jan 2014 - Jun 2015
May 2015

52000 mi

US $800
Bad sensor need replacement 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Georgia, United States
Aug 2011 - Jun 2013
May 2012

10000 mi
Rattling noise when accelerating. Fixed when taken in for 10k service there was a TSB for a new waste-gate clip that was applied and stopped the noise. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Sep 2011 - Jul 2012
Oct 2011

1000 mi
Poor Gas Mileage. City: 12-18 mpg. Hwy: 28-30. Combined: 23.9 mpg for the first 1100 miles. Was told that it would improve after break in period of up to 5000 miles but no guarantee that it would ever hit the EPA estimates of 24 mpg city One headrest in back seat could be removed but two others could not be removed. Had to make a second trip since they needed a couple hours to remove panel to fix problem. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Texas, United States
Apr 2016 - Aug 2018
Jun 2016

70000 mi

US $600
Replaced AC compressor. 
Mar 2018

84000 mi
Replaced intake manifold unit under warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Massachusetts, United States
Oct 2012 - Jan 2019
Nov 2014

29000 mi
Leaking Cam Position sensor 
Jul 2018

55000 mi

US $75
Rear pass wheel bearing 
Jan 2019

59000 mi

US $300
Intake Manifold Failed - CEL light 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
May 2012 - Sep 2015
Jul 2015

43000 mi
HPFP (High Pressure Fuel Pump) failure 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Texas, United States
Aug 2011 - Sep 2015
Jul 2012

10300 mi
Wastegate rattle. 
Nov 2014

30400 mi
Rear taillight full of water 
Feb 2015

32800 mi

US $760
Bad PCV valve. Also required oil change as leaking valve resulted in significant loss of oil. Symptom was oil pressure warning light proceeded by grinding engine noise during a fast turn. 
Sep 2015

37000 mi
Excessive oil consumption. Was burning 1quart of oil per 1,00 0 miles. Dealer ran a oil consumption test and said it was still within range (ie: 1qt per 600 miles is considered in range). VW's solution is to keep adding oil. :( 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Tennessee, United States
Mar 2012 - Dec 2015
Mar 2014

26000 mi

US $200
Had to replace the battery on a car that was 23 months old and had 25000 miles on it. 
Dec 2014

35000 mi
Hatch area makes noise. Dealer claimed it is the tools squeaking and they cannot stop it 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New York, United States
Jul 2011 - Nov 2014
Dec 2013

67000 mi

US $300
Fan motor on heater was squealing. Fan blower was replaced. 
Mar 2014

75000 mi

US $900
High pressure fuel pump failed causing performance issues. 
Aug 2014

84100 mi

US $500
Check engine light came on. Sensor was replaced. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Mar 2013 - Apr 2014
Apr 2014

21000 mi
Interior panels popped off, replaced under warranty 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Alabama, United States
Apr 2012 - Feb 2015
Dec 2012

14000 mi
Front strut mounts making grinding noise. Replaced both front strut mounts. Loud buzzing noise from right passenger vent when over course roads. Dealer noticed noise and replaced vent. So far noise is absent. 
Dec 2013

28000 mi
Replaced broken A/C vent. Turbo waste gate was rattling when accelerating. 
Feb 2015

43000 mi

US $991
Electronic Control module failed. High pressure fuel pump failed. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New Jersey, United States
Oct 2016 - Aug 2017
Dec 2016

67000 mi

US $114
Threw a code for a failed coil pack after cold engine misfire. Replaced all of them and it completely resolved the issue. 
Aug 2017

68000 mi

US $300
Trunk latch servo failed and would not latch. All of the trunk latch needed to be replaced. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Washington, United States
Jan 2012 - Sep 2014
Mar 2012

3000 mi
Rear hatch wouldn't open Rear hatch broke again 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Michigan, United States
Jan 2012 - Nov 2014
Feb 2012 Car's trip computer did not have all functionality installed correctly at factory; dealer had to perform a software install/upgrade to fix issue 
Oct 2012

11000 mi
wiper/multi function stalk on right side of steering column fell apart while I was using it on a rainy day. 
Sep 2014

46000 mi

US $712
High pressure fuel pump should signs of failing (MIL light on, car hard to start and hesitating). Normal pressure to be 40psi; test reading had it at 7psi, 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Texas, United States
Mar 2012 - Mar 2016
Mar 2015

