Model year record

1995 Volkswagen Golf recalls & problems

The 1995 Volkswagen Golf has 5 safety recalls and 43 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (15 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls

Complaints43filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 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.

Crash test ratings

1995 Volkswagen Golf III 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

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

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/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	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemIgnition › Module; Wiring	15	0	0	—
EquipmentMechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift; Appliance › Air conditioner	10	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch; Hood › Latch	10	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	7	5	2	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	7	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights; Brake lights	6	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	6	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Body	6	0	0	—
SteeringColumn locking › Anti-theft device; Steering wheel/handle bar	3	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage; Rear/other	3	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Delivery › Fuel pump	2	0	0	—
VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly; Windshield wiper/washer › Switch/wiring	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 › Instrument cluster/panel
THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FINE IN THE MORNING, BUT AFTER WORK (APPROX 5 PM) IT EITHER DOES NOT WORK OR ONLY WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES/MILES. SOMETIMES TAPPING ON THE FRONT OF THE GAUGE HELPS IT RESUME REGISTERING THE SPEED, SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT HELP. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF VW GOLF/CABRIO/JETTA OF SIMILAR MODEL YEAR AS MINE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Feb 22, 2012 · 202,800 miles
Electrical system
IT IS SUSPECTED THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAULTY. BRAKE LIGHTS WILL CONSTANTLY BLOW, CAR WON'T START, DASHBOARD LIGHTS STAY OFF, SUNROOF WILL NOT WORK.*AK
Feb 9, 2004
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Switch/wiring
WHILE DRIVING WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, THEY COULD QUIT WORKING. HEADLIGHTS COULD BE ON, THEN TURN OFF.*AK
Nov 13, 2000
Structure › Body › Door
TRYING TO KEEP DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CLOSED AT ALL TIME, BUT COULD NEVER KEEP IT CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE DOOR CHANNEL. THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN THERE SINCE THE BEGINING.*AK
Oct 6, 2000
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
A/C COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER FAILED-VALVE DID NOT OPEN PROPERLY- NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT INSTEAD OF VALVE ONLY. COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW. NHTSA SHOULD HAVE THIS UNIT RECALLED. *AK
May 15, 2000
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
WIRING UNDER THE HOOD IS TERRIBLE- SUNROOF LATCH BROKE AFTER 2YEARS- BATTERY LEAKS 3 TIMES CAUSING DAMAGES TO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR TWICE, MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS SO OFTEN. PLASTIC PARTS THAT THE MFG ARE USING ARE BAD QUALITY THEREFORE CAUSING CONSTANT BREAKDOWS .. AK..
Jul 24, 2000
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Jul 10, 2000
Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery
BATTERY LEAKS - DESTROY THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. *AK
Mar 7, 1996

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

NHTSA defect investigations

HOOD LATCH FAILUREClosedLed to recall 98V160000
ODI HAS RECEIVED THREE REPORTS, INCLUDING THE PETITIONERS, REGARDING ALLEGED HOOD LATCH FAILURES.ALL OF THE ODI REPORTS INDICATE THE HOOD FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING.FOLLOWING A TELEPHONE INQUIRY, VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED ODI WITH SOME LIMITED INFORMATION REGARDING SIX ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF HOOD FLY-UP FOR MODEL YEARS 1995 AND 1996.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.DEFECT DESCRIPTION:IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ON SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH MAY LOSE THEIR SPECIFIED FASTENING TORQUE OVER TIME.SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THE LATCH COULD MOVE OUT OF ITS DESIGN POSITION AND CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.IN SOME VEHICLES THE LATCH MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ALIGNED DURING PRODUCTION.REPEATED OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HOOD WITH AN IMPROPERLY ALIGNED LATCH COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE LATCH.EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN…
PE98037 · opened Jul 1, 1998 · closed Jul 20, 1998
HOOD FLY-UPClosed
There is no summary currently available
DP98006 · opened Jun 11, 1998 · closed Jul 1, 1998