2017 Volkswagen GOLF

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Volkswagen GOLF has 145 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: while traveling at highway speeds the vehicle flashed the epc warning light and suddenly lost all power and rapidly decelerated. the car had to coast off the highway and would not respond to throttle input once stopped. car was turned off and on which resulted in "limp" mode but car was unsafe to dr.

3 crash reports 6 injuries

145

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

FUEL SYSTEM

56 complaints

39%

• WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE FLASHED THE EPC WARNING LIGHT AND SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED. THE CAR HAD TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE INPUT ONCE STOPPED. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND ON WHICH RESULTED IN "LIMP" MODE BUT CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DR
• EVAP CANISTER FAILED WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I FIRST NOTICED WHEN I WAS PUMPING GAS ONE DAY, I OPENED MY TANK AND HEARD A LOUD WOOSH NOISE LIKE PRESSURE HAD BEEN BUILDING UP INSIDE THE GAS TANK. I THEN WENT TO FILL UP MY TANK AND GOT MAYBE $3 WORTH OF GAS IN THE TANK BEFORE THE PUMP
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND VAPOR CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RE

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

“WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE FLASHED THE EPC WARNING LIGHT AND SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED. THE CAR HAD TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE INPUT ONCE STOPPED. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND ON WHICH RESULTED IN "LIMP" MODE BUT CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

18 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MISFIRED IN ALL CYLINDERS; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CLEARED THE SYSTEM AND WA
• VEHICLE HAD 300 MILES ON ENGINE WHEN LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR REGISTERED. CAUSE WAS METAL SHAVINGS IN OIL, ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER AS TOLD TO DEALER. MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTED DEALER TO REPLACE ENGINE AND ALL ASSOCIATED PARTS LUBRICATED BY ENGINE OIL AND SEND NON-FUNCTIONING ENGINE TO MANUFACTUR
• THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND WATER PUMP, COOLANT LOSS AND LEAK. DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING MARCH 2019 (24,000MI), 12/22/19 (37,400MI) ANOTHER COOLANT LEAK LIKELY FROM SECOND THERMOSTATE OR ORIGNAL WATER PUMP WHICH WAS SAID NOT TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED. CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR PREEMPTIVEL

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MISFIRED IN ALL CYLINDERS; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CLEARED THE SYSTEM AND WA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

12 complaints

• ON 6/21/17, A SUV CAR REAR-ENDED MY VEHICLE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING IN TOWN ABOUT 4-6 MPH BECAUSE I HAD SLOWED DOWN AND WAS PREPARING TO STOP FOR AN AMBER LIGHT. WHEN THE PERSON HIT MY CAR, MY HEAD AND UPPER BODY WERE VIOLENTLY THRUST FORWARD AND BACK AS MY HEAD HIT NEAR THE BOTTOM AREA OF MY HEADRES
• ON 10/17/17 AT 6:30 PM, I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IN SLOW TRAFFIC IN TOWN WHEN A MAN DRIVING IN BACK OF ME WAS LOOKING DOWN SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND DISTRACTED (WAS ON HIS PHONE ALTHOUGH HE SAID HE FELL ASLEEP) WHEN HE HIT THE BACK (REAR-ENDED) MY CAR. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. MY HEAD AND BODY THRU
• SHATTERED SUNROOF FOR 2017 VW GOLF GTI. SUNROOF SHATTERED FOLLOWING A LOUD NOISE WITH NO OBVIOUS DIRECT CAUSE. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AHEAD AND NO OVERHEADS OR BRIDGES IN THE AREA. EVENT TOOK PLACE ON AUGUST 16TH, 2018 ON A SUNNY MORNING (75-80F), AT 45-55MPH. THE ENTIRE SUNROOF CRACKED FOLLOWING

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

“ON 6/21/17, A SUV CAR REAR-ENDED MY VEHICLE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING IN TOWN ABOUT 4-6 MPH BECAUSE I HAD SLOWED DOWN AND WAS PREPARING TO STOP FOR AN AMBER LIGHT. WHEN THE PERSON HIT MY CAR, MY HEAD AND UPPER BODY WERE VIOLENTLY THRUST FORWARD AND BACK AS MY HEAD HIT NEAR THE BOTTOM AREA OF MY HEADRES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

10 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MISFIRED IN ALL CYLINDERS; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CLEARED THE SYSTEM AND WA
• THE SUNROOF LEAKS WATER FROM ALL FOUR COUNTERS INTO THE VEHICLE: HEADLINER, SEATS, CARPET AND DASHBOARD. WARNING SIGNALS/ERRORS MESSAGES: AIR BAG, TRACTION, ENGINE LIGHT. 2500 MILES ON VEHICLE PURCHASED 3/18 NEW. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY DURING A MAJOR RAIN STORM.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V464000 (STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. VOLKSWAG

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

7 complaints

• ON 10/17/17 AT 6:30 PM, I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IN SLOW TRAFFIC IN TOWN WHEN A MAN DRIVING IN BACK OF ME WAS LOOKING DOWN SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND DISTRACTED (WAS ON HIS PHONE ALTHOUGH HE SAID HE FELL ASLEEP) WHEN HE HIT THE BACK (REAR-ENDED) MY CAR. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. MY HEAD AND BODY THRU
• THE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF AS TICKING/CLICKING/CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE B-PILLAR WHEN THE BODY OF THE CAR FLEXES, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROAD (EVEN AT PARKING LOT SPEED). AFTER THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO ADDRESS IT BY REPLACING INTERIOR PANELS AND APPLYIN
• SUNROOF SHADE WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED. REPAIRED TWICE BY DEALERSHIP. 12/7/19 DRIVING ON ROAD (NO TRAFFIC OR VEHICLES NEARBY), SUDDENLY LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND, SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHATTERED, BLEW OUT BASKETBALL SIZE HOLE IN SUNROOF GLASS BEFORE COMPLETELY SHATTERING ENTIRE SUNROOF GLASS. VEHICLE WAS MO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“ON 10/17/17 AT 6:30 PM, I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IN SLOW TRAFFIC IN TOWN WHEN A MAN DRIVING IN BACK OF ME WAS LOOKING DOWN SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND DISTRACTED (WAS ON HIS PHONE ALTHOUGH HE SAID HE FELL ASLEEP) WHEN HE HIT THE BACK (REAR-ENDED) MY CAR. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. MY HEAD AND BODY THRU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 145 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
FUEL SYSTEM: WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE FLASHED THE EPC WARNING LIGHT AND SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED. THE CAR HAD TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE INPUT ONCE STOPPED. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND ON WHICH RESULTED IN "LIMP" MODE BUT CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MISFIRED IN ALL CYLINDERS; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CLEARED THE SYSTEM AND WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: ON 6/21/17, A SUV CAR REAR-ENDED MY VEHICLE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING IN TOWN ABOUT 4-6 MPH BECAUSE I HAD SLOWED DOWN AND WAS PREPARING TO STOP FOR AN AMBER LIGHT. WHEN THE PERSON HIT MY CAR, MY HEAD AND UPPER BODY WERE VIOLENTLY THRUST FORWARD AND BACK AS MY HEAD HIT NEAR THE BOTTOM AREA OF MY HEADRES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MISFIRED IN ALL CYLINDERS; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CLEARED THE SYSTEM AND WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)