11 of the
152 complaints about the 2001 Volkswagen Golf are about the
braking system — 7% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
38,000 miles.
2001 VW GOLF WITH 192285 MI EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO SYSTEMS THAT ARE MOUNTED ON THE REAR HATCH BACK DOOR, (THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, REAR DEFROSTERS, AND WIPER). UPON INSPECTION OF THE WIRING HARNESS FOUND THE WIRING CHAFFED AND OR BROKEN AT POINT WHERE THE HARNESS PASSES THROUGH THE HARNESS SHIELD. (WHERE THE HARNESS PASSES FROM THE CAR BODY TO THE LIFT GATE)
NHTSA complaint #10344990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,895 milesBrooklyn, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DT: BRAKE PADS IN THE REAR WORE OUT. HAD CHANGED BRAKE PADS AT LEAST 3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR. SEAMS ON THE DISCS WORE OFF. SINCE OCTOBER UNTIL NOW THE INSIDE OF THE DISCS WORE OUT AT LEAST 1/8 OF INCH.
NHTSA complaint #10121706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 38,000 milesCedar Hill, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES AROUND 38000 MILES. FRONT BRAKES WERE FINE BUT HAD TO HAVE THE REAR REBUILD. WAS TOLD THAT THE PADS WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND HAD TO BE RE-SHIMMED. I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT VW SHOULD COVER.
NHTSA complaint #10074628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,000 milesChula Vista, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILURE, PREMATURE REAR BRAKE PAD FAILURE, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION, WATER PUMP FAILURE, THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10059993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesHowell, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2001 VW GOLF. I HAD TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES REPLACED AT AROUND 36,000 MILES. BUT THE FRONT BRAKES LOOK LIKE THEY'RE BRAND NEW. I FEEL THAT VW HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND WON'T ADMIT IT. I DON'T FEEL TO SAFE KNOWING THAT THE CAR IS ONLY STOPPING ON THE REAR BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10047002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TXCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE IN "PARK" IN TWO OCCASIONS (CAR ACCELERATED AND JUMPED FORWARD WHILE BEING ON "PARK" AND WHILE DRIVER WAS BRAKING) . JAN 2002 LIMITED DAMAGES// JUNE 2002 SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES.
NHTSA complaint #763871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Queens Village, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
CONSUMER STATES THE REAR BRAKES WERE NOISY.
NHTSA complaint #562822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ridgeport, CTCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED AND CONSUMERS VEHICLE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR BECAUSE BRAKES FELLED TO STOP PROPERLY. CONSUMER FEELS THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE RECALL 02 V 031 000 FOR THE ABS SYSTEM. CONSUMERS VEHICLE ID# WAS NOT INCLUDED.PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8008227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manchester, CT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1ST INCIDENT IN 6/2001. ABS LIGHTS ON. SENT TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING. INDICATED THERE WAS NO INTERNAL MALFUNCTIONING. CHECKED THE SYSTEM AND CLEARED THE FAULT. BLED THE ABS SYSTEM. DURING 1ST SERVICE, ALSO COMMUNICATED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP FOUND BAD SPIRAL SPRING. CAR SENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR 2ND TIME ON 6/15/01. ABS LIGHTS ON AGAIN. DEALERSHIP INDICATED NO COMMUNICATION IN DATA BUS CIRCUIT SPORADIC. FAULT IN ENGINE. IMMOBILIZER AND GATEWAY NO COMMUNICATION WITH ABS. CHECKED DATA LINK RESISTER VALUE IN ENGINE ECU WITH BREAK OUT BOX. ORDERED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER & REPLACED CLUSTER. CLEARED FAULTS. 3RD INCIDENT ON 6/20/01. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON AND OFF. DEALERSHIP FOUND POOR GROUND AT GROUND CONNECTION # 65. INCIDENT # 4. CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 10/2/01. BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES UPON STARTUP. RED ORDER PLACED. ABS CONTROL UNIT ORDERED FROM GERMANY. WITHOUT CAR FOR 2-WEEKS. INSTALLED NEW ABS CONTROL UNIT. BLED BRAKES, CODE ECM, CLEARED FAULTS, GOT & CODED IMMOBILIER; SET READINESS CODE. 5TH INCIDENT. CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 4/6 AFTER ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON FOR 15 MINUTES DURING EMISSIONS INSPECTION. SHUT ENGINE AND RESTARTED CAR. ABS LIGHT ON FOR A FEW MINUTES.
NHTSA complaint #760463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Millis, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ENGINE DIED 3 TIMES AND IT WAS FIXED. THEN THE CRUISE WASN'T WORKING AND IT WAS FIXED. ALSO PERIODICALLY THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS WHILE DRIVING, DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG FOUND. ON 12/31/2001 AFTER STARTING CAR ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, I ASKED THEM TO RECHECK IT MAYBE THE DASHBOARD IS DEFECTIVE(SHORT CIRCUIT).
NHTSA complaint #756489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Queens Village, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
CONSUMER STATES THE REAR BRAKES WERE NOISY.
NHTSA complaint #562822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.