FaultScore

Volkswagen Golf door lock problems

32 of the 2,009 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Golf are about the doors, latches and locks — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.

32

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

Doors, Latches & Locks complaints by model year

1989 Golf 1 3.1%
1994 Golf 7 21.9%
1995 Golf 10 31.3%
1996 Golf 2 6.3%

Median failure at 130,500 miles

1997 Golf 1 3.1%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

1999 Golf 1 3.1%

Median failure at 23,000 miles

2000 Golf 2 6.3%

Median failure at 45,100 miles

2001 Golf 4 12.5%

Median failure at 64,650 miles

2002 Golf 1 3.1%

Median failure at 5,415 miles

2004 Golf 2 6.3%

Median failure at 38,415 miles

2006 Golf 1 3.1%

Median failure at 130,000 miles

What owners said

2006 Volkswagen Golf at 130,000 miles Atlanta, GA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE UNLATCHED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD, HOOD, AND OTHER UNKNOWN COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #10825561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volkswagen Golf at 90,000 miles Seattle, WA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

WE OWN A VW GOLF . WE HAVE AN 18 MONTH OLD. WHEN MY WIFE STOPS DRIVING HER CAR AND GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND CLOSES THE DRIVER'S DOOR THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE TIME. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER HER KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. IF HER KEYS ARE IN THE IGNITION AND SHE CLOSES HER DOOR OR IT HAPPENS TO CLOSE WITH HER KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND OUR SON IN THE CAR THIS CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HER CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK AS IT DOES - IT IS SOME KIND OF AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10237277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Volkswagen Golf at 49,830 miles Mission, KS

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON I-35 IN KANSAS AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON DECEMBER 13, 3007 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM, THE LATCH TO MY VEHICLE RELEASED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE TO FLY UP IMPAIRING MY VIEW. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND CALLED THE KANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL. THE HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER PUSHED DOWN ON THE HOOD BUT WAS UNABLE GET THE HOOD TO LATCH. DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE HOOD LATCH MY HOOD HAS BEEN DAMAGED. I CHECKED YOUR WEBSITE FOR COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AND DISCOVERED THIS DEFECT HAD HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY TO THE SAME VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10212018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Volkswagen Golf at 65,300 miles Minneapolis, MN

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

GOT TRANSMISSION WORK DONE ON 9/19/06. PICK CAR UP THAT EVENING AND DROVE HOME ON CITY STREETS. ON 9/20/06 GOT ON FREEWAY TO GO TO WORK AND ACCELERATED TO 55 MPH AT WHICH TIME THE HOOD SNAPPED BACK AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SERVICE WORK WAS DONE. SAID THE PROBLEM WITH THE HOOD WAS DUE TO A FAULTY/FAILED HOOD LATCH. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HOOD AND INSTALLED A