Volkswagen · Golf · 2020
2
Recalls
6
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2020 Volkswagen Golf has 2 recalls and 6 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: electrical system (1 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
13.4% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Remedy Status
Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Remedy Status
Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that there was a leak in the evaporative emissions system after scanning the vehicle and retrieving DTC: P0456. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
While driving with the cruise control set to 55 mph, the car began an uncommanded acceleration. When I looked down on the dashboard display I noticed that the cruise control target speed was set to 95 mph. I switched of the cruise control and resumed manual control of the speed. When I switch the cruise control back on I observed the target speed rapidly increase from the intended 55 mph to 95 mph accompanied by moderate vehicle acceleration. I again switched off the cruise control and resumed manual control of the speed. Sometime later during the drive a cruise control error message appeared on the dashboard. Subsequently the problem was identified as a faulty cruise control switch (part number 5G0-959-442-AE-ICX). The switch was replaced and the fault has not reoccurred over a few hundred miles of driving. While this malfunction can be overridden using the normal cruise control disconnect procedures, uncommanded acceleration poses a safety risk to driver and other motorists or pedestrians.
I turn my vehicle on and immediately and presented with a message on the dashboard display: "SOS Emergency Call Function Not Available: See Dealer." indicating that the emergency call function of the vehicle is not working and inaccessible. The problem was reproduced/observed by my Volkswagen dealer and was inspected/confirmed to be defective. There was no indication before this warning message that there was an issue with the emergency call function in the vehicle. Without this safety feature, I am unable to make an emergency call if I/my family are in an accident putting us and others in danger. The original issue was reported to my Volkswagen dealer in September, 2023 and I was told the part is "on backorder" with no promised date when it would become available. The part involved is number J949 - Emergency Call and Communication Unit.
The sunroof exploded while driving without warning and with no impact. The sliding cloth cover was closed at the time, so thankfully little to no glass entered the car, but it was very loud and, had the cover been open, would have filled the car with glass. The sunroof has since been fixed through my insurance, but it took 8-9 months to get completely fixed, and the local VW dealership refused to work on it and had no recommendations.
I PURCHASED A VW GOLF 2020 ON AUGUST 18TH, WHAT HAPPENED TO ME A WEEK LATER NOT ONLY DISAPPOINTED ME BUT ALSO SACRED ME. I DROVE THE CAR ON THE STREET AT THE SPEED ABOUT 25MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED! I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PEDAL, IT DIDN'T RESPOND AT ALL. IT SHOWED "DRIVE MANNUALLY' AND THEN SEVERAL LIGHTS WERE ON, EPC, ENGINEER CHECKING LIGHT ETC, LIGHTS WERE OFF A FEW SECONDS LATER. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME AND NOT ON THE FREEWAY! AT THAT MOMENT, THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL, I LET IT MOVE FORWARD THEN PULLED UP. A MINUTE LATER, I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS BACK TO THE NORMAL. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. I TOLD WHAT HAPPENED AND ALSO I FELT IT LACK OF POWER, SOMETIME IT RESPOND SLOWLY. HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, I WAS TOLD NOTHING WRONG WAS BEEN DETECT AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH IT, SINCE THE COMPUTER DIDN'T TELL THERE WERE ANY ISSUES. ALSO I WAS TOLD TAT A MECHANIC TEST DRIVE ABOUT TEN MILES NOT TO DUPLICATE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. SO I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT HOME. HOWEVER, I STOPPED AT THE STOP SIDE, THE VEHICLE WAS KIND OF DEAD AGAIN! MY CAR STOPPED THERE AND COULD NOT MOVE FOR A FEW SECONDS, A GUY BEHIND ME PRESSED THE HONK. I WAS SO SACARY THAT I WAS AFRAID OF DRIVE HOME VIA THE FREEWAY! I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN, I TOLD THEM I DON'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE IT AT ALL UNLESS YOU FIGURE IT OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. I TOLD THE MECHANIC THAT I USED TO DRIVE GOLF 2011 FOR FIVE YEARS, MY EXPERIENCE TOLD ME THERE ARE SOMETHING NOT RIGHT WITH THIS CAR, IT LACKS OF POWER AND DOESN'T RESPOND PROPERLY FOR GAS PEDAL AND I CAN SENSE IT CLEARLY. HOWEVER, HE SAID HE MIGHT NOT DO ANYTHING IF THE COMPUTER DOESN'T TELL HIM WHAT ISSUES IT HAS. I LEFT THE CAR FOR THEM TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING.
THIS VEHICLE HAS PROXIMITY ALERT AUTOMATIC BRAKING. I EMERGENCY STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHEN THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO, NO HAZARD IN FRONT OF ME. I AM WORKING WITH THE DEALER AND VW TO TRY AND GET THIS DANGEROUS FEATURE PERMANENTLY DISABLED. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK BECAUSE IT EMERGENCY STOPPED THE CAR FOR NO REASON.
The 2020 Volkswagen Golf has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 6 owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf.
The 2020 Volkswagen Golf received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf are electrical system (1 reports), electronic stability control (esc) (1 reports), electrical system,exterior lighting,engine (1 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.