Rear Suspension in 2012 GLI Problems

[VWFanatic911]

Has anyone had problems with the rear suspension in the 2012 GLI? I usually drive my myself or with a partner but recently when driving with four people (850 lbs-2 people in front and 2 in back) the car bottoms out when taking turns. I know the max capacity according to VW is 5 people and or 1100 lbs. This was well within the limit. I also use to go with four people a lot and it was fine.

I brought the car into the dealership and they said everything is fine. However they said they could only use 3 mechanics in the car during the test drive, which probably didn't affect it. I'm possibly looking to have them replace the suspension.

Has anyone had any problems like this? Love the car but frustrated...

[mattng06]

Nope sorry. Do you really ride with 4 people a lot? If you are just get coils and get rid of that wheel gap and it wont hit anymore

[VWFanatic911]

You mean higher coils than stock? Right now I have stock coils on the car.

[Clyde Smith]

Nope sorry. Do you really ride with 4 people a lot? If you are just get coils and get rid of that wheel gap and it wont hit anymore

Lowering the car won't help him.

Try to explain more, when turning, what do you hear/feel? What speeds?

[VWFanatic911]

Lowering the car won't help him.

Try to explain more, when turning, what do you hear/feel? What speeds?

It's not at fast speeds at all maybe 20-30 mph. I mostly hear it when turning right
(not a sharp turn-90 degree angle). It sounds as if there is a rubbing sound like the tires are hitting the car or the felt along the inside of the wheel well. It's clearly evident if you ride in the back of the car. It's not a a creaking noise although with the extra weight I CAN hear a creaking noise from the shocks. It's literally a rubbing sound as if the tires are touching sandpaper or something.

Does that help?

[azthegame]

You have stock wheels as well? Mine does that if i lower my car all the way down (along with removing the perch) and have wheel spacers (15mm) on. The edge of the tire rubs my fender liner on certain bumps or turns. If you have wide wheels and tires, this could happen under heavier load even with your stock suspension

[VWFanatic911]

You have stock wheels as well? Mine does that if i lower my car all the way down (along with removing the perch) and have wheel spacers (15mm) on. The edge of the tire rubs my fender liner on certain bumps or turns. If you have wide wheels and tires, this could happen under heavier load even with your stock suspension

I have stock tires and springs. It shouldn't do that right? Everything is stock! IN addition if the label says 1100 lbs then VW should adhere to that. I' m concerned that the rear suspension was damaged.

[azthegame]

I have stock tires and springs. It shouldn't do that right? Everything is stock!

Nah it shouldn't. Mine didn't do that when i had my stock suspension and also had 1240lbs of passenger load including 710 I the back with 3 people. And i have the inferior twist beam rear suspension too. Yours should be better than mine

[VWFanatic911]

Nah it shouldn't. Mine didn't do that when i had my stock suspension and also had 1240lbs of passenger load including 710 I the back with 3 people. And i have the inferior twist beam rear suspension too. Yours should be better than mine

Yeah sounds like the beam and or springs need to be replaced...any other thoughts?

[Clyde Smith]

Definitely sounds like a problem with everything being stock.
Let the dealer sort it out, point out the noise on a test drive with multiple techs/the service manager

[VWFanatic911]

Definitely sounds like a problem with everything being stock.
Let the dealer sort it out, point out the noise on a test drive with multiple techs/the service manager

Will do. Will let you know what happens. Thanks.

[itskohler]

I'd yank their upper management as well if they still won't fix it.

[mattng06]

Lowering the car won't help him.

Try to explain more, when turning, what do you hear/feel? What speeds?

Coils are going to make the suspension stiffer. My brothers GTI has Bilstein pss9 coils, and he can have 5 people in it with no rubbing problems/ bottoming out. So lowering wont hurt it.

[BsickPassat]

Yeah sounds like the beam and or springs need to be replaced...any other thoughts?

GLI's have rear independent suspension.

.... there is a shock limiter kit that VW can install on the rear shocks, to limit the travel. Shouldn't need it for a stock suspension... but that can be an option.

If you have a water softener.... load up the trunk with the salt bags and send it to the dealership again, and have them test it with their 3 people

[Clyde Smith]

Coils are going to make the suspension stiffer. My brothers GTI has Bilstein pss9 coils, and he can have 5 people in it with no rubbing problems/ bottoming out. So lowering wont hurt it.

Maybe the OP doesn't want stiffer than stock suspension?

[VWFanatic911]

No, I do not want a stiffer suspension. I like the stock system. I'll find out this week what's going on. I appreciate everyone's input!

[KevinFACE]

I have this same problem when loaded with 4 people and all my friends are fairly large like me - so we can easily hit 900-1000 pounds with 3 of us.

In doing the examination it appears as though the rear wheel well liners have fallen or are misshapen to the point that once the rear suspension compresses enough that this occurs... even worse in turns.

It's definitely the liner contacting the tires though.

[VWFanatic911]

I have this same problem when loaded with 4 people and all my friends are fairly large like me - so we can easily hit 900-1000 pounds with 3 of us.

In doing the examination it appears as though the rear wheel well liners have fallen or are misshapen to the point that once the rear suspension compresses enough that this occurs... even worse in turns.

It's definitely the liner contacting the tires though.

