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2017 Volkswagen Golf gti

The Verdict

50 Proceed with Caution

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf gti has 230 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (106 complaints) and body (73 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 50/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Volkswagen Golf gti, consider the 2020 model year which has 96% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2020 has 96% fewer complaints

View the 2020 Volkswagen Golf gti dashboard →

50

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
201643617758
20177363210613
20181523112
20191415366
202020060
202112311
2022372152722
2024145315

By Category

Engine
106
Body
73
Electrical
32
Transmission
13
Brakes
6

By Severity

1
110
2
109
3
8
4
3

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 1

Had an immediate loss of propulsion event without warning (2-Feb-2026) after recall work completed on 16-Dec-20256 (24V110000). I lost propulsion on public roads and was lucky that this happened just after I exited the highway otherwise I would have ended up in a life threatening situation

5mo ago
Electrical 4

The vehicle was involved in a low-speed frontal collision (under approximately 20 mph) resulting in relatively minor front-end damage. Despite the limited severity of the impact, the driver frontal airbag and both the front and rear driver-side curtain airbags deployed. The vehicle has no prior accident history, had no SRS or airbag warning lights prior to the incident, and has approximately 86,000 miles. Due to the nature of the collision and the deployment of multiple airbags, I have concerns that the airbag system may have deployed unnecessarily or abnormally. I am requesting that this concern be formally documented. It is available for inspection. It has not been fixed. I have opened a case with VW.

6mo ago
Electrical 2

Infotainment system is restarting itself repeatedly every 30 seconds to every few minutes.This has been going on for about 2 weeks. The component has not yet been inspected by a 3rd party.

7mo ago
Engine 2

Description of the Problem: The fuel pump failed and began spraying gasoline during operation. The malfunction was documented on video by an authorized Volkswagen mechanic and confirmed by a Volkswagen dealership in Honolulu, Hawaii. The component is available for inspection if required. Safety Risk: The failure caused pressurized gasoline to spray within the engine compartment, presenting a serious fire and explosion hazard. This defect posed a danger to the driver, passengers, and others nearby due to potential ignition of leaked fuel. Reproduction and Inspection: The condition was reproduced and confirmed by both an independent authorized Volkswagen mechanic and a Volkswagen dealership in Honolulu. The issue has not yet been inspected by Volkswagen of America, insurance representatives, or police authorities. Warning Signs or Prior Symptoms: A strong smell of gasoline inside the passenger cabin was present prior to discovery of the leak. No dashboard warning lights or error messages appeared. Summary: Fuel pump failure caused gasoline to spray under pressure. The problem was verified by an authorized VW mechanic and dealership in Honolulu, HI. The defective component remains available for inspection. Immediate safety risk due to potential ignition of fuel vapors.

9mo ago
Engine 1

On October 13, 2025, while driving my 2017 Volkswagen GTI, I noticed a strong odor of gasoline inside and around the vehicle. After parking and inspecting the car, I observed a large pool of gasoline forming in front of the rear passenger-side wheel well. This poses a serious safety risk due to the potential for fire or explosion from fuel leakage. This is the second time my vehicle has experienced gasoline leaking from this same area. The issue appears to originate from a component in or near the fuel system (potentially the fuel line, rollover valve, or suction jet pump assembly), but the specific part has not yet been confirmed. The vehicle is currently at Honolulu Volkswagen for inspection, and the affected components are available for review upon request. At this time, no warning lights, dashboard messages, or prior symptoms appeared before the leak occurred. The odor of gasoline was the first sign of the issue. I believe this recurring fuel leak presents a significant fire hazard and warrants further investigation by Volkswagen and NHTSA.

9mo ago
Electrical 1

Rear back-up camera fails repeatedly. The image portrayed on the dash is garbled and I am unable to determine vehicles, obstacles or persons behind me when backing. Problem is very reproducible although the dealer has not diagnosed the problem. The car is out of warranty. The only message displayed on the screen is something like "Park Pilot error".

10mo ago
Engine 1

I had fuel leaking from my carbon canister. I was driving the previous day and noticed a gasoline smell. I thought it was something I ran over. The next day, while performing errands, I noticed the smell even more. Then I exited the vehicle to see the fuel pouring out of the car. The dealership has it now.

