NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Volkswagen GTI Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Volkswagen GTI has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 7 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Volkswagen dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Volkswagen GTI. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2004 Volkswagen GTI owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Volkswagen GTI, describing incidents dated April 8, 2005 to August 12, 2015.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 4 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Latches/Locks/Linkages 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11013920 · Filed August 9, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD REGAIN POWER. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND RESUME…
ODI #10339413 · Filed June 21, 2010
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON, THE DEALER WANTS $105.00 TO DIAGNOSE WHY. *TR
ODI #10242801 · Filed September 18, 2008
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 2004 VW GTI 1.8T HAS COME ON FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SCANNED WITH PROPER EQUIPMENT, SCANNED THE ECU, FOUND NO CODES, CLEARED THE CODES AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO REAPPEAR. *TR

Read all 7 complaints

MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES

NHTSA #07V063000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported February 20, 2007 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 1,002,000 vehicles

Volkswagen campaign N4 · Owners notified April 27, 2007 · Vehicles built February 1, 2000 – July 31, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. N4.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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2004 Volkswagen GTI. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Volkswagen GTI.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11013920

Incident: August 12, 2015 · Filed: August 9, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD REGAIN POWER. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND RESUME DRIVING. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN HE PULLED THE FUEL FILTER AND INLET OUT, THERE WERE METALLIC PARTICLES IN THE FUEL FILTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SCHWORER VOLKSWAGEN DEALER (LOCATED AT 3301 SCHWORER DR, LINCOLN, NE 68504) WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,190.

Air Bags

ODI #10339413

Incident: January 10, 2009 · Filed: June 21, 2010

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON, THE DEALER WANTS $105.00 TO DIAGNOSE WHY. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10242801

Incident: January 23, 2007 · Filed: September 18, 2008

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 2004 VW GTI 1.8T HAS COME ON FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SCANNED WITH PROPER EQUIPMENT, SCANNED THE ECU, FOUND NO CODES, CLEARED THE CODES AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO REAPPEAR. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10210227

Incident: November 21, 2007 · Filed: November 28, 2007

CLUTCH FAILED ON CAR AT ONLY 33,000 MILES. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY CONSIDERED NORMAL. WEAR AND TEAR. CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP FOR $2300. *TR

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting; Latches/Locks/Linkages; Unknown or Other

ODI #10183644

Incident: February 20, 2007 · Filed: February 27, 2007

I DRIVE A 2004 GTI 1.8T AND FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE FOLLOWING: DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCH, DEFECTIVE RADIO, DEFECTIVE ALARM, WINDOW RECALL, DEFECTIVE BATTERY, AND NUMEROUS DEFECTIVE HEAD LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND BREAK LIGHTS. EACH TIME, THE PROBLEM IS FIXED, DUE TO THE WARRANTY, THEN I AM TOLD THAT ITS JUST DEFECTIVE PARTS. IS THE WHOLE CAR DEFECTIVE??? *JB

Air Bags

ODI #10126436

Incident: April 11, 2005 · Filed: June 24, 2005

CONSUMER BUMPED A CURB CAUSING MINOR WHEEL SCRAPING AND DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS (DRIVERS CURTAIN AND SEAT). RESULTING REPAIR TOTAL IN EXCESS OF $4,000.

Electrical System; Air Bags

ODI #10118247

Incident: April 8, 2005 · Filed: July 8, 2005

BUMPED A CURB AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OTHER THAN SCRAPED WHEELS AND DEPLOYED AIR BAGS. ENGINE NO LONGER STARTS ON FIRST KEY TURN. TAKEN TO INSURER RECOMMENDED SHOP TO HAVE AIRBAGS AND ALL RELATED COMPONENTS REPLACED. ENGINE STILL NOT STARTING ON FIRST KEY TURN. *NM *SB

Other Volkswagen GTI model years

Check your 2004 Volkswagen GTI VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volkswagen GTI at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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