2015 Volkswagen GOLF

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Volkswagen GOLF has 183 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: 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. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 7 crash reports 12 injuries

183

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

30 complaints

16%

• 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 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 SEN
• 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://

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

13%

• 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
• 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.
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

22 complaints

12%

• 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
• FAILURE OF ADBLUE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED PUMP FAILED AGAIN BEFORE LEAVING WORK BAY
• AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER, DROPPING DOWN TO ABOUT 30MPH. SHUTTING ENGINE OFF CORRECTS BUT WILL REOCCUR NEXT TIME VEHICLE IS STARTED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR THE DAY. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

20 complaints

11%

• AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT RECOGNIZING OCCUPANT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AIRBAG IS OFF WITH SEAT OCCUPIED. CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ASK ABOUT RECALL 69L6 WHICH DESCRIBES THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD OUR VIN WAS NOT IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH YOUR WEBSITE GIVES OUR MANUFACTURE DATE OF 18 JULY 2014 AS INSID
• 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 I
• 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

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

“AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT RECOGNIZING OCCUPANT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AIRBAG IS OFF WITH SEAT OCCUPIED. CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ASK ABOUT RECALL 69L6 WHICH DESCRIBES THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD OUR VIN WAS NOT IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH YOUR WEBSITE GIVES OUR MANUFACTURE DATE OF 18 JULY 2014 AS INSID”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

18 complaints

10%

• 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 CO
• 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 CO
• 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 AN

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

“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 CO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 183 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT RECOGNIZING OCCUPANT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AIRBAG IS OFF WITH SEAT OCCUPIED. CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ASK ABOUT RECALL 69L6 WHICH DESCRIBES THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD OUR VIN WAS NOT IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH YOUR WEBSITE GIVES OUR MANUFACTURE DATE OF 18 JULY 2014 AS INSID
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)