36000 mi
Foam on drivers side seat back split and allowed metal bar in the seat back to contact the drivers back. Repair covered under warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Mar 2012 - Nov 2017
Feb 2014

8000 mi
Alarm system was going off randomly for no apparent reason. Computer software had an error code. Dealer reset code and problem seems to be fixed. 
Mar 2015

14000 mi
Slight creaking noise on dry steering. Dealer replaced strut mount/bearing under warranty. Quick and easy repair. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Feb 2012 - Jul 2022
Oct 2012

12000 mi
Leaky rear windshield washer nozzle was replaced. 
Feb 2015

35000 mi
Water pump failed, leaking almost all coolant. 
Sep 2015

41000 mi
Water pump was replaced as per recall. 
Dec 2015

43000 mi

US $500
Oil leak from upper timing cover. Cover replaced. 
Feb 2017

57000 mi

US $300
Oil leaking from timing cover. 
Jul 2022

133800 mi

US $2600
Oxygen sensor failed, causing a check engine light and problems with power delivery on initial driving. Lower control arm bushings were found to be worn during standard vehicle inspection and were replaced. Engine cam cover found to be seeping oil during standard vehicle inspection and was replaced. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Jan 2012 - Jun 2014
May 2012

4000 mi
The bluetooth module was faulty and needed to be replaced 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New York, United States
Oct 2011 - Dec 2012
Oct 2012

21800 mi
replaced faulty water pump 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Maryland, United States
May 2013 - Dec 2015
Nov 2014

23800 mi
Airbag warning light for driver's side came on, and all steering wheel controls stopped working, were no longer lit. VW replaced a clock spring, which resolved the issue. GTI logo in steering wheel silver trim almost completely worn off. I asked dealer to replace that trim part under warranty. Was told that they can't replace just the trim. They've ordered a completely new steering wheel. 
Feb 2015

26000 mi
Light switch cracked. Dealer replaced at no charge despite this not being covered by warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Virginia, United States
Feb 2013 - Dec 2016
Mar 2016

47000 mi
Water pump failure 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Texas, United States
Nov 2011 - Jul 2017
Jan 2016

41300 mi
Intake manifold 
Jul 2016

67700 mi

US $200
Ignition coils and Spark plugs 
Jul 2017

84000 mi

US $5000
Mechatronics broke and is inrepairable. Replacement required. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Massachusetts, United States
Apr 2012 - Dec 2017
Jun 2012 Radio would not tune certain FM stations without shutting down. Dealer ordered new radio. 
Jul 2012 Replaced radio 
Apr 2014

30000 mi
Water pump failed. Had to be towed for service. 
Jan 2016 Coilpack failed on valve 2 and was replaced under power train warranty. Ecu recall also performed. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Texas, United States
May 2012 - May 2013
Aug 2012

4700 mi
iPod MFI cable was not working correctly 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 170hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Quebec, Canada
May 2013 - Mar 2018
Jun 2013

17980 mi
Malfunctioning rear oxygen sensor - in first ten km driven. 
Nov 2013

25260 mi
Two full battery failures led to two jump-starts, about 5 hours lost, and a full battery replacement under warranty (1.25 years after purchase). 
Dec 2014

48980 mi
'The' known intercooler design issue - condensation causes water to fill the intake and 'prevents' starts. Dealer decision to replace per TSB. About 5 hours' billable work or $3,000 if not under warranty. 
Feb 2015

51420 mi

C $375
Rear exhaust gas temp sensor. Entire bloody subframe had to be lowered to change. Fought with dealer over goodwill. In the end, VW Canada paid 75% - yay VW, boo dealer. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Massachusetts, United States
May 2016 - Dec 2016
May 2016

40000 mi

US $300
They replaced the part. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Dec 2011 - Dec 2012
Nov 2012

21400 mi
Simple dash and panel rattles. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Alabama, United States
Mar 2012 - Apr 2017
Nov 2016

96700 mi
Headliner came loose. Since it's a TDI and going back from whence it came soon, I just stapled it up. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Nevada, United States
Jul 2012 - Sep 2012
Sep 2012

13000 mi
After a rain, used the defogger. Soon after lost the radio. All other media played. Satellite, CD, Phone worked in that console. Then the radio started playing. But only the HD (AM and FM) stations. Then problem went away. Reported to dealer, no tests. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Quebec, Canada
Mar 2012 - Jun 2015
Nov 2012

