2011 Volkswagen GOLF

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Volkswagen GOLF has 151 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: 2011 volkswagen golf tdi. consumer writes in regards to hpfp investigation *tgw. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 4 crash reports 2 injuries

151

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

FUEL SYSTEM

53 complaints

35%

• 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TDI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HPFP INVESTIGATION *TGW
• ENGINE STALLED WHILE MOVING ON THE LEFT-HAND TURN LANE. BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE CAR HAD POWER BUT IT COULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE VW DEALER. DIAGNOSIS: BURNED FUEL PUMP FUSE (BLUE 15A). FUSE REPLACED AND THE CAR IS RUNNING.
• MODEL YEAR 2011 MAKE VOLKSWAGEN MODEL GOLF TDI DIESEL COMPONENT HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN) [XXX] * COMPONENT FAILURE OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP JUNE 21, 2011, MY VW GOLF TDI QUITE RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC IN SAN FRANCISCO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TDI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HPFP INVESTIGATION *TGW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

26 complaints

17%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STALL IF THE GEAR WAS DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE CONTINU
• VEHICLE HAS 5800 MILES, HAS BEEN RUNNING PERFECTLY. DRIVING ON I-70 IN MARYLAND AT 70MPH, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLS AS THE GLOWPLUG WARNING LIGHT LIT. *TR
• 2011 GOLF TDI AUTOMATIC (DSG) TRANSMISSION. COLD START, STALLED WHILE PULLING ONTO MAIN ROAD, NO ACCIDENT ONLY BECAUSE ONCOMING TRAFFIC STOPPED. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STALL IF THE GEAR WAS DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE CONTINU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

21 complaints

14%

• 2011 GOLF TDI (DIESEL) WHEN DOWN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, THE CAR OFTEN STALLS. IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN WE SLOW DOWN TO MAKE ALEFT TURN, AND THE CAR STALLS IN FRON OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT HAS CREATED A NUMBER A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
• TWICE THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TO ENGAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR WAS SLOWED WITHOUT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE ENGINE REVS FREELY AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. IN BOTH CASES THE TRANSMISSION EVENTUALLY RE-ENGAGED ON ITS OWN. *TR
• MY BRAND NEW 2011 VW GOLF TDI MANUAL CAR STALLS AT LAUNCH MUCH TOO EASILY. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS FOR 40 YEARS AND HAVE FOUND IT MUCH WORSE THAN THE MAZDA MIATA WHICH WAS POOR. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS MODEL, AS CONFIRMED BY MY TEST DRIVE, MAGAZINE REVIEWS, AND THE SALESP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2011 GOLF TDI (DIESEL) WHEN DOWN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, THE CAR OFTEN STALLS. IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN WE SLOW DOWN TO MAKE ALEFT TURN, AND THE CAR STALLS IN FRON OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT HAS CREATED A NUMBER A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

18 complaints

12%

• WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL I.E. TO SHIFT IN D (WHEN STANDING) , IT FEELS LIKE BEING REARENDED. INTENSITY OF THE PULSE OR SHUDDER VARIES, AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT OCCUR. LAST WEEK, SUTLIFF TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MANAGER ON DUTY FELT THE PULSE, AND IN ADDITION A DISPLAY LIGHT EPC CAME ON, AND THE DIS
• ENGINE STALLED WHILE MOVING ON THE LEFT-HAND TURN LANE. BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE CAR HAD POWER BUT IT COULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE VW DEALER. DIAGNOSIS: BURNED FUEL PUMP FUSE (BLUE 15A). FUSE REPLACED AND THE CAR IS RUNNING.
• THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2011 VW GTI IS OFF, IT SHOWS I'M GOING FASTER THAN MY ACTUAL SPEED. *KB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL I.E. TO SHIFT IN D (WHEN STANDING) , IT FEELS LIKE BEING REARENDED. INTENSITY OF THE PULSE OR SHUDDER VARIES, AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT OCCUR. LAST WEEK, SUTLIFF TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MANAGER ON DUTY FELT THE PULSE, AND IN ADDITION A DISPLAY LIGHT EPC CAME ON, AND THE DIS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

12 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH , ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER THE ACTUAL IMPACT AND NOT DURING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CHEST CONTUSION, MULTIPLE BRUISES TO
• YESTERDAY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW SAYING MY CAR WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR A TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE. THE LETTER SAID PARTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS AND TO DO NOTHING AT THIS TIME. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A HONDA CRV THAT WAS ALSO AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THEY WERE PROVIDED WITH A RENTAL CAR
• TAKATA RECALL HELLO NHTSA, I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS A CONCERN THAT I HAVE REGARDING MY 2011 VW GOLF TDI. MY CONCERN IS THAT VEHICLES AFFECTED BY BOTH THE TAKATA RECALL AND THE VW "CLEAN DIESEL" TDI EMISSIONS SCANDAL WILL NOT BE GIVEN EQUAL PRIORITY BY VW THROUGHOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL AND REPLA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH , ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER THE ACTUAL IMPACT AND NOT DURING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CHEST CONTUSION, MULTIPLE BRUISES TO ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 151 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
FUEL SYSTEM: 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TDI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HPFP INVESTIGATION *TGW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STALL IF THE GEAR WAS DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE CONTINU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 2011 GOLF TDI (DIESEL) WHEN DOWN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, THE CAR OFTEN STALLS. IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN WE SLOW DOWN TO MAKE ALEFT TURN, AND THE CAR STALLS IN FRON OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT HAS CREATED A NUMBER A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL I.E. TO SHIFT IN D (WHEN STANDING) , IT FEELS LIKE BEING REARENDED. INTENSITY OF THE PULSE OR SHUDDER VARIES, AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT OCCUR. LAST WEEK, SUTLIFF TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MANAGER ON DUTY FELT THE PULSE, AND IN ADDITION A DISPLAY LIGHT EPC CAME ON, AND THE DIS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)