Volkswagen Gli problems
The Volkswagen Jetta is a compact car/small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen since 1979. Positioned to fill a sedan niche above the firm's Golf hatchback, it has been marketed over seven generations, variously as the Atlantic, Vento, Bora, City Jetta, Jetta City, GLI, Jetta, Clasico, and Sagitar (in China).
The Jetta has been offered in two- and four-door saloon / sedan, and five-door wagon / estate versions – all as four- or five-seaters. Since the original version in 1980, the car has grown in size and power with each generation. By mid-2011, almost 10 million Jettas have been produced and sold all over the world. As of April 2014, Volkswagen marketed over 14 million, becoming its top selling model.
Nameplate etymology
Numerous sources note that the Jetta nameplate derives from the Atlantic 'jet stream' during a period when Volkswagen named its vehicles after prominent winds and currents (e.g., the Volkswagen Passat (after the German word for trade wind), Volkswagen Bora (after bora), and Volkswagen Scirocco (after sirocco).
A 2013 report by former VW advertising copywriter Bertel Schmitt, said that — after consulting VW sources including Dr. Carl Hahn, former Volkswagen of America Chief and W.P. Schmidt, former sales chief at Volkswagen — no evidence suggested Volkswagen employed a naming theme for its front-drive, water-cooled vehicles; nor was there evidence the names derived from a theme; nor that a naming system "was ever announced, either officially or confidentially."
Social links
Volkswagen Gli model years
Common Volkswagen Gli problems
The Volkswagen GLI, a performance version of the brand's compact sedan, has been known to have several common problems based on complaints from owners. Here are some of the issues in detail:
- Front Doors Creaking & Popping: The 2013 GLI has been reported to have issues with creaking and popping front doors, with three complaints registered. This can be an annoying issue that affects the overall driving experience.
- Mass Airflow Sensor Failure: Two complaints have been made about mass airflow sensor failure in the 2013 GLI. This component measures the amount of air entering the engine and can affect performance and fuel efficiency if it fails.
- Dash Rattles When Accelerating: Two complaints have been registered for dash rattles when accelerating in the 2013 GLI, indicating potential issues with the car's interior components and assembly.
- Premature Clutch Failure: One complaint has been made about premature clutch failure in the 2012 GLI, which can be a significant issue for a performance car, as it may require costly repairs or replacement.
- A/C Compressor Failure: An A/C compressor failure has been reported in the 2006 GLI, which can affect the car's comfort and climate control system.
- Soft Suspension: The GLI's suspension has been criticized for feeling softer than that of its hatchback sibling, the Golf GTI, which can affect handling and confidence during high-speed driving.
- Seat Construction: The Jetta GLI's seats have been criticized for being less supportive and comfortable than those in the Golf GTI, which can affect the overall driving experience, particularly during cornering.
- Carbon/Misfire Issues: There have been reports of carbon/misfire issues with the Gen3 EA888 2.0 engine in the GLI, which can affect performance and fuel efficiency.
- Roof Leaks and Squeaking Suspension: Some owners have reported issues with roof leaks and squeaking suspension in the GLI, which can affect the car's overall build quality and driving experience.
- Infotainment/Stereo System Differences: There are differences between the Beats and Fender infotainment/stereo systems in the GLI, but it is unclear whether these differences are due to hardware or software tweaks.
It is important to note that not all Volkswagen GLIs will experience these issues, and many owners have reported positive experiences with the car. However, potential buyers should be aware of these common problems and consider them when making a purchasing decision.
Are Volkswagen Jetta gli reliable?
J.D. Power last rated the Jetta GLI in 2021, for which it attained 76 out of 100 for quality and reliability, and 76/100 overall. This score is well behind other competitors like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. On a positive note, the 2023 GLI has not been recalled for any issues.
How long do Jetta GLI engines last?