4700 mi
One side of the rear-spoiler's glue didn't hold (Dealer installed, optional spoiler). Took it to the dealer who re-installed it properly. Hasn't moved since. 
May 2014

23540 mi
Front right stabilizer bar end link got loose, causing noises at low speed. Replace under warranty by dealer. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Illinois, United States
Aug 2011 - May 2017
Jun 2012

10000 mi
Sunroof leak. Water ran down A pillar behind the dash, and onto the floor. Sunroof seat was repaired, car dried out 
Apr 2013

16300 mi
Sunroof leak 
Aug 2015

40700 mi

US $340
Sway bar end links replaced 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in North Carolina, United States
Nov 2012 - May 2017
Jan 2017

48000 mi

US $200
Replace battery 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2011 - Nov 2014
Dec 2013

35960 mi
Inside cover of hatch came loose, screw fell out. Dealer repaired under warranty 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ontario, Canada
May 2015 - Jul 2017
Sep 2016

70060 mi

C $150
Front sway bar endlinks needed to be replaced to solve clunking in front end 
Jun 2017

85560 mi
Exhaust pressure control valve stuck open. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Maryland, United States
Apr 2012 - Mar 2013
Nov 2012

19300 mi
Bad fuel pressure valve on the fuel return line was causing hesitation and stumbling at steady cruising state around 35-50 mph. 
Feb 2013

26400 mi
Bad fuel pressure valve; same problem as previous (failed again). 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Arizona, United States
Feb 2012 - Apr 2017
Mar 2012

1000 mi
Driver's side front door squeaked. Dealer readjusted the mounting of the door and solved problem. 
Sep 2016

64000 mi

US $50
In an effort to isolate and eliminate a humming noise, dealer replaced front passenger side wheel bearing that they claimed was worn out. Issue still remained after replacement, still not sure if repair was actually necessary. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Dec 2012 - Apr 2017
Nov 2013

16200 mi
Ventilation system smelled like crap literally. Needed a new compressor although ac never blew warm and was Ice cold. they did a recall on the cabin filter it had an issue and smelled up the car when the fan was on. Clean the vent system and new filter. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Virginia, United States
Jul 2012 - Jan 2017
Sep 2012

2000 mi
Transmission is surging at slow speeds (approx 20MPH) 
Dec 2012

6000 mi
Intermittent jerking/lurching action caused by the transmissions when driving at slow speeds. VW repaired by reflashing the computer with an update. The update has resolved the issue. 
Apr 2013

8700 mi
When outside temp was 60 deg F. or higher, the low coolant light would come on after driving vehicle for 30 minutes, shutting it down for 20 minutes, and starting it up again. 
Dec 2014

29000 mi

US $193
Strong musty smell coming from vent when using A/C Dealership replaced pollen filter and cleaned ventilation system using AIRCO CLEAN 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Oregon, United States
Apr 2012 - Feb 2017
Jan 2014

34000 mi
Car wouldn't start in the morning - water frozen in intercooler. Work to replace turbo intercooler, etc. Service Bulletin to resolve issue with moisture buildup in the intercooler. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ontario, Canada
Jan 2016 - Apr 2017
Jul 2016

73140 mi

C $196
Reverse bulb not working. Harness issue. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Minnesota, United States
Jan 2012 - Sep 2014
Apr 2012

5000 mi
DSG equipped car stalled then ran rough after re-starting. 
Jun 2012

9000 mi
Check Engine Light during roadtrip. Brought to dealership after return home, no current problems found. Code was EGR related. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ontario, Canada
Oct 2011 - Mar 2016
Dec 2014

39060 mi
Check engine light came on. Exhaust flap was seized. Was replaced. 
Mar 2016

51460 mi
Went to start car. Started and then would stop. Info screen said "key not in range". Tried other key...same. Had car towed to dealer. Immobilizer was re-programmed. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Virginia, United States
Jul 2021 - Mar 2022
Jan 2022

66000 mi
EGT sensor bad. Dealer replaced no cost since CPO with warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2012 - Jul 2017
Sep 2014

29760 mi
Pulled code P047F - "Exhaust Pressure Control Valve A Stuck Open" Fixed under warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Tennessee, United States
Aug 2014 - Nov 2016
Dec 2015

60000 mi

US $100
CEL came on indicating a problem with EGR system. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Aug 2012 - Dec 2015
Jan 2013