11mo ago
Transmission 2

I am facing an issue with my car where it tends to roll back even when it's in park, regardless of whether the engine is on or off. The only time it remains stationary is when I apply the brakes and engage the emergency brake. This situation poses a safety concern for me and my family, and I would like to find a solution to ensure our vehicle stays securely in place when parked.

18mo ago
Engine 1

I've been experiencing a recurring issue with my vehicle where the EPC light frequently activates. When this happens, the car significantly reduces its speed, making it difficult to drive safely. I've noticed this situation over the past six to eight months, and it typically requires me to pull over. After turning off the vehicle multiple times, I'm usually able to reset it and drive normally again. I'm seeking advice on how to address this problem effectively.

18mo ago
Transmission 2

The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle and shifting to the park, the contact turned off the vehicle and the vehicle rolled backward. The driver depressed the brake pedal and activated the parking brake to stop the vehicle from rolling. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 170,000.

18mo ago
Electrical 1

The steering wheel clockspring mechanism has failed causing the vehicle steering wheel operated controls (including the horn) to stop working. The airbag warning lamp illuminated on the dashboard, indicating the airbag system may not be functional. Apparently Volkswagen has issued a recall/extended the warranty on many VW models in light of the high failure rate of the clockspring mechanism, however my 2017 GTI is not currently covered. Perhaps the recall/extended warranty should be expanded in scope.

18mo ago
Engine 2

Earlier in 2024, Volkswagen of America issued a recall for the Suction Jet Pump, on the 14th of December i went to VW of Pompano Beach in Florida, to get the recall done, however, after they delivered back the car, it started to leak fuel after i put gas on it. On December 17th I took it again to the dealer to get it fixed and they gave me back the vehicle on December 19th. On [XXX] I put gas on the vehicle and it started to leak fuel again and this time it was way worse than before. I accuse the dealer of being responsible of performing a bad job on the recall as the vehicle had never leaked fuel before I had the recall done. I have the vehicle since February 2024. It worries me that there is a big possibility that the car can catch on fire if by any reason there is a spark near to me or there is any thing that can trigger the fuel to ignite. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6

19mo ago
Engine 1

The component that failed, according to Volkswagen, is the rollover valve in the gas tank. This issue caused large amounts of gasoline to leak and pool from behind the rear passenger wheel well, creating a significant fire hazard and risk of harm. The vehicle was inspected by a Volkswagen service center as part of the repair process, whereupon the Volkswagen service center documented that the issue was caused by a faulty rollover valve in the gas tank. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure.

20mo ago
Engine 1

I had a suction jet pump recall due on the car. I took it to the dealer to fix. Mind you, I have never had an issue with this car ever. Now about a week later from the car being in the shop I get an engine malfunction light that comes on due to the evap system. Vw dealership of cool springs has not worked with me on this at all and it is frustrating to say the least.

22mo ago
Body 2

The water pump in these vehicles are known defects, with class actions resulting. My water pump has failed at less than 70k miles. This results in engine overheating and possible failure. Luckily I was able to get the car off the road.

22mo ago
Engine 1

Car has been leaking fuel for over a year. Had to pay out of pocket to get it fixed and VW refused to refund cost of repairs even though there is now a recall over a year later acknowledging the issue.

22mo ago
Electrical 1

Failure of wheel speed sensor in front right wheel. This is the THIRD time I have had a wheel speed sensor fail on this car, which has 35,000 miles on it. Failure caused loss of power steering, airbags, abs, etc.

23mo ago
Body 3

I have gear shift trim that has peeled and is extermely sharp in my vehicle. This had led to cutting my hands multiple times while accessing the center storage compartment. This is a known issue with GTIs and other Volkswagen trim manufacturing, yet Volkswagen refuses to replace the part in my VIN. The relevant Service Action Code is 34J7.

23mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the contact became aware that the fuel had been consumed extremely quickly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

23mo ago
Engine 2

Starting January 2023, I had issues putting fuel in my car (symptoms align with the recall issued this year). I took it to VW and paid their diagnostic fee for them to say there’s nothing wrong with the car (approx. $170) continued to drive the car and eventually due to the issue, my fuel pump went out and I had to replace it. (See attached image). This time, I took the car to a local mechanic who charged a $100 diagnostic fee. All of this was prior to the recall this year and I am hoping for reimbursement on everything I spent trying to resolve this issue.

23mo ago

230 total

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