1990–2023 · 32 model years

Volkswagen Golf recalls & problems by year

144 recalls and 1,386 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. Pick a year for the full record.

Most complaints2015131 complaints

Most recalls201512 recalls

Crashes reported51in owner complaints

Injuries reported611 death

Owner complaints by model yearSelect a bar to open that year

Model year	NHTSA stars	EPA mpg	Recalls	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Deaths
2023 Golf	—	—	0	11	0	0	0	0
2022 Golf	—	—	0	81	0	0	0	0
2021 Golf	5★	32–33 mpg	1	7	0	0	0	0
2020 Golf	5★	31–32 mpg	2	6	0	0	0	0
2019 Golf	5★	32 mpg	6	63	2	0	0	0
2018 Golf	5★	28–29 mpg	6	29	0	0	2	0
2017 Golf	5★	29 mpg	5	117	3	0	5	0
2016 Golf	5★	29 mpg	9	85	1	0	2	0
2015 Golf	5★	26–35 mpg	12	131	7	3	14	0
2014 Golf	—	26–32 mpg	5	12	1	0	0	0
2013 Golf	—	26–32 mpg	5	43	2	1	1	0
2012 Golf	—	22–32 mpg	6	48	4	0	4	0
2011 Golf	—	26–32 mpg	6	110	4	3	2	0
2010 Golf	—	25–32 mpg	4	70	3	0	0	0
2009 Golf	—	—	0	3	0	0	0	0
2006 Golf	—	24–34 mpg	3	12	1	0	1	0
2005 Golf	—	24–35 mpg	4	19	1	0	0	0
2004 Golf	—	24–36 mpg	6	28	3	1	0	1
2003 Golf	—	23–38 mpg	6	26	0	7	4	0
2002 Golf	—	23–38 mpg	7	74	2	0	10	0
2001 Golf	—	22–38 mpg	9	116	4	2	6	0
2000 Golf	—	22–38 mpg	8	88	3	1	4	0
1999 Golf	—	22–24 mpg	7	64	3	1	1	0
1998 Golf	—	—	1	18	0	0	0	0
1997 Golf	—	—	0	7	0	0	0	0
1996 Golf	—	—	1	3	0	1	0	0
1995 Golf	—	22–24 mpg	5	43	4	0	2	0
1994 Golf	—	21–24 mpg	5	41	1	4	0	0
1993 Golf	—	21–24 mpg	5	7	0	0	1	0
1992 Golf	—	—	2	6	0	0	0	0
1991 Golf	—	—	3	8	1	0	2	0
1990 Golf	—	—	5	10	1	2	0	0

Crash, fire, injury and death figures are what owners reported in their complaints; NHTSA does not verify them. A year with more complaints is not necessarily worse: newer and best-selling years collect more reports.

Most-reported problem areas, all years

Electrical system204
Air bags195
Fuel/propulsion system180
Engine165
Power train147
Engine and engine cooling134
Unknown or other112
Visibility71