100 of the
2,009 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Golf
are about the braking system —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
ABS pump and module have failed according to my mechanic. ABS lights and traction control lights are on all the time. If I were to drive this car on the road, and I would have to make an emergency stop, my brakes would lock up and I would slide. This is an extreme safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11690351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the ABS control module. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC)); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 107,000.
NHTSA complaint #11603240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Golf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) however, the dealer declined to repair the vehicle due to the ABS and ESC warning lights being illuminated. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a failure with the ESC and ABS warning lights being illuminated. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11595139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Purchased vehicle brand new from Seacoast VW in Greenland, NH in March of 2020. In February of 2022 with just 12804 miles on this vehicle I had them check a problem with noisy rear brakes. I was informed that the rear brakes were delaminating and needed replacement for around $800. As this was beyond the 12 month warranty that this charge was not to be covered. After much negotiation I agreed to pay 20% of the parts & labor charge and they would pick up the remaining 80% as a one time goodwill because I was a loyal VW customer. The excuse that was given to me at that time is that I didn't drive enough miles & rust on the rotor caused the delamination. Jump forward to April 2024 I again was told my rear brakes were delaminating and would not pass the NH state safety inspection. The service consultant was very surprised that they had already replaced the rear brakes in 2022! I was again told this was because I did not drive enough. I then called VW Customer Care phone number that the dealer provided to see if VW would provide some financial relief. The woman who answered the phone was very polite and understood my frustration that brakes would fail after only 12000 miles but after checking with her supervisor informed me that VW would not help with this Safety problem. I then asked her if I was the only one who has experienced this problem And she emphatically stated that I was not the only complaint for this problem and even suggested that I keep all of my records for possible reimbursement in a future recall due to the significant number of complaints that VW has had with this problem. This is a severe safety problem that VW is trying to sweep under the rug and needs to be investigated so VW bears the cost of this and not the many customers that have so far had to bear the expense that is an actual design flaw!
NHTSA complaint #11581354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was almost rear ended because Hill hold assist did not disengage quickly. I’ve driven manual transmission for over 40 years and find this hill hold dangerous!
NHTSA complaint #11569730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
All 2022 & 2023 Volkswagen GTI & R models with manual transmissions are impacted by this safety issue. When making a stop on any amount of road grade/hill, the vehicle brakes fully engage and will not disengage when removing your foot from the brake pedal, or by engaging or disengaging the clutch, or by applying throttle. Upon releasing the brake pedal, there is a programmed waiting period of 2-3 seconds where the brakes remain fully engaged, and the vehicle is unable to move regardless of the driver input. Once the waiting period expires, the vehicle begins an uncontrolled roll-back and the driver is able to engage or release the clutch and apply throttle for forward movement. During this waiting period, after the brake pedal is released, any vehicle input will cause a stall. During this waiting period the vehicle brake lights have turned off so drivers behind you believe you have begun forward movement, and they are likely to rearend your vehicle. If you re-apply the brake pedal, the waiting period resets, and you must go through the 2-3 second waiting period again. This feature creates a danger of entering or crossing traffic because the driver cannot 'time' when they will have the ability to move the vehicle, it also creates a danger of stalling the vehicle on a hill or while entering traffic. While in traffic on an uphill gradient, the feature continually engages the brakes and creates waiting periods; this is the case even on an uphill gradient while on an interstate causing continual extended stops. The feature cannot be turned off by the driver. VW Dealerships are unable to turn off the feature. Aftermarket tuning companies are unable to disable this feature. Please cross check your records as this is not an isolated safety complaint regarding these vehicles. Previous model years had an option to turn on a hill-assist feature that held the vehicle from a roll back. The 2022-2023 model year feature creates a roll back and prevents driver inputs.
NHTSA complaint #11540744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Faulty door wiring harness leading driver side blinkers to stop working, windows randomly rolling down, rear collision detector errors, engine start/stop errors.
NHTSA complaint #11502342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle exhibits multiple electrical and systems faults related to the airbags, TMPS, ABS, etc, as similarly described in 07/26/2019 Volkswagen Technical Tip 97-1902TT. Vehicle interior and sunroof tray is wet in various places. These issues raise concerns as they relate to safety and drivability. Upon inspection, the plastic sunroof tray is apparently cracked in multiple places as described in 12/06/2016 Volkswagen TSB 2045403 (supersedes V601608 November 22, 2016) and referenced again in Volkswagen Update 60C7. According to dealership records, the sunroof tray was claimed repaired per Volkswagen Update 60C7. This does not seem to be true.
NHTSA complaint #11497479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My shift knob would pop out of place easily almost everyday. One day it popped out of place and when I popped it back in it wouldn’t go into any gear at all. I was stuck on the side of the road until it eventually let me go into 1st, 3rd, and 4th but not 2nd. It took longer for it to even let me into 2nd. My car is also having electric issues. Out of nowhere it’ll say that my front sensors aren’t working. My parking brake also has gone out a few times to where I can’t even safely exit my car worried it’ll roll away. The car had a sound coming from the engine and come to find out a sensor was causing an oil leak and oil was getting on one of my belts. My shift knob also has a crack on it and it’s been there since before I hit 1k miles. My car has been at a VW shop for 2 months with no eta on parts.
NHTSA complaint #11486530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the hill assist engaged the brake longer while the brake pedal was not depressed. The contact mentioned that the vehicle stalled afterwards. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200.
NHTSA complaint #11458589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Forward collision warning malfunction made the safety feature become safety issues. I have to turn it off before I drive. Otherwise it automatically preforms hard break/ stop for no reasons, no matter how how fast am I driving, where and when. Even pulling out from parking lot w/ 5/10 mph at midnight when there is absolutely no one and nothing around or on the middle of the highway w/ 60mph in the afternoon.
NHTSA complaint #11453005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brake Booster Vacuum Line Fell off making me run a red light I could not stop the car in time. After getting the car stopped about 100 feet past the light I found that the Brake Booster Vacuum Line fell off its made of hard plastic that has become brittle it cracked at both ends. There was no warning lights even after it fell off. The part number of the hose is 130-612-041 I just wanted to let someone know before people start getting hurt...
NHTSA complaint #11422241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY VW WAS RETROFITTED AS REQUIRED TO MEET FEDERAL EMISSION AND CALIFORNIA STANDARDS FOLLOWING THE VW EMISSIONS SCANDAL RELATED TO VW DIESEL VEHICLES. MY CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE DEALER REPORTS IT NEEDS A DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER. HOWEVER, THE PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE NATIONWIDE. THE EMISSIONS ARE NOW OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
NHTSA complaint #11321438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (CHARLES MAUND VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 6900 BURNET RD, AUSTIN, TX 78757, PHONE NUMBER: (512) 458-1111) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED BUT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS REPLACED BUT ANOTHER YEAR LATER, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY AT 40 MPH, A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AND THE ABS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. IT WAS UNKNOWN WHAT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTER THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,085.
NHTSA complaint #11231957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF AIRBAGS THEY ARE, I'VE HAD TO HAVE MY CLUTCH REPLACED, WATERPUMP AND THERMOSTAT AND MY HEATER CORES, NOW MY COOLANT HOSE HAS GONE OUT ALL THIS IN LET THAN 3 MONTHS AND I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE, ROTORS TWO TIMES IN TWO YEARS IT'S GOT TO BE SOME WRONG I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR IT ONLY HAVE 72686 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #11230853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. BRAKES - BACKING AND PUTTING BRAKES ON THEN INTO DRIVE THERE IS A POPPING NOISE FROM THE REAR END. BRAKES SQUEAK AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS THEY SQUEAL AND GRAB, WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS THEY GRIND. THIS HAS BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW UNTIL NOW. TWO DEALERSHIPS STATE "THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO". 2. COOLANT - CONTINUOUS COOLANT SMELL IN CAB AND AROUND CAR AFTER DRIVING FOR ANY DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED CAP, RESERVOIR AND HOSES. STATE, "NOTHING MORE TO DO UNTIL A RECALL COMES OUT".
NHTSA complaint #11230514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE IN THE NUMBER 2 LANE ON THE FREEWAY, USING CRUISE CONTROL, WE APPROACHED A SEMI TRUCK IN THE NUMBER 3 LANE. WE WERE MOVING MORE QUICKLY THAN THE SEMI TRUCK AND DID NOT CHANGE LANES NOR DID THE SEMI TRUCK. THE FREEWAY WAS STRAIGHT. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM TURNED ON AND ENGAGED THE BRAKES WHEN OUR CAR REACHES APPROXIMATELY THE REAR AXLE OR IS NEXT TO THE BACK MIDDLE OF THE SEMI TRUCK. BRAKES ENGAGE IN THE SAME FASHION THEY DO AS IF THERE WAS A HAZARD IN FRONT OF US. TO BE CLEAR, NOTHING AT ALL IS IN FRONT OF US, JUST THE SEMI TRUCK TO OUR RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #11210177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNDER NORMAL OPERATION THE RELEASE BUTTON FOR THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE CAN COME OUT AND RESULT IN THE PARKING BRAKE NOT CLICKING INTO THE ENGAGED POSITION. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR WAS UNATTENDED IT WOULD RESULT IN THE CAR ROLLING AWAY AND POSSIBLY KILLING OR INJURING SOMEONE.
NHTSA complaint #11208271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.