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NHTSA Safety Recalls

Volkswagen Golf Recalls by Year

NHTSA's files hold 40 recall campaigns for the Volkswagen Golf, across 19 model years from 2000 to 2021. The 2015 has the most (12); the fewest among years with a recall is 2021 (1).

Volkswagen Golf years to avoid by our method: 2011 (2.7× the median year) and 2022 (2.2× the median year).

Model years
19

2000–2021, with a recall

Recall campaigns
40
Most recalls
2015

12 recalls

Owner complaints
1,181

all model years, NHTSA

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Owners have filed 1,181 complaints with NHTSA about the Volkswagen Golf across 24 model years; the most, 131, concern the 2015.

Owners marked a crash on 41 of the Volkswagen Golf complaints (3%) and a fire on 18.

Across all Volkswagen Golf model years, owners name the fuel/propulsion system most often (at least 179 complaints), then the air bags (177).

NHTSA received the most complaints about the Volkswagen Golf in 2022: 133, across all model years.

The component recalled most often on the Volkswagen Golf is air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module, in 15 model-year listings.

The newest Volkswagen Golf recall, 24V110000, was reported on February 14, 2024 and concerns the fuel system, gasoline.

NHTSA's recall file lists no recall for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Volkswagen Golf, model years owners have filed complaints about.

Volkswagen Golf years to avoid

The 2011 Volkswagen Golf stands out most: 71 complaints between 2010 and 2014, 27% of them naming the fuel/propulsion system.

The best-measured Volkswagen Golf years are 2003 (0.4×), 2018 (0.4×) and 2004 (0.5×).

The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method

Recalls and complaints by model year

NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the Volkswagen Golf, by model year
YearRecallsComplaintsFirst yearsvs median year
2023011—not ranked
2022avoid08181
2.2×
2021175not ranked
2020263not ranked
201966347
1.5×
201862913
0.4×
2017511727
0.8×
201698524
0.7×
20151213158
1.8×
20145125not ranked
201354321
0.6×
201264828
1.0×
2011avoid611071
2.7×
201046944
1.7×
2009030not ranked
2008010not ranked
2007021not ranked
20063126not ranked
20054195not ranked
200462816
0.5×
200362612
0.4×
200277438
1.0×
2001911659
1.6×
200088844
1.0×

First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Volkswagen Golf years without a link have no recall page on this site.

What gets recalled most on the Volkswagen Golf

  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE15
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE9
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE8
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH7
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER6
  • SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS6
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS5
  • FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL5
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING5

Volkswagen Golf model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.

Every Volkswagen Golf recall campaign (40)

NHTSA recall campaigns covering the Volkswagen Golf, newest first
CampaignComponentYearsRisk namedVehicles
24V110000February 14, 2024fuel system, gasoline2015–2020fire261,257
23V604000August 30, 2023electrical system: ignition: switch2019crash62,538
22V815000October 31, 2022tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems2019–2020crash296,044
22V543000July 27, 2022air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2016crash, injury and death1,216
21V321000May 5, 2021unknown or other2017crash, fire and injury46
20V716000November 18, 2020back over prevention: sensing system: camera2021crash32,048
20V372000June 24, 2020equipment: other: labels2018crash, fire and injury2
19V879000December 11, 2019wheels2019crashdo not drive8
19V862000December 4, 2019air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2011–2014injury and death226
19V615000August 22, 2019electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module2015–2016, 2018–2019crash and injury679,027
19V188000March 6, 2019suspension: rear: springs: coil springs2015–2019crash56,173
18V904000December 19, 2018suspension: rear: springs: coil springs2015crash6,322
18V464000July 11, 2018steering: column locking: anti-theft device2015–2018crash and injury33,168
18V406000June 13, 2018air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2003crash, injury and death2,564
18V369000June 1, 2018service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper2018crashdo not drive10,225
18V329000May 16, 2018unknown or other2011–2016crash, fire and injury252
18V148000March 6, 2018air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2010–2014crash, injury and death363,713
16V955000December 29, 2016seat belts: pretensioner2017crash and injury5,947
16V913000December 20, 2016service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip2010crash135,683
16V647000September 7, 2016fuel system, gasoline2015–2016fire110,042
16V403000June 6, 2016fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail2016fire55
16V078000February 10, 2016air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2010–2014crash, injury and death659,493
15V705000October 26, 2015engine and engine cooling: engine2015–2016crash91,867
15V627000October 7, 2015air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive2015crash and injury993
15V483000August 4, 2015air bags: frontal2011–2014crash and injury415,825
15V229000April 17, 2015fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump2015crash6,205
15V028000January 23, 2015fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail2015fire44,658
14V412000July 7, 2014steering2015crash2,001
11V490000October 3, 2011fuel system, diesel2010–2012fire168,275
07V063000February 20, 2007exterior lighting: brake lights: switch2000–2006crash1,002,000
05V154000April 19, 2005fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump2000fire30,708
04V584000December 16, 2004exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch2000–2002—410,000
04V586000December 15, 2004fuel system, diesel2004–2005fire19,284
02V244000September 12, 2002equipment: other: owners/service/other manual2000–2001—332,950
02V031000January 31, 2002service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip2001–2002fire55,000
00V280000September 20, 2000suspension: front: control arm: upper arm2000–2001—4,218
07E023000service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder2001–2006crash—
09E012000exterior lighting2000–2004crash—
09E025000exterior lighting: headlights2000–2004crash—
14E007000engine and engine cooling: engine2000–2006crash—

Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Volkswagen Golf. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.

Check your VIN on NHTSACall NHTSA 1-888-327-4236

Newest record on this page: October 14, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted

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