NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Volkswagen Golf. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
IN 3 SEPARATE INSTANCES, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65-72 MPH), THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS DISENGAGED, CAUSING SUDDEN AND RAPID DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. IN ALL INSTANCES, THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY, I WAS NOT TAILGATING, AND FEET WERE NOT NEAR THE BRAKE (I.E. I DID NOT ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE BRAKE). THIS IS A DANGEROUS SCENARIO. WILL BE TAKING THE CAR INTO DEALER IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT UNSURE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO REPRODUCE OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF GOLFS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE TDI FORUM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE FOR LONGER THAN A MONTH. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO WAIT UNTIL THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A TIME FRAME THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
2015 VW GOLF SPORTWAGEN TDI 2.0L THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT AND ALREADY TWICE I GET AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT (MIL) TO "REDUCE OIL LEVEL." I HAVEN'T EVEN TAKEN IT IN FOR ITS FIRST SERVICE YET AND NOW THIS. TOO MUCH OIL? I CHECKED THE LEVEL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DIP STICK INDICATES THE LEVEL IS WITHIN TOLERANCE.
THE FIRST TIME, BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN PARKING LOT STARTED TO GO FORWARD AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES LEAVING ME IN IN HARMS WAY TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC IT JUST SHUTS OFF ARBITRARILY NO TELLING WHEN ITS GOING TO HAPPEN. ALSO HAVE HAD PEOPLE IN THE CAR WITH ME WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED.[ KINDA LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE ] HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERS THREE TIMES INSIDE OF 2300 AND THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING. FIRST TIME 1 DAY SECOND TIME 7 DAYS, MORE THAN LIKELY 3 OR 4 MORE DAYS AT DEALER NOW. THREE OF THE TIMES HAPPENED JUST STARTING TO PULL OUT ON TO THE STREET. ONE IN A PARKING SPACE BACKED OUT STARTED TO GO AND IT DIED. ONE TIME TURNING ON CITY STREETS . TO ME MIGHT BE FUEL PUMP OR SOMETHING ELECTRICAL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE AXLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.
I LEASED THE E-GOLF FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND SUDDENLY CAR SHUT DOWN. AN ERROR "ERROR:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. STOP!" APPEARED. CAR STOPPED AND BLOCKED THE LANE. I CALLED VW SOS AND THEY CONNECTED ME TO 911. POLICE OFFICER CAME AND HELPED ME PULLING THE CAR TO THE ROADSIDE. THE WINDOWS AND MULTIMEDIA WORKED. TRIED TO PRESS THE POWER BUTTON OFF AND TURNED IT ON BUT SAME ERROR SHOWED. I WAITED FOR ONE HOUR TO TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALER. I GOT CAR BACK FROM DEALER 4 DAYS LATER, IN THEIR REPORT STATED " CHECKED FAULTS IN SYSTEM, FOUND P0C0100 DRIVE MOTOR A CURRENT HIGH. CONTACTED VW HELPLINE. VW HELPLINE ADVISED THESE FAULTS ARE RELATED TO CUSTOMER PRESSING START/STOP BUTTON WHILE DRIVING" , I'M PRETTY SURE I DIDN'T TOUCH THE POWER BUTTON WHEN DRIVING. AND THEY " CLEARED ALL FAULTS, SET BASIC SETTING FOR ELECTRIC DRIVE AND ROAD TESTED EXTENSIVELY FOR 90 MILES AND NO MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AT THIS TIME". I LIKE THE CAR'S DESIGN AND STILL DRIVING THE CAR DAILY BUT JUST REALLY REALLY WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY.
FAILURE OF ADBLUE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED PUMP FAILED AGAIN BEFORE LEAVING WORK BAY
THE VW EGOLF AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ITSELF OFF WHEN THE DRIVER EXITS THE VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH THE KEY IS LEFT IN THE VEHICLE, ONCE THE DRIVER EXITS THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. YOU INTENTIONALLY LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON TO ENSURE THE CABIN IS MAINTAINING A COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE FOR YOUR PASSENGERS... MEANWHILE, THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND DISABLES THE CLIMATE CONTROL. YOU HAVE NOW LEFT YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, ELDERLY, CHILDREN, PETS, ETC POSSIBLY IN A HOT VEHICLE WITH NO WAY TO MAINTAIN CABIN TEMPERATURE! PEOPLE, CHILDREN AND PETS DIE REGULARLY FROM CABIN EXTREME TEMPERATURES! PLEASE CONTACT VW AND TELL THEM TO REVERSE THIS PROGRAMING! A DRIVER/OWNER SHOULD HAVE CONTROL OVER THIS! I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN THE MARKET THAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ITSELF OFF WHEN THE DRIVER EXITS THE VEHICLE!
