Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Volkswagen GTI. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Modifications to Vehicles Made them Noncompliant
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
- Consequence
- If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Air Bag Clock Spring may Fail
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
- Consequence
- A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (34)
34 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 34 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 11 | 32.4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 20.6% |
| Power train | 5 | 14.7% |
| Air bags | 4 | 11.8% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 8.8% |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 5.9% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 5.9% |
| Structure | 2 | 5.9% |
| Visibility | 2 | 5.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2.9% |
How 2013 compares with other GTI years
Best and worst GTI years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 167 | 2 |
| 2010 | 53 | 1 |
| 2011 | 55 | 2 |
| 2012 | 40 | 2 |
| 2013 | 34 | 2 |
| 2014 | 10 | 1 |
| 2015 | 97 | 6 |
| 2016 | 66 | 4 |
| 2017 | 52 | 2 |
| 2018 | 17 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 27 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 331 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 27 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 33 / 27 | $3,050 | 331 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 31 / 25 | $3,300 | 358 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2013 GTI for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2013 Volkswagen GTI FAQ
How many recalls does the 2013 Volkswagen GTI have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 18V329000 (unknown or other), 15V483000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2013 Volkswagen GTI problems?
Owners filed 34 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (11), Fuel/propulsion system (7), Power train (5) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2013 Volkswagen GTI get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic version at 24 city, 33 highway and 27 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2013 GTI compare with other years?
Among the 2009–2018 Volkswagen GTI model years at least five years old, the 2014 drew the fewest complaints (10) and the 2009 the most (167). The 2013 drew 34. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.