15200 mi
Left B-pillar creaked loudly whenever going over bumps or when torsion applied to frame. Solved by "Universal spray at some B-pillar points and lubed weather seals in contact with door and body." Common TDI low speed lurching problem. At low speeds when the engine is cold the car lurches between 1st and 2nd gear. Dealer said they could not reproduce. I was able to reproduce it the next morning. WIll have to leave it overnight w/ them 
Dec 2013

10000 mi
Started car after it had been parked for 1 hour and turned the headlights on. Dash indicated a headlight was out, but inspection revealed all lights working. Restarted car and indicator went away. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Pennsylvania, United States
Sep 2014 - Oct 2014
Oct 2014

29000 mi
The dealer replaced a faulty exhaust gas temperature sensor. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Oct 2011 - Jul 2013
Feb 2012

2700 mi
Sunglass compartment overhead kept popping open. Replaced under warranty 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 105hp 1.2L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Queensland, Australia
Feb 2012 - Mar 2015
May 2014

17720 mi
Minor leak in water pump. Fixed under warranty 
Jun 2014

18600 mi
Rattle with fuel line. Common problem, fixed in 5 minutes by mechanic. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Hatch

170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Manitoba, Canada
Sep 2013 - Sep 2018
Dec 2013

7440 mi
Heater control would not put out maximum heat when set at high; would have to dial control to 'low' then turn to 'high' before hot air would come out of vents. Vehicle required a software upgrade to work. Passanger side sun visor light would turn on and off when pulling visor down from ceiling. 
Jun 2017

31620 mi

C $300
Started experiencing occasional mild knocking noise in front end when going over small bumps and when driving. Front tie-rod end links needed to be replaced. 
Jun 2018

39060 mi

C $800
Rear passenger tire flat - replaced all four tires 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New York, United States
May 2012 - Jul 2016
Jun 2012 Shifter cable became disconnected from transmission rendering car undriveable - stuck in Reverse. 
Mar 2013

3000 mi
Something was wrong with the window track or window motor on the rear driver's side window. The deal never fully explained what was wrong. 
Jul 2016

14000 mi

US $273
Trouble code P2432. Took the deal a day to diagnose. VW CC covered 75% of repair. 2ndary air injection system. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2012 - Dec 2012
Oct 2012

2480 mi
EVAP problem, engine light came on. Dealer replaced some component at the gas tank. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New York, United States
Jan 2012 - Jul 2022
Nov 2013

8000 mi
After hail repair, both narrow "headliners" running fore-and-aft over the tops of the front doors----not the "big headliner" over the entire cabin-----separated at their joints about 4 inches back from the upper corners of the windshield.  
Jan 2015

15700 mi
Passenger side visor broke off under slight stress. Dealer replied under warranty. 
Apr 2015

13200 mi
Secondary air pressure sensor circuit low. Per Tech Bulletin #2028415/3. Replaced secondary air pressure sensor. 
Jul 2015

14200 mi
Visor light remains on while ignition is on. Light only turns off if ignition is off and locked. Visor work had been done in Jan 2015. Chafed wiring on incorrectly routed wire. Replaced wiring in correct format. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2011 - Feb 2015
Aug 2012

12260 mi
the turn signal, and start up chimes changed tone, and the resulting fix is a new instrument cluster, which is on order, and to be installed. no big deal, VW was great about it. 
Sep 2012

13020 mi
return trip for instrument cluster review, didn't reset the measurement of days to service, mechanic had to diagnose with other car, easy fix, took a about 20 mins or so. 
Feb 2014

36760 mi
knock sensor replaced / manifold pressure sender cleared codes. car would go into "safe" mode, and not surpass 3000 RPM in acceleration in any gear (5-spd manual), it was determined to be the intake manifold sensor. 
Mar 2014

36580 mi
manifold pressure sensor seems problematic, they haven't replaced it yet. performed a VW service bulletin, and the sensor came on again 2 weeks later (first trip March 12 or so, next one soon...for something, who knows this time.) MAP sensor reset (2nd time...first time was when we replaced the knock sensor). dealer reset sensor, will replace it when the sensor is tripped again. MAP sensor replacement - taken to dealer vehicle was hunting in RPM from 0 to 1000 vehicle was holding RPM when revved for a few seconds at 2000, or 3000... warranty repair, not sure if this is the extent of current issues...stay tuned. 
Sep 2014

