Worst years for a Volkswagen Golf
Owners have filed 2,009 complaints about the Volkswagen Golf with NHTSA across model years 1985 to 2023. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.
Avoid
2015 Volkswagen Golf185 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.
Every Volkswagen Golf year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | A | 22 | 0 | 0 | — | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| 2022 | C | 132 | 0 | 0 | — | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| 2021 | A | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
| 2020 | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
| 2019 | C | 88 | 2 | 0 | 572 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2018 | C | 38 | 0 | 0 | 3,050 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2017 | D | 145 | 4 | 0 | 21,000 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2016 | C | 115 | 1 | 0 | 31,773 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2015 | F | 185 | 15 | 7 | 20,750 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2014 | B | 14 | 1 | 0 | 38,950 | Airbags |
| 2013 | C | 67 | 3 | 3 | 50,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2012 | D | 68 | 6 | 0 | 14,386 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2011 | F | 151 | 6 | 4 | 28,000 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2010 | C | 97 | 3 | 0 | 39,793 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2009 | — | 5 | 0 | 0 | 75,200 | Brakes |
| 2008 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2007 | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 2006 | C | 16 | 3 | 0 | 70,000 | Acceleration & Cruise Control |
| 2005 | A | 27 | 1 | 0 | 55,000 | Airbags |
| 2004 | C | 33 | 3 | 1 | 35,000 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2003 | C | 32 | 0 | 8 | 77,044 | Airbags |
| 2002 | D | 98 | 5 | 0 | 51,000 | Airbags |
| 2001 | D | 152 | 5 | 3 | 70,896 | Airbags |
| 2000 | C | 118 | 4 | 1 | 52,028 | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| 1999 | C | 76 | 3 | 1 | 72,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 1998 | A | 28 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 1997 | — | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 1996 | — | 4 | 0 | 2 | — | Doors, Latches & Locks |
| 1995 | C | 84 | 5 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
| 1994 | C | 57 | 3 | 6 | — | Electrical System |
| 1993 | A | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
| 1992 | — | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 1991 | — | 11 | 1 | 0 | — | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| 1990 | — | 10 | 1 | 2 | — | Seat Belts |
| 1989 | — | 41 | 2 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 1988 | — | 9 | 0 | 2 | — | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| 1987 | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 1986 | — | 20 | 0 | 2 | — | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 1985 | — | 15 | 0 | 2 | — | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
What breaks on a Volkswagen Golf
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Exactly what failed on a Volkswagen Golf
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every Volkswagen Golf, by the month it reached NHTSA.
Volkswagen Golf problems by state
Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.
Compare the Volkswagen Golf
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.