Tl* the contact owns a 1996 volswagen gti. He stated while driving 60 MPH the vehicle was significantly losing speed to 30 MPH and then re-gain normal speed after 10 seconds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the camshaft was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired at the owner's expense. The VIN was unavailable. The manufacturer was contacted who advised that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure and current mileages were 118,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The worst 1996 Volkswagen GTI problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Electrical3
- Engine2
- Body1
- Brakes1
- Transmission1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical3
- Engine2
- Body1
- Brakes1
- Transmission1
- Visibility1
- Wheels1
Recalls 1
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The bolts securing the front hood latch can loosen over time. The latch would move causing disengagement of the hood striker from the latch.
- Risk
- Unexpected opening of the hood could occur obstructing the driver's view of the road while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the hood latch and securing bolts and replace them if necessary.
Recall number 98V160000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 1996 Volkswagen GTI
Defect investigations
Hood latch failure
Odi has received three reports, including the petitioners, regarding alleged hood latch failures.all of the odi reports indicate the hood flew up while driving.following a telephone inquiry, volkswagen provided odi with some limited information regarding six additional reports of hood fly-up for model years 1995 and 1996.this investigation was opened to further study this issue.defect description:it is possible that on some of the affected vehicles the bolts securing the front hood latch may lose their specified fastening torque over time.should this happen, the latch could move out of its design position and cause disengagement of the hood striker from the latch.in some vehicles the latch may not have been properly aligned during production.repeated opening and closing of the hood with an improperly aligned latch could result in damage to the latch.either condition could result in unexpected opening of the hood and could obstruct a portion of the driver's view of the road while driving, and result in an accident.remedy: volkswagen of america, inc. Will initiate a voluntary safety recall instructing its authorized dealers to check the hood latch and securing bolts and replace them if necessary.
PE98037
Technical service bulletins for the 1996 Volkswagen GTI 27
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.
- The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.
- Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses
- This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the...
- Vas 6154
- This communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest inbound and outbound...
- Update model year applicability to include 2017.
- Data Link connector pin assignment chart that is applicable to all models
- Airbag Issues.
- This document contains the VW Elsa Newsletter that contains a general overview of wiring diagrams updates,...
1996 Volkswagen GTI fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 24 | 19 |
What 1996 Volkswagen GTI owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Abs module failure.
Car alarm would go off when exiting the vehicle and the horn would go off. The failure occured while driving on a main road, the alarm horn engaged and would not shut off. After approximately 10 minutes of continuous honking the wires to the alarm horn started to melt. I attempted to disconnect the power to the horn and was burned by the wires. Eventually the horn died but smoke continued to pour out from underneath the cowling.
The reverse gear is very weak in standard transmissions.the gear chips then breaks off and falls into the differential causing an explosion of the housing and the loss of all the gear fluid. Replacement of complete unit is then necessary. This will be my third transmission in 56000 miles. Local dealers just point fingers to the driver of the car. I also know of three other people that have had the same problem. This has to be more than a mere coincidence. Furthermore, all these incidences occur on volkswagen gti's, jettas and gulfs between the years of 1993-1998. It is not the fault of the driver. Something needs to be done. These transmissions are not safe nor reliable.
The vehicles door handle came off in the consumers hand.
Electicalcomponents keep going, now sun roof won't close
The consumer has been experiencing problems with computer system. The computer module has failed to operate 8 times. Vehicle has stalled on several occasions because of the problem. Vehicle is then towed because it will not restart. The manufacturer has been contacted.
Lugs:nuts:bolts, one on each tire, cannot be removed. Dealer wanted to charge extra for a special drill to remove lugs nuts and bolts. Dealer informed consumer this problem was pertaining to lugs: nuts:bolts manufacturer. (1-800/669-8788).
Vehicle stalls while in motion and when foot is on the gas pedal. Dealer couldn't find anything wrong.
Compare the 1996 Volkswagen GTI
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Questions about the 1996 Volkswagen GTI
Is the 1996 Volkswagen GTI reliable?
Owners have filed 9 complaints about the 1996 Volkswagen GTI, fewer than a typical GTI model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Volkswagen GTI?
Electrical system, with 3 complaints. Next is engine (2).
How many recalls does the 1996 Volkswagen GTI have?
1 recall, covering latches/locks/linkages.
What year does the Volkswagen GTI have the most electrical problems?
The Volkswagen GTI model years with the most electrical complaints are 2002 (42 complaints), 2009 (31 complaints) and 2001 (21 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1996 Volkswagen GTI get?
Official estimates for the 1996 Volkswagen GTI range from 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.8L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17 city and 24 highway.
VIN decoder
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