In many cases, the VW Jetta can run for more than 200,000 miles when properly maintained. Most VW Jetta owners drive their cars for 7 and a half years, which is usually around 75,000 miles before they upgrade to a new model with the latest features.
What is a common problem in Volkswagen Jetta?
Automatic gearbox problems
It has been known for the automatic gearboxes on these cars to suffer with different problems. One of the most common problems is for the gears struggling to change, which could be caused by problems with the gear linkage.
Is a GLI better than a Jetta?
Compared to the original Jetta, the 2021 Jetta GLI is better equipped to handle all that extra power, with features such as: Adaptive sport dampers with dynamic chassis control. A mechanical self-locking differential. High performance front and rear stabilizer bars.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Volkswagen Gli years
We have researched Volkswagen problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Volkswagen Gli cars and compiled the top 4 most problematic Volkswagen Gli model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Volkswagen Gli model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Volkswagen Gli years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Volkswagen Gli car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Volkswagen Gli , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Service brakes problems
- Electronic stability control (esc) problems
- Electrical system problems
- Air bags problems
- Visibility problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Volkswagen Gli vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
The NHTSA has received 12 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Volkswagen Gli . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Volkswagen Gli vehicles.
List of Volkswagen Gli complaints
Volkswagen Gli 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2021-09-01
- Date Complaint: 2022-03-03
- VIN: 3vw6t7bu3mm
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: I bought a 2021 VW Jetta GLI in June 2021. There was a recall notice issued in August regarding issues with the front airbag not deploying and/or unexpectedly deploying. I took the car to VW of Kearny Mesa in San Diego, CA, in September 2021. They made the appointment, then when I was at the dealership they said the fix wasn't available. I brought the car in again for repair in February 2022, this time to Mission Bay VW also in San Diego. The car is still with the dealer with no estimated time of completion due to the repair being "extensive."
Volkswagen Gli 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2021-07-12
- Date Complaint: 2021-07-25
- VIN: 3vw6t7buxmm
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Sunroof exploded. Glass inside the car as well as outside. Had I been driving, flying debris would have been an issue. Video confirms that the sunroof blew up on its own.
Volkswagen Gli 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2017-01-30
- Date Complaint: 2017-02-02
- VIN: 3VWFJ81K79M
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A CITY STREET AND HAD TO BRAKE HARD TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN I DID MY TIRES LOCKED UP AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. THE "ABS", "TRACTION CONTROL", AND "BRAKE" LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. I REALIZED THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A ABS SYSTEM FAILURE SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE SYSTEM RESET ITSELF AND I DROVE HOME. ON MONDAY (1/30/17) I TURNED MY CAR ON AND THE SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE DASH CLUSTER. MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WAS NO FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD STOP SHIFTING AND DROP BACK INTO FIRST GEAR ONLY. THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES WERE MOVING ON THE OWN AND NOT INLINE WITH MY CURRENT SPEED OR FUEL LEVEL. *TR
Volkswagen Gli 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2016-11-23
- Date Complaint: 2016-11-30
- VIN: 3VWDJ71K98M
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN GLI. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 02/15/17*LJ
Volkswagen Gli 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2016-09-06
- Date Complaint: 2016-09-18
- Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: HERE IS ANOTHER DYSFUNCTION OF THE ABS MODULE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED UNEXPECTEDLY ON THE DAY WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK. IT BROKE DOWN THE FIRST TIME AS I CAME TO A STOP, AND ABOUT TO WENT ON THE HIGHWAY. ALL THE DASH LIGHT CAME ON WITH TERRIFYING NONSTOP BEEPING AND THE CAR STALLED WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFER SPOT. WHEN THE FIRST BREAK-DOWN HAPPENED, I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AS I TRIED TO MOVE. THE LIGHTS WENT AWAY AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHILE I WAS STRUCK ON THE TURNABOUT, SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, AFTER ANOTHER 10 MINUTES (2 MILES), ALL THE LIGHTS AND BEEPING CAME BACK WITH A WARNING SIGN. AT THIS MOMENT, I WAS AGAIN, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND NEEDED TO MERGE TO OUTSIDE LANE TO PULLOVER. FINALLY, I PULLED-OVER THE CAR, A VERY BAD SPOT WHICH WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE MAIN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IN A RAINY DAY, I WAS STUCK AGAIN, STRANDED BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO STEP OUT OF THE CAR AND GOT RAN OVER BY THE TRAFFIC. I WAS STUCK THERE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 1-1.5 HOURS, CALLING FOR ROAD-SIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE, THIS ABS FAILURE IS VERY COMMON FOR ALL THE GLI/GTI, WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. CALLED THE VW COMPANY AND REQUESTED THEM TO COVER THE REPAIR FEE ($2500), BUT WITH NO POSITIVE RESULT. VW NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN A PROMPTLY TIME MANNERS BEFORE ANYONE GETS HURT OR KILLED ON THE ROAD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM, AND REQUEST THE COMPANY TO MAKE OFFICIAL RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS ABS MODULE. THE CUSTOMER WHO ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR SHOULD ALSO GET FULL REFUND FROM THE COST. THIS IS LIFE-DEATH ISSUE CAUSED BY THE ABS MODULE FAILURE OF VW, AND TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS TO GO THROUGH.
Volkswagen Gli 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2016-04-15
- Date Complaint: 2016-09-13
- VIN: VWDJ71K79M0
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: ABS MODULE FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING DASH LIGHTS TO COME ON AND TOTALLY DISABLED THE ABS SYSTEM. IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING, AND ABS REMAINED DISABLED UNTIL MODULE WAS FIXED AND REPLACED INDEPENDENTLY. VWOA WOULD NOT COVER FAILURE OF THE PART.
Volkswagen Gli 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2016-07-04
- Date Complaint: 2016-07-26
- VIN: 3VWFA71K29M
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: ABS MODULE FAILURE CAUSING CAR TO RANDOMLY LOCK BRAKES DURING CORNERING/ABS ACTIVATION EVENTS. THIS ORIGINALLY OCCURRED WHEN ROADS WERE SLIPPERY IN WINTER 2014 (60K ON VEHICLE), CONTINUES TO GROW WORSE TO WHERE IT NOW HAPPENS DURING LONG SLOW CORNERS (HIGHWAY OVERPASSES). REPAIR FROM DEALERSHIP COSTS $2300 (10% OF THE PRICE OF NEW MSRP), VWOA REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED SAFETY ISSUE THAT OCCURS ON ALL 2009 VW GOLF/JETTA VARIANTS. I HAVE HAD 3 EVENTS WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF TRACTION, AND UNCOUNTED PARTIAL LOSS EVENTS. I HAD AN INDEPENDENT DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSE, AND THE ISSUE WAS CONFIRMED AS THE COMMON FAILURE. ...UPDATED 08/30/16 *BF
Volkswagen Gli 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2016-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2016-07-08
- VIN: 3VWBA71K99M
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: YET ANOTHER ABS MODULE FAILURE. CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW ON THE PART OF VW. THE ENTIRE DASH CLUSTER HAS MALFUNCTIONED. LOUD BEEPS ON STARTUP. ABS LIGHT. BRAKE LIGHT, STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT...ALL LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. ENGINE FAULT - WORKSHOP WARNING. SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK! FUEL GAUGE WILDLY FLUCTUATES. LOW FUEL WARNING STAYS LIT EVEN WITH A FULL TANK. TRIP COMPUTER DOES NOT WORK. OTHER ELECTRICAL FAULTS AS WELL PROBABLY RELATED TO THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION. THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS THINK IT'S NOT MOVING SO ALL ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS TIED INTO THE SPEED OF THE CAR ARE COMPROMISED. TRUNK RELEASE MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING. I'M LOOKING AT A $2000 REPAIR ON A CAR WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES!! VW NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND PROVIDE A FIX TO ITS CUSTOMERS.
Volkswagen Gli 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2014-12-18
- Date Complaint: 2014-12-21
- VIN: 3VWDA71K99M
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: MY 2009 GLI HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THE TIGUANS HAD IN THEIR FUSE BOXES THAT LEAD TO THEM BEING RECALLED. THE RIGHT SIDE LIGHTS, MAIN BEAM, REAR LIGHT, TURN SINGLES DO NOT WORK AFTER STARTING THE CAR.
Volkswagen Gli 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2014-11-12
- Date Complaint: 2014-11-20
- VIN: 3VWFA71K29M
- Components: STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: I OWN 2009 VW JETTA THAT HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED WHAT I FEEL IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK 11/12/14 MY ABS ACTIVATED WHILE COMING TO A STOP. WITHIN MOMENTS OF THE ABS ACTIVATION THE DASH EMITTED THREE LOUD BEEPS AND THE ABS, TRACTION AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED (BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. THE BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED MOMENTARILY, SENDING THE CAR INTO A SLIDE. I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE SLIDE, HOWEVER THE TRACTION AND ABS WERE DISABLED. I PULLED INTO THE NEXT AVAILABLE PARKING LOT AND RESTARTED THE CAR AT WHICH POINT THE ISSUE APPEARED TO RESOLVE. LATER IN THE DAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE TO LUNCH THE ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN, NEARLY SENDING ME SLIDING INTO A POLICE CRUISER. AFTER ANOTHER SHUTDOWN THE ISSUE APPEARED TO RESOLVE, BUT THE ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN WITH DISTURBING REGULARITY. WHENEVER THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM WOULD FAIL AND LOCK THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS THROWING FAULTS 01130 (ABS OPERATION IMPLAUSIBLE SIGNAL) AND 16352 (CONTROL MODULE ELECTRICAL ERROR), WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF A FAILED ABS CONTROL MODULE. AFTER PERUSING THE NHTSA SITE AS WELL AS A FEW ENTHUSIAST FORUMS I FOUND THIS ISSUE WAS NOT UNCOMMON AMONG OWNERS OF THE 2009 MY VOLKSWAGENS. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT VW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AS THERE ARE MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFECTED MODULE, AND A REVISION OF THE COMPONENT WAS RELEASED THAT CORRECTS THE FAILURE. AN ABS CONTROLLER SHOULD NOT BE A MAINTENANCE ITEM, AND THE FAILURE OF THIS SAFETY COMPONENT PLACED MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS AT RISK MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF MY COMMUTE. I WOULD EXPECT THE BASIC SAFETY SYSTEMS OF WHAT I FEEL IS A WELL DESIGNED AND VALUABLE VEHICLE TO LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 72500 MILES, ESPECIALLY AS I DO NOT DRIVE AGGRESSIVELY OR PARTICIPATE IN TRACK DAYS. (OTHER COMPLAINANTS HAVE STATED THIS OCCURS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 20K-100K MILES. *TR
Volkswagen Gli 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2013-10-22
- Date Complaint: 2014-10-09
- VIN: 3VWDA71K99M
- Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: EVERY TIME I BRAKE HARD OR GO INTO A LETS SAY DOWN HILL TURN AT MODERATE SPEED MY ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS LIGHT UP THE DASH WITH 3 LONG BEEPS. AFTER THAT ALL SAID COMPONENTS DON'T WORK ANY MORE UNTIL NEXT RESTART. THAT MORNING I GOT THE LIGHTS COME ON IN THE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I COULDN'T JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY TO POWER CYCLE MY CAR SO I CONTINUED DRIVING WITH CAUTION. AFTER I MADE AN EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY I HAD TO MAKE A DOWN HILL SLOW (25-30 MPH) RIGHT TURN (IT JUST STARTED RAINING SO THAT DIDN'T HELP EITHER) AND MY CAR STARTED OVERSTEERING AND MADE A 90 DEGREE SPIN COMING TO A STOP ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IF THERE WERE ANY TRAFFIC COMING FROM OTHER WAY I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE ACCIDENT FOR SURE. VW IS SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THE CAR IS OLDER AND THE REPAIR IS LIKE $2,000.00 - THAT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO CRAZY AND SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A $27K VEHICLE AFTER 5 YEARS OF OWNING. I SEARCHED THE FORUMS AND FOUND A LOT OF 2009 VW GTI'S AND GLI'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND SOME OF THOSE GUYS WERE INVOLVED IN CAR CRASHES. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN CAR CRASHES AND GET HURT. I THINK IT'S A BAD BATCH OF ABS CONTROL MODULES THAT THE FACTORY WOULD HAVE TO CORRECT AND REPLACE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
Volkswagen Gli 1990
- Date Of Incident: 2005-08-20
- Date Complaint: 2005-09-26
- VIN: WVWTJ21G6LW
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH WAY MY HEATER CORE BURST SHOOTING COOLANT INTO THE FLOORS AND ON TO MY LEGS IN SIDE THE CAR. AS OF YET MY HEATER CORE HAS JUST BEEN BY PASSED DUE TO ME AWAITING A HOPEFUL GOOD WILL FROM VWOA. *JB
Recalls Volkswagen Gli
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the Volkswagen Gli.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Volkswagen Gli 2021
- Report Received Date: 2022-07-20
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.
- Model: Volkswagen Gli 1990
- Report Received Date: 1992-09-15
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: THE VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE.
- Consequence: THE VENTURI TUBE CAN PARTIALLY BLOCK THE THROTTLE PLATEAND PREVENT IT FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION, RESULTING IN UNWANTEDENGINE SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN A FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR.
- Remedy: REPLACE THE PRESS-FIT VENTURI TUBE WITH A THREAD TYPE TUBE.
Latest negative Volkswagen Gli car reviews
Latest positive Volkswagen Gli car reviews
-
Vehicle year: 2009
I was initially hesitant about purchasing a VW, especially after owning a Honda for 8 trouble-free years. However, I decided to take the plunge and have been pleasantly surprised with my experience so far. After two months and 1700 miles of service, there have been no major issues to report. Depending on how you drive it, the gas mileage can range from low 20s to low 30s. The turbo 4 engine easily out-accelerates many cars on the road, and the car is assembled with high-quality materials. Although there have been some minor buzzes from some interior bits, my car has not consumed any oil, nor has it shaken or stalled. So far, the car has been reliable (fingers crossed), but it's important to take care of it to ensure it takes care of you.
-
Vehicle year: 2008
You can't find a car this good for the price! VW did an amazing job tuning the power band on this car. I got the newest 2.0 CCTA TSI engine, which is featured in the late 2008 GLI and the 2009 Jetta 2.0T models. This engine has the timing chain, rather than a belt, and a few other upgrades to the engine. This car is safe, powerful, handles well, comfortable, looks good, luxurious enough, and has a huge trunk. If you're looking for a car that's just as good as a 3 series BMW but for about $15,000 less, this is the one for you! Don't overpay just for a nameplate, get a GLI and enjoy a great all-around sports sedan.
-
Vehicle year: 2008
That's an awesome car! When you consider the price, it's a slam dunk. Nothing comes close for the money, and the gas mileage is insane in relation to power. This is exactly what you need when gas is $4 a gallon, but you still want luxury, performance, and space.
-
Vehicle year: 2008
I really enjoyed my car when I first bought it, especially since I was working for Vw at the time. It handles really well and has great throttle response. The color of the gauges at night is super cool. I also appreciate the ease of controls from the steering wheel, which saves me from having to fiddle with the main controls. However, I have been experiencing some issues with it for the past 8 months since July 1st, 2009. Tonight, while coming back from work, the display showed a message saying 'stop engine, oil pressure etc.' For an 08 GLI with only 30K miles, that's really disappointing. I would advise everyone to make sure to check their oil regularly. I personally drive only 5K miles per oil change, as instructed, and yet somehow I'm already on the minimum part of the dipstick!!
-
Vehicle year: 2009
Fun fun to drive! This car is solidly built and has plenty of trunk space. The ESP system helps with off-ramp bursts and the traction control works perfectly in the snow. It corners on rails and even with my heavy foot, I still get 27 mpg. The engine is very quiet, to the point where you'll forget you have 6 speeds. According to Kelly Blue Book, it also has one of the highest resale values. Oh, and it's so good that you might even get speeding tickets included!
Are you having problems with your Volkswagen Gli?
Philip Nikolaus 2025-02-02
Vehicle year: 2009
I have owned my 2008 Jetta GLI since it was new and it has now clocked 250k miles. Although I do wish I had opted for the 4-door hatch (GTI) for more usable space, the Jetta's trunk is indeed large for a compact car. Some of the pros of this car include its power, handling, and fuel economy. It is also fun to drive, especially with the manual transmission. Additionally, it has good safety features and insurance costs. However, there are some cons to consider such as the firm ride, interior sound (which can be loud with creaks and rattles), premium gasoline requirement, and electrical and miscellaneous problems. Despite these issues, the car has been pretty reliable overall. The only major issue I have had was a catalytic converter failure around 200k miles which resulted in the need for a tow. There are also some electrical problems such as the power door locks malfunctioning and light bulbs either burning out frequently or giving false warnings of bulbs burning out. I did have a fuel pressure sensor switch and PCV valve replaced under warranty. The car requires premium fuel and synthetic oil, which increases the maintenance cost. Nowadays, the car consumes half a quart of oil every thousand miles or so. It is worth noting that this car is direct injection, so it has dirty intake valve deposit problems (a warning light came on at around 70k for an expensive cleaning I opted not to do). The ignition coils/spark plugs seem to go bad every 60k miles causing cylinder misfire error codes. The thermostat and air conditioning (fan) failed around 100k miles. Some good things are that the brake pads and clutch last forever. I have yet to replace the clutch, and only just replaced the rear brake pads at 150k miles. This was my first VW and I did love it at first, but it will be my last European car. They look and drive great but have many little issues that add up to frustration over time that have led me to seek different pastures for the future.
Simeon Prohaska 2024-10-14
Vehicle year: 2008
I've mainly purchased BMWs and Audis, probably for good reason. When my wife and I test drove the 08 GLI 4dr with DSG, I found the transmission to be fairly jumpy, the brakes not as solid, and the handling to be very loose. Of course, I'm coming from a 06 325i and comparing it to this VW. In my opinion, it isn't as sporty as some people think it is or handles as well. However, I was very impressed with the 08 Mini Cooper S AM, a vehicle that compares well to BMW and is not an Audi or Mercedes. I am considering purchasing one. I understand that VW makes Audi and etc., but the transmissions are different. I don't think the DSG compares well enough to Audi's tiptronic nor BMW's SMG. Sorry.
Reece Walter 2024-08-19
Vehicle year: 2009
I've mainly purchased BMWs and Audis, probably for good reason. When my wife and I test drove the 08 GLI 4dr with DSG, I found the transmission to be fairly jumpy, the brakes not as solid, and the handling to be very loose. Of course, I'm coming from a 06 325i and comparing it to this VW. In my opinion, it isn't as sporty as some people think it is or handles as well. However, I was very impressed with the 08 Mini Cooper S AM, a vehicle that compares well to BMW and is not an Audi or Mercedes. I am considering purchasing one. I understand that VW makes Audi and etc., but the transmissions are different. I don't think the DSG compares well enough to Audi's tiptronic nor BMW's SMG. Sorry.