44640 mi
the ongoing engine light issue seems to have been resolved. its been in the shop 1 - 2 times a month since March. reflash software, replace MAF, replace wiring, etc, all done on last trip 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New York, United States
May 2013 - Feb 2016
Dec 2013

26000 mi
Whirring noise under the hood. Dealer claims it to be normal noise from vacuum motor controlling the idle. I do not remember hearing it from new. 
Feb 2014

29100 mi
Washer tank level switch stopped working. 
Jun 2014

37000 mi
I had the dealer install a factory navigation system when I purchased the car July 2012. They had to install a shark fin antenna. In April of this year I noticed water in the rear drivers side footwell. The roof antenna had leaked. 
Apr 2015

57800 mi

US $270
MAP sensor code. Needed software update. Not covered by warranty 
Feb 2016

71000 mi
Started banging during downshifts when coming to a stop. Had same problem in my 2008 Golf 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4dr Hatch

170-horsepower 2.5L I5 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Quebec, Canada
Aug 2012 - Apr 2017
May 2013

11160 mi
Sunroof rattle repaired 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2012 - Jul 2018
Aug 2013

18340 mi
Musty smell from HVAC. Cleaned system and replaced pollen filter. 
Mar 2015

37200 mi
Rattle in headliner near sunroof controls. Found and tightened loose screw. 
Jul 2015

44820 mi
Gauge cluster warnings chimes (key-in, turn signal on, etc.) stopped working. Gauge cluster replaced. 
Jun 2017

90520 mi

C $210
Rattle when going over uneven pavement at low speeds. Sway bar end links were replaced. 
Jun 2018

104780 mi
Repaired wire under driver's seat that was accidentally broken. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 256hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual AWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Virginia, United States
Apr 2012 - Jun 2022
Jan 2016

39500 mi

US $135
OEM battery failed. Replaced by owner with aftermarket AGM battery. Original battery failed sooner that expected. 
May 2017

75000 mi

US $350
Replaced front pads and rotors. 
Jul 2021

123000 mi

US $900
Timing belt, water pump,  valve cover gasket and associated seals. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Virginia, United States
Feb 2012 - Feb 2014
Jun 2013

32000 mi

US $300
Gas filler door hinge cracked and broken left under car shield 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Dec 2016 - Jun 2022
Jul 2017

31300 mi

US $35
Fuel pump cam follower replaced. Wear on cam was low and the replacement was not necessary. 
Oct 2017

32000 mi
Regular service interval to change differential fluid 
Mar 2018

36000 mi

US $1800
Water pump replaced, additionally timing belt, tensioner and pulleys were replaced because coolant had leaked onto the timing belt and contaminated it. Oil/filter change was done since it was close to its next service interval. 
Oct 2019

45300 mi

US $50
Low-pressure fuel sensor replaced 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Massachusetts, United States
Feb 2012 - Sep 2015
Oct 2013

14500 mi
A failed water pump gear caused the timing belt to fail which resulted in a blown motor. VW replaced the engine, no questions asked. No problems since. Apparently this has been a problem for a few cars with an early 2012 build date as mine. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in New Jersey, United States
Oct 2015 - Oct 2016
Sep 2016

95000 mi

US $250
Fuel cap lock solenoid shorted. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in North Carolina, United States
Oct 2011 - Dec 2012
Aug 2012

9000 mi
Wind noise on both driver and passenger door. Driver door was also rattling, making a thudding noise when going over rough roads. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Washington, United States
Mar 2012 - May 2019
Aug 2015

38000 mi
Water pump leak 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Mar 2012 - Jun 2016
May 2012 I took the car in for a slight vibration when the car reaches about 45 mph and above 
Aug 2012

4600 mi

US $100
Had the car in for an oil change and tire rotation and balance to try to see if the vibration would go away but it didn't. $100 was for oil change and tire rotation and balance which I thought the price was fair since it was the dealer 
Aug 2014

30000 mi
replaced water pump and tie rods 
Apr 2016

53200 mi
Coolant light came on Friday. Took the car Saturday to have it checked, a new water pump was installed. 
May 2016

54000 mi
power door locks no longer work. will not get it fixed 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Colorado, United States
Nov 2011 - Dec 2014
Apr 2012

2300 mi
Water leaking into left side passenger window. 
Oct 2014

24200 mi
Recirculation valve sticking and throwing code 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Massachusetts, United States
Mar 2012 - Apr 2018
Sep 2012

