Model year record

1994 Volkswagen Golf recalls & problems

The 1994 Volkswagen Golf has 5 safety recalls and 41 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (11 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls

Complaints41filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 4reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Service brakes, hydraulicAug 17, 1998

Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 98V195000153,000 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK. THE LINE COULD BE DAMAGED BY CHAFING AGAINST THE FUEL TANK.
Risk: REPEATED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LEAKING BRAKE LINE CAUSING DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT INCREASING THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.

Latches/locks/linkagesJul 16, 1998

Hood › Latch

Recall 98V160000238,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH CAN LOOSEN OVER TIME. THE LATCH WOULD MOVE CAUSING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.
Risk: UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD COULD OCCUR OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.

Engine and engine coolingSep 20, 1995

Cooling system › Fan

Recall 95V17800034,000 vehicles

Problem: IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.
Risk: A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.

Vehicle speed controlAug 18, 1995

Vehicle speed control

Recall 95E03400079 vehicles

Problem: WHEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLES, A TIE WRAP IS USED TO GUIDE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SOME TIE WRAPS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH A LARGE LOOP OPENING IMPROPERLY GUIDING THE CABLE WHICH COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION.
Risk: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THEPOTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE COLLISION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CRUISE CONTROL TIE WRAP AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED GUIDE.

EquipmentMar 13, 1995

Mechanical › Integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer

Recall 95V054000104,000 vehicles

Problem: THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.
Risk: THIS RIDGE CAN DAMAGE THE INSIDE THREAD OF THE JACK'S SCISSOR SHOE WHEN THE JACK IS USED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE JACK COULD COLLAPSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON STANDING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.

Components: Equipment › Mechanical › Integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer; Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Golf III

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Golf III

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemIgnition; Wiring	11	0	2	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Foundation components	9	1	1	—
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch; Doors › Latch	7	0	0	—
EquipmentMechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	6	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Anchorage	5	0	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element; Windshield wiper/washer › Motor	3	0	2	—
Air bagsFrontal	2	2	0	—
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar	2	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	2	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Emission control; Engine › Gasoline	2	0	0	—
Parking brakeConventional	2	0	1	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	2	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system › WiringFire
SECONDS AFTER PULLING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE CABIN FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR VENT. THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. *AK THE SMOKE HAD COME FROM THE DRIVER SIDE VENTS. *SCC *JB
Aug 21, 2003 · 72,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
THE CAR STALLS OUT OF NO WHERE WHILE I'M DRIVING. I RECENTLY CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER W/ THE TUNE-UP BUT IT STILL DOES THAT. CAN IT POSSIBLY BE THE FUEL FILTER? I HEARD ABOUT THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP. HOW ABOUT IT? DOES 1994 GOLF HAVE ONE? PLEASE, LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU!*AK
Aug 6, 2002
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
REAR SEATBELTS WILL NOT PULL OUT OF RETRACTOR. DEALER HAS REPLACED RETRACTORS THREE TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SEATBELTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BACK SEAT HAVE BEEN (FAULTY) REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES IN 1995 WHEN CAR WAS BRAND NEW. (RECORD FROM DEALER HAVE BEEN ARCHIVED) CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY AN VW REP THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE 1995 VW GOLF'S, AND FEELS SHE SHOULN'T HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. *SCC
Aug 1, 2002
Electrical system
CONSUMER STATES THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF AND THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM WOULD NOT ACTIVATE, DEALER STATED THAT THE HARNESS AND THE WIRES FROM THE DASHBOARD TO THE FUSEBOX ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE TAIL-LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY MELTED AND THE CAR NEEDED TO BE RE-WIRED. *TT
Dec 1, 2001
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY A TOWING SERVICE WITH EMERCENCY BRAKES ACTIVATED. TOW COMPANY CLAIMS VEHICLE WAS TOWED WITH REAR WHEELS LIFTED ON WHEEL DOLLY. WHAT TYPE OF SAFETY VIOLATION WOULD THIS BE CONSIDERED IF IF MY DAUGHTER WERE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. WOULD THEIR BE ENOUGH HEAT TO TO WARP AND DESROY REAR ROTORS AND DESTROY BRAKE PADSWITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED. TOW COMPANY DENIES ANY WRONG DOING OR CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. WAS THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION?*AK
Jan 28, 2001
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY TO AVOID A DEER, AND DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARD. DRIVER HIT STEERING COLUMN, BUT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES, THE SEAT BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE. *SLC
Oct 23, 2000
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER SNAPPED WHEN TRYING TO UNLOCK VEHICLE IN A DARK PARKING LOT, ALL LOCKING AND UNLOCKING MUST BE DONE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE, THE BROKEN LOCK CYLINDER IS EASILY REMOVED AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A BRAKE IN WHEN UNATTENDED. *MJS
Dec 10, 2000
Electrical system › WiringFire
THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED (THANK GOD) WHEN THE BRAKES FELT FUNNY. PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT, AND LOTS OF SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF IT. WHEN WE JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR, WE SAW FLAMES SHOOTING OUT THROUGH THE HUBCAPS. THE POLICE CAME RIGHT AWAY AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. SUBSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A VW DEALER (WHO DID A COMPLETE CHECK UP ON THIS VEHICLE IN SEPT. 1999). THEY SAID THE CALIPER FROZE AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NEVER BEEN USED SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR (AUG. 1999). THIS MORNING THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID HE WAS REPLACING THE CALIPER ON THE OTHER SIDE,…
May 5, 2000

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.