CAR HAS SHUT DOWN AFTER STOPPING 4 TIMES NOW STARTING IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR LAST INCIDENT WAS 11 SEPT 2015 TOOK TO KALAMAZOO VW SERVICE DID NOT FIND ANY FAULT CODES ALSO KEY FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK CAR WITHIN RANGE OR NOT START VEHICLE WILL STATE KEY FOB NOT IN RANGE WHEN TRYING TO START WITH KEY IN CAR.
I WAS DRIVING ON 210N PASADENA FWY WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AND OFF AVE43 AROUND 4AM. I TRIED TO TURN WHEEL FOR OFF BUT AIRBAG FROM WHEEL COME OUT WHILE I TURN OFF FWY AND THAT DAY I JUST WENT TO ONE OF VWDEALER FOR CHECK SOME THING AND AFTER THAT I GOT A LOGO OF VW ON MY HAND LIKE A TATTOO AND MY CAR IT WAS TOTAL LOSS. MY GIRLFRIEND SHE WAS PAIN INSIDE HER BACK BECAUSE WE BOTH GOT AN ACCIDENT FROM SOMEBODY HIT BEHIND MY CAR. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR AND FIRST TIME BUYER AND I NEVER KNOW ABOUT GAP INSURANCE ON THAT TIME I JUST BOUGHT FOR ABOUT 2MONTH AND STILL OWN THAT MONEY EFFECT TO MY CREDIT UNTIL NOW. MY JOB IS DRIVER AND I NEED A CAR SO HOW CAN I DO WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I'M A DRIVER WHO DRIVE THIS CAR WHEN I TRIED TO TURN LEFT THE VEHICLE HAS AIRBAG POP UP AND THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND HIT WHEN IM OFF THE FREEWAY
TAKATA RECALL
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:15V705 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 23R1 EXIT AVE43, WHILE I TRIED TO TURNED RIGHT FOR SMALL CURVED THE VEHICLE WAS BRAKING. THAT DAY I JUST WENT TO REPAIR MY TIRE I GOT SOME NAIL IN MY TIRE I'M NOT SURE THAT DEALER PUT THE AIR ENOUGH OR CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE OR NOT? I JUST GOT VEHICLE 40DAYS AND DEALER SHIP NOT PUT GAP THAT NOT OVER $2000 FOR MY NEW CAR BUT THEY PUT VWCARE FOR $2000 FOR ME. RECALL FOR NEW VEHICLE INCOMPLETE BEFORE SOLD FOR ME I GOT A REPORT THAT DEALER DIDN'T SEND THAT VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. FIRST TIME BUYER NEW CAR NO GAP BUT HAS VWCARE FOR $2000. I'M ASKING ABOUT RECALL THEY NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION.
UNSAFE 110N SR-43 OFF RAMP
I WAS IN HAYWARD ON THE 880 FREEWAY (FLAT, DRY ROAD) IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, IN THE HOV LANE GOING ABOUT 40 MPH, AND MY VW E-GOLF JUST SHUT DOWN AND SHOWED THE ERROR "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE: STOP!". I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO COAST 5 FEET OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE (CENTER DIVIDER) I COULD NOT MAKE IT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE LANE. CARS WERE LAYING ON THEIR HORN AND SPEEDING PAST ME WHILE MY BUMPER HUNG OUT A FOOT INTO THE LANE. THE CAR IS 3 MONTHS OLD. IT HAD A CHARGE OF 86 MILES WHEN IT HAPPENED, I HAD IT ON A CHARGING STATION IT SHOWED I CHARGED MY CAR ACCUMULATED (KWH): 29.523. THE RADIO, WINDOWS, BLUETOOTH AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL POWERED INSTRUMENTS STILL WORKED. I PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN , THE ERROR STILL REMAINED, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT "TURN ON".
I WAS TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES AN HOUR AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE WERE IN THE MID 90'S, TIME OF DAY WAS 6:00 PM, I HAD AIR CONDITIONING RUNNING AND SUNROOF AND INTERIOR SHADE TOTALLY CLOSED. AFTER THE EXPLOSION, THE SUNROOF WAS BOWED FROM THE INSIDE OUT (CONVEX CURVE) AND THE SAFETY GLASS WAS SHATTERED IN WEBLIKE PIECES. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND I WAS MISSING GLASS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOF ABOUT THE SIZE OF AN OBLONG WATERMELON.
THE MODEL ABOVE IS A GOLF TDI WITH A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION....AS I WAS DRIVING IN 6TH GEAR AT 60 M.P.H. WITH THE CRUISE ENGAGED I CAME UPON A DOWN GRADE AND AS I HAVE DONE FOR CLOSE TO 50 YEARS AND NUMEROUS STANDARD TRANSMISSION CARS, DOWN SHIFTED TO 5TH TO ALLOW ENGINE BRAKING DOWNHILL. WHEN I LET THE CLUTCH BACK OUT THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF SLOWING BECAUSE THE CRUISE NEVER CANCELLED. IT WAS TRYING TO BRING ME BACK TO THE SET 60 M.P.H. SET SPEED. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, GANLEY VW NORTH OLMSTEAD OHIO, ON 6/8/15, AND AFTER THEY LOOKED AT IT I WAS TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL" THIS WAS NEVER "NORMAL" WITH ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED AND IF SO IT DEFINITELY IS NOT A SAFE FEATURE.
WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES LAGS THEN ACCELERATES ABRUPTLY OR IT BUCKS TWICE BEFORE ACCELERATING SMOOTHLY. IT NEEDS A CALIBRATION UPDATE FOR THE POWERTRAIN. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ *CN
RURAL ROAD IN FLORIDA, CRUISE CONTROL SET TO SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MPH. APPROACHING A SHARP CURVE, I DOWN SHIFTED MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM 5TH TO 3RD TO SLOW DOWN TO AN APPROPRIATE SPEED OF ABOUT 35 MPH. WHEN I RELEASED THE CLUTCH, AND BEGAN STEERING INTO THE CURVE, THE CAR'S CRUISE CONTROL RE-ENGAGED AND I FOUND MYSELF STRUGGLING TO STEER AROUND THE CURVE AT 45 MPH. EXACT MODEL IS GOLF SPORTWAGEN TDI SEL WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. VW'S OWN INSTRUCTION VIDEO SAYS THAT WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL DIS-ENGAGES AND THAT THE DRIVER MUST PRESS THE RESUME BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BE RE-ENGAGED. IN MY 50 YEARS OF OPERATING AUTOMOBILES, EVERY CAR WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND A MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS OPERATED PER THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE VW VIDEO. UPON CAREFUL READING OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL I FOUND THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER: "CHANGING GEARS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVE ... THE CRUISE CONTROL REDUCES ACCELERATION AS SOON AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS PRESSED, AND AUTOMATICALLY CONTINUE TO REGULATE SPEED AFTER A GEAR CHANGE." THIS NON-STANDARD BEHAVIOR MAY SOON LEAD TO PEOPLE BEING KILLED. *TR
TWO FOAM PIECES, ONE ON THE LEFT AND THE OTHER ON THE RIGHT, IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ARE WRAPPED IN TRANSLUCENT VINYL. SINCE THE VINYL CANNOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT, IT CAN CAUSE FIRE. BELOW ARE PICTURES OF THE VINYL WRAPPED FOAM ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE WEB FOLDER ADDRESSES ARE CASE SENSITIVE. HTTPS://LH4.GOOGLEUSERCONTENT.COM/-TAJJEWYCJ6E/VUKQFQ8MJPI/AAAAAAAAB_E/4OZ-CUBFFRI/W1157-H868-NO/IMG_3101.JPG HTTPS://LH4.GOOGLEUSERCONTENT.COM/-APZJAK01WIM/VUKQGSDF26I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/PQUVYQ0OOKY/W1157-H868-NO/IMG_3112.JPG HTTPS://LH6.GOOGLEUSERCONTENT.COM/-JIXPGFG4D4Q/VUKQFRDJGMI/AAAAAAAAB_I/H5VKEOKW2G4/W1157-H868-NO/IMG_3104.JPG. *TR
THE PAINT NEAR A BOLT FOR ENGINE SUPPORT ON THIS ALLEGED NEW CAR IS DAMAGED, AND BARE METAL IS EXPOSED. AS THE RUST DEVELOPS, THE ENGINE SUPPORT MAY FAIL, AND THE ENGINE BLOCK MAY GO OUT OF POSITION. THIS CAN CAUSE FATAL ACCIDENT. BELOW IS THE PICTURE OF THE PAINT DAMAGE. THE WEB ADDRESS IS CASE SENSITIVE. HTTPS://LH3.GOOGLEUSERCONTENT.COM/-YVIYISDZMDO/VUVSSTKR7UI/AAAAAAAACBO/IEPTS_IAK4C/W1219-H914-NO/IMG_3189.JPG. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2015 VW GOLF TDI WITH 18" WHEELS AND LOW PROFILE PIRELLI TIRES AUGUST 2014. THIS VEHICLE WAS RE-ENGINEERED FOR THE US MARKET TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE UREA TANK THAT IS NEW AND SPECIFIC TO THE US TDI PLATFORM. ALL OTHER GOLF MODELS HAVE AN INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION SYSTEM WHILE THIS MODEL WAS DOWNGRADED TO A TORSION BEAM REAR SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED ON LOWER END MODELS WITH 16" WHEELS AND HIGHER PROFILE TIRES, BUT THE HIGH END VEHICLES HAVE THE 18" WHEELS AND LOW PROFILE TIRES AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. ON APRIL 25, I NOTICED A SIDEWALL BUBBLE ON A FRONT TIRE. VW REPLACED BOTH THE TIRE AND BENT RIM AND I WAS TOLD THE OTHER 3 RIMS WERE BENT. THEN THE OTHER FRONT TIRE HAD A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT AND BOTH THAT TIRE AND WHEEL WERE REPLACED. THE OTHER WEEK I ENDED UP WITH A SIDE WALL NAIL IN A REAR TIRE. THIS TIRE WAS REPLACED BUT NOT THE WHEEL AND I WAS TOLD THAT ALL WHEELS ARE BENT, INCLUDING THE 2 NEW WHEELS. I HAVE JUST UNDER 18000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, HAVE CALLED VW AMERICA AND WAS SENT THE SPEC SHEET ON THE CAR. I ASKED IF A CAR WITHOUT INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION WAS ENGINEERED FOR LOW PROFILE TIRES AND ASKED FOR SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN WHY I HAVE HAD 2 SIDEWALL ISSUES AND 6 BENT RIMS IN UNDER 18,000 MILES AND 11 MONTHS WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE OTHER THAN VW AMERICA SENDING THE SPEC SHEET. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ASKED FOR THE SPECIFIC ENGINEERING APPROVAL OF LOW PROFILE TIRES WITH THIS SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD VW AMERICA DOES NOT HAVE THIS INFORMATION AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE IT TO ME IF THEY DID.
WHILST DRIVING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 PM DURING HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC, APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE ELECTRONIC DRIVE SYSTEM OF THE VW EGOLF DIED. I LOST ALL POWER AND WAS FORCED TO PULL ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO REACH THE SAFETY OF THE SHOULDER. WHILE NO ACCIDENT, THAT WAS MORE LUCK THAN ANYTHING ELSE AND GRACE OF OTHER DRIVERS ALLOWING ME TO DIRECTLY MOVE IN FRONT OF THEM. VEHICLE HAD CODE P32B2 AND P060C REPORTED BY VW REPORT AND REPLACED PARTS: 5QE-907-070-C AND 12E-998-152-A. DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DESPITE MY CONTINUED REQUESTS IN TO THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. UPDATED 11/05/15 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. IT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE JULY 28, 2015. THEY WERE STILL UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AS OF AUGUST 26, 2015. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO POWER AS THE BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN. UPDATED 11/17/15. *JB
INSIDE WINDOWS IN THE WINTER AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES FROST OVER AFTER SITTING. I HAVE TO SCRAP MY WINDSHIELD , VW DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT IS BUILT THAT WAY. JAY THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME OTHER 2015 MODELS DO THE SAME THING AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. *JS
THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS FROM THE AIR VENTS. I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS FOR THE DEALER TO FIX IT, BUT THEIR RESPONSE IS "YOUR SERIAL NUMBERS ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL". THAT'S FINE, BUT IT SMELLS LIKE GAS INSIDE THE CAR! *TR
WHEN I'M IN TRAFFIC STOP AND GO BETWEEN 11MPH TO 18 MPH AT LOW RPM (1,100 TO 1,800 RPM) THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE SHAKING IN THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION LIKE I'M DRIVING A MANUAL CAR BUT MY CAR IS AUTOMATIC. NOW WHEN GOING UP A INCLINE AT 30 TO 33 MPH VEHICLE DOES THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
THE DRIVERS SIDE HIGH BEAM IS NOT AIMED PROPERLY, IT IS POINTED BELOW THE CUT-OFF LINE OF THE LOW BEAM. THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER TWICE BUT THE AIM WAS NOT IMPROVED. VOLKSWAGEN WAS CONTACTED, THEY EVALUATED THE SITUATION AND SAID THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED AND SO COULD NOT BE FIXED. THE DEALER ALSO SAID THAT THEY LOOKED AT OTHER CARS OF THIS SAME MODEL AND THEY ALL OPERATED THE SAME. BOTH THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM REFLECTORS ARE MOUNTED IN A COMMON HOUSING AND THE ASSEMBLY ONLY HAS ONE ADJUSTMENT SO BOTH BEAMS MOVE UP AND DOWN BY THE SAME AMOUNT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS ONLY ONE OF THE HIGH BEAMS IS ILLUMINATING THE ROAD. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026