Im surprised since VW's label states 1100 pounds. With me, it's only 850 lbs w/ four people and I'm still gettig this to happen. Did you have the liner reattached at the dealership or do a fix to it yourself?

[mattng06]

I have this same problem when loaded with 4 people and all my friends are fairly large like me - so we can easily hit 900-1000 pounds with 3 of us.

In doing the examination it appears as though the rear wheel well liners have fallen or are misshapen to the point that once the rear suspension compresses enough that this occurs... even worse in turns.

It's definitely the liner contacting the tires though.

"so we can easily hit 900-1000 pounds with 3 of us"

Not trying to be mean, but you and your friends weigh an avg of 325LBS?? You should probably be in a Touareg, and not a jetta.

[hmddesigns]

I am having the same issue. Only my car does it when turning left and I only need 1 person in the back for it to happen.

I have brought it to the attention of my dealership on 4 different occasions. The first two times they really didn't acknowledge my claim so the third and forth times I took them for test drives to prove it. They then tried replacing the rear sway bar bushings and lastly they replaced the rear shocks and mounts. IT IS STILL NOT FIXED!!! On top of all of this I have also had issues w/ the engine breaking down once, Bluetooth system not working and several cosmetic issues. I am now consulting a lawyer to put in a Lemon claim against VW of America. Hopefully I can get my money back, a replacement vehicle, or even some other settlement.

I do love the car and would consider getting another but I just can't keep putting it in the shop with no results... plus I don't want to get stuck with a Lemon once my warranty is over. If I get another I will be sure to test drive it with 4 people in the car.

[Dubbley Do Right]

Coils are going to make the suspension stiffer. My brothers GTI has Bilstein pss9 coils, and he can have 5 people in it with no rubbing problems/ bottoming out. So lowering wont hurt it.

I don't know, I've had my '12 GLI for 3 weeks now got it with 6k on it with stock suspension 18" wheels had no problems with it except recently when the wife avoided an accident but scrapped parallel against a curb and a week before I hit a decent pothole. Now with only me in the vehicle, I feel something in the suspension is off. Feels as though the left side isn't as stiff as the right and feels like it dips a little or sits lower on that side. Can really notice it when taking right turns. I'm frustrated as all get up. Had an alignment done at dealer and they got it all back into spec only left side was affected but since alignment, I still feel it. Caster is different from left to right but they say it is all in spec.

Could my left driver side coils be getting bad or have gotten bad from the pothole or curb? WTH?

[LWW]

Has anyone had problems with the rear suspension in the 2012 GLI? I usually drive my myself or with a partner but recently when driving with four people (850 lbs-2 people in front and 2 in back) the car bottoms out when taking turns. I know the max capacity according to VW is 5 people and or 1100 lbs. This was well within the limit. I also use to go with four people a lot and it was fine.

I brought the car into the dealership and they said everything is fine. However they said they could only use 3 mechanics in the car during the test drive, which probably didn't affect it. I'm possibly looking to have them replace the suspension.

Has anyone had any problems like this? Love the car but frustrated...

What's in your trunk?

The 1,122 lb weight capacity isn't passenger weight, it's total weight.

Also, under what road conditions is this happening?

The max weight is assuming smooth roads. On peed bumps or potholes, especially with a little speed, I could see this happening at a lower than max weight.

[Tousey]

"so we can easily hit 900-1000 pounds with 3 of us"

Not trying to be mean, but you and your friends weigh an avg of 325LBS?? You should probably be in a Touareg, and not a jetta.

So your saying big people can't enjoy nice fairly cheap sporty cars and because we are big we should spend almost 10-15k more to get a Touareg? Just because you say "not trying to be mean" doesn't give you a free pass at insulting people. /rant.

[KevinFACE]

Heh.

I'm 300, 2 of my other friends are ~270.

What you must understand also is that we're all quite tall. If we were 5'8" and 300 pounds, we wouldn't all fit just due to width I'm sure. I'm 6'4" and 300, my friend is 6' 270, my other friend is 6'1"-6'2" and 265 or so. That's pretty close to 900 pounds.

And who are you to judge WHO should do WHAT?

Despite this being a sedan we all fit quite comfortably.

[mediumbluemetalic]

So let's get this straight... it's a problem with the liners, not the suspension, correct?

If the suspension was at fault, you should have damaged/bent your fenders when the wheels made contact. They test these cars with HUGE loads. I remember the spy shots... they were loaded almost to the ground sometimes. It must just be the liners rubbings. Sounds like a minor issue and an easy fix once VW ID's what is causing the liners to rub.

[KevinFACE]

Mine was that they had become mis-shapen / malformed and fallen down somehow. Then when i had passengers in the back they would rub.

[ampp]

This happens on my 2012 gli on the passenger side rear tire also. Usually my passengers hear or feel it more then i do. I had the vw dealer look at it briefly and they said the liner is fine and the progressive dampening shocks should keep it from touching. I've had it happen with probably 700lb in the car with a empty trunk. Going into any corner with quickly will do it.

[LWW]

This happens on my 2012 gli on the passenger side rear tire also. Usually my passengers hear or feel it more then i do. I had the vw dealer look at it briefly and they said the liner is fine and the progressive dampening shocks should keep it from touching. I've had it happen with probably 700lb in the car with a empty trunk. Going into any corner with quickly will do it.

The GVWR is calculated for level straight roads where the load is pretty evenly distributed.