One area that consumers focus on the most when shopping for a new or used vehicle is reliability. With how easy it is to search for reviews of anything online, it comes as no surprise that people scour websites like Consumer Reports and Edmunds for weeks while they’re researching what car to buy, looking for the best reception from other drivers. One car stood out from its competitors, and not for a good reason – the 2015 Volkswagen GTI scored very low in reliability from Consumer Reports. Here’s why.

Reliability rankings are important

There are a number of important categories that people are able to examine and rate their vehicles, but reliability is one of the most important categories for used vehicles. Reliability is determined by looking at different features of a car and rating how well each has held up in the years since the vehicle was purchased. While it can be hard to predict reliability in a new car, it’s important for people shopping for a used vehicle to see how much life a vehicle they’re interested in has ahead of it.

Reliability can also be used to predict how much maintenance a car will need in the future. Some maintenance isn’t a deal-breaker for most people, and it’s normal to expect a few problems here and there. But if a vehicle has the same problem reported many times on websites like Consumer Reports, which surveys real people and not car experts, then it’s likely the same problem will happen to you, as well. 

The 2015 Volkswagen GTI scored a one out of five in reliability

Consumer Reports allows car owners to score a vehicle in 17 areas for reliability, then averages the scores to give an overall ranking. The 2015 Volkswagen GTI didn’t measure up in a number of categories, implying that there are more than a few potential trouble spots.

2015 was a redesign year for the Volkswagen GTI, which is when car models tend to have more issues than normal. Other problem years for the GTI in terms of reliability are 2012, which also scored a one out of five, and 2016, which scored a two out of five. 

What potential problem areas does the 2015 Volkswagen GTI have?

With an overall reliability rating of one out of five on Consumer Reports, the 2015 Volkswagen GTI has a number of areas where an owner could suspect trouble in the future. 

One category is scored the lowest rating was body integrity. GTI owners reported squeaks, rattles, wind noises, cracked seals, and compromised weather-stripping. One owner reported rattles and sounds of vibration from the sunroof and center console as well as a thumping sound from underneath the rear seats. Clearly not a good year if you’re looking for a calm and pleasant ride.

Other trouble spots were found in different parts of the engine. Some car owners reported issues with the engine cooling system. Things like the radiator, cooling fan, water pump, and thermostat acted up or caused mild overheating or leaking issues.

There were also problems with minor engine aspects like accessory belts disconnecting, problems with the engine computer, engine mounts needing replacing, and some oil leaks. Again, you can expect a certain amount of maintenance in any used car you buy, but the 2015 Volkswagen GTI just has too much going wrong. 

Another trouble spot reported by drivers was the climate system. Multiple users reported that their A/C stopped working shortly after they took the car home and many had trouble locating replacement parts. Another issue was that the coolant reservoir leaked. While things like this can generally be fixed under warranty, it’s safe to say that the headaches caused by all of these issues make it obvious that you’d be wise to just steer clear of the 2015 Volkswagen GTI altogether.