4000 mi
Dealer fixed a rattle near the glovebox. Replaced vent assembly and added foam to side panel per a TSB. 
Aug 2013

13000 mi
Low coolant warning (had checked 2 days earlier, no issue). Water pump was source of leak. Replaced under warranty. 
Jun 2014

22000 mi
Lost coolant due to bad seal. Covered under warranty. Dealer replaced 9 seals to be safe and test drove for 5 miles. 
Mar 2017

50000 mi

US $700
Clutch plate issue—required new clutch, done by local shop Timing chain issue—wrecked engine 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Wisconsin, United States
Nov 2012 - Oct 2014
Sep 2014

29000 mi

US $54
Clunking noise when making sharp turn over bump. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Indiana, United States
Mar 2014 - Jun 2016
Jun 2014

28000 mi

US $400
Found coolant leak. Defective water pump replaced. 
May 2016

43000 mi

US $600
15 months old around 20k miles car tires were cupped and ruined. My other VW GLI also cupped and destroyed its tires. Car realligned but it has been determined at 43k miles car will need all new struts and another realignment to correct. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Washington, United States
Jul 2011 - Apr 2012
Oct 2011

3000 mi
EPC light on, reset computer 
Jan 2012

3700 mi
EPC light, many parts replaced. ECM, CCC connectors and housing. Light came back on eight days later. 
Mar 2012

7000 mi
EPC light. Final fix was the replacement on the steering column wire harness. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Kentucky, United States
Dec 2012 - Jan 2013
Jan 2013 Cold engine start - EPC light would flash, check engine light would come on, power loss occasionally. After engine warmed up issue would dissipate. Would occasionally notice same problem after sharp turn. Replaced cam sensor and some related cracked pins. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Sep 2013 - Feb 2015
Oct 2014

34800 mi
Check coolant light came on, water pump was leaking and replaced under warranty. 
Nov 2014

35400 mi
Engine was misfiring badly and went into limp mode, check engine light and epc light came on. Three of four coil packs were replaced under warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Apr 2012 - Mar 2017
Feb 2014

18100 mi
Water Pump Failed Leaking Coolant. Coolant light went on on dash. New water pump installed under warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Montana, United States
Jan 2014 - Sep 2019
Sep 2016

39000 mi
I was on a trip, had an alarm concerning cooling. Took to dealer who replaced water pump under a recall notice. 
Apr 2018

54000 mi

US $129
Check engine light, dealer checked emissions systems, found no problem. Reset engine light. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Germany
Jan 2017 - Jun 2018
May 2018

86800 mi

€75
CEL lit. VAGCOM called misfiring cylinders. Replaced coil packs; no improvement. Problem not solved yet. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Manitoba, Canada
Oct 2011 - Mar 2017
Feb 2012

2460 mi
Glove Box Squeaks when opening, 
Mar 2015

24800 mi
High pressure fuel pump sensor was replaced 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Michigan, United States
Jun 2012 - Sep 2016
Aug 2013

20000 mi
Problem with seat back mechanism 
Jan 2014 Dsg transmission stopped working. Replaced under warranty. 
Aug 2014

38300 mi
Paint is chipping off car everywhere. VW said they will cover only 1 of the many areas. Still working with the dealer, but it looks like they will not stand behind it. Paint started coming off in non-wear areas at about 20K mi. 
May 2015

46000 mi
Paint chipping off all over the place. Rust beneath the paint on the tailgate. Do not buy a white Volkswagon. The paint is horrible. Volkswagen will only repair about 30% of the problem areas. Their paint warranty SUCKS. Don't trust VW. 
Nov 2015

47000 mi
Peeling paint, rust. Many locations on body. Took several trips to body shop to get it fixed and there are new ones being repaired now 
Aug 2016

48000 mi
Bad Paint from factory. Repairs done by incompetent body shops. Volkswagen denies some rust repairs while telling me on the phone that "volkswagens don't rust". Terrible manufacturer, avoid at all costs. Denied problems exist for 2 years 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Mar 2013 - Jun 2018
Jun 2013

6000 mi
I had a rattle in the passenger side door and a wind noise in the drive side door. The dealer applied a rattle kit to the passenger side door and adjusted the driver side door. 
Aug 2013

10300 mi
Dealer replaced driver side door seal. 
Jan 2014 The steering wheel clock spring malfunctioned causing my steering wheel controls and airbag to stop working. The dealer replaced the clock spring in approximately 2 4 hours. It was covered under warranty. 
Jun 2014

31000 mi
Turbo bearings failed 31000 miles. The turbo was replaced under warranty and a loaner car was provided at no cost. 
Dec 2015

61000 mi

US $108
The push button start stopped required multiple presses to start/stop. The button itself needed to be replaced. Simple fix, part cost $108 from the dealer. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Oct 2011 - Jun 2014
Dec 2012

12000 mi
Power window switch on the driver's side had been malfunctioning since the car was delivered. Dealer installed a new switch cluster under warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in South Carolina, United States
Feb 2012 - Sep 2012
Mar 2012

1000 mi
Rear window windshield wiper arm broke off the car while driving. Replaced under warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Ohio, United States
May 2016 - Jan 2017
Oct 2016

77000 mi

US $186
Replaced glow plug on one cylinder. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Jan 2013 - Sep 2018
May 2013

4000 mi
Issue was with window switch on driver's side that controls passenger window. Amount of pressure needed to perform the "one-touch" open/close feature wasn't right. 
Jun 2014

15000 mi
Pedal movement before brakes "grab" is too much. Wanted them to bleed brake fluid or do something that would make the brake pedal more precise. Dealer said they bled brakes a bit but it all looked good and pedal movement was normal. 
Jan 2015 Heating coil blinking dash light. Dealer replaced heating coil computer module and car battery under warranty. 
Dec 2015

25000 mi
Driver's window switches one-touch up/down function stopped working, and occasionally wouldn't work at all. 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2dr Hatch

170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Dec 2017 - Jun 2022
May 2022

144000 mi

US $1000
Front speakers died along with amp I installed previously, replaced both with Audiofrog G60S using rivet nuts/nutserts to replace the rivets. Rear left speaker also dead but not required for good audio. 
Jun 2022

145000 mi
Left headlight no longer functioning, replacing bulb did nothing, multimeter shows socket getting less voltage than it needs but requires taking entire headlight out to further troubleshoot, which requires removing bumper, did not have enough time. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Maryland, United States
Oct 2013 - Dec 2015
Apr 2014

21300 mi
Front bumper towing eye cover was loose. 
Jun 2014

23000 mi
Rear hatch wiper fluid spray nozzle leaking. TSB on file. Dealer replaced via warranty. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Florida, United States
Mar 2012 - Mar 2013
Feb 2013

20100 mi
Low tone of horn stopped working. Chrome-look trim piece on air conditioning vent fell off 

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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2dr Hatch

170-horsepower 2.5L I5 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Golf / GTI in California, United States
Jul 2011 - Jun 2022
Feb 2017

31000 mi

US $152
Check engine light with P0106 code. Addressed per technical bulletin # 01-14-23: Software update performed, replaced N80 EVAP purge valve, and cleaned throttle body. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Washington, United States
Sep 2012 - Jun 2016
Aug 2013

5000 mi
Wheel TPMS is giving a false warning about low tire pressure. 
Oct 2015

13200 mi
The lock/unlock button on the driver door was malfunctioning. Would not unlock the door when pressed. After the repair it functioned for about a month before failing again. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Missouri, United States
Jul 2015 - Jun 2018
Jan 2018

75000 mi

US $150
Blower motor was non-functioning, replaced with new. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Rhode Island, United States
Jun 2012 - Feb 2018
Jul 2014

53200 mi

US $115
Car didn't start. Dealer checked electrical system and battery. Everything checked OK, but I insisted on a new battery being installed for my own peace of mind. 
Jun 2016

117000 mi
Condenser pierced. Replace condenser. Alternator failed. Replaced Alternator. 
Aug 2017

143000 mi

US $300
MAP sensor replaced. 
Volkswagen Golf / GTI in Texas, United States
Mar 2012 - Feb 2016
Jan 2014

47000 mi
A CD became stuck in the CD player. Dealership replaced radio under warranty, but the new radio's sound quality is terrible across the board. After about 10 minutes, sound becomes scratchy and unlistenable. 
Nov 2015

82000 mi

US $180
Liftgate suddenly stopped locking/closing. Under medium acceleration, liftgate would open, and the trip computer showed an open door. Took to an independent shop who had to order the part. Fixed next morning. 
Feb 2016

87000 mi
Audio system had awful sound quality, would become unlistenable. Never fixed. 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Hatchbacks, Wagons, and Convertibles.
See TrueDelta's information for all Volkswagen models.

2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.