Water pump Saleri or OEM Volkswagen

Irregardless of what route you go, just make sure your water pump has a metal impeller and not a plastic one. The plastic one (factory on many VW) chips off and degrades over time causing all kinds of cooling issues.

Turned out to be the water pump

water pump should be changed to metal impeller version at the time of timing belt change

I had been hearing a hitch-pitched noise from my engine that almost sounded like a vacuum cleaner about 5-10 minutes after engine start up. Took the car into the dealer to find that it was a water pump failure (as I kind of knew from poking around here). It looks like this is a fairly common issue for 2012's unfortunately, but just a heads up for people as this didn't trigger a CEL or anything.

I have this problem. I have been hearing the noise on and off for about 6 months. It only lasts for a few seconds and usually happens at lights or when idling before I turn it off. It could never be replicated, I never saw a loss in power or performance so I haven't had a clue what to do.

I've a 2012 GTI with just over 9K miles on it that had a water pump leak on me yesterday. Took to dealer and got it back this afternoon. I live 2 miles from the dealer and drove home no problem. On the way to my parents 40th wedding anniversary dinner this evening no more than another 2 miles after I left home it had another major leak happen. The coolant reservoir had completely cracked and I had coolant all over my engine compartment.

went in for my 20k maintenance/service on my 2011 GTI, Waterpump was shot, replaced free of charge but leaves me worried...

My water pump just needed replacement as well. I didn't have any visible or audible signs besides the low coolant level alert. The dealer said that this has been a fairly common issue but there is still no recall.

Just got a call from the dealer. Water pump is leaking coolant.

My 2012 GTI, with only 10.000 miles started leaking coolant, turns out the water pump is bad, it is now sitting at the dealer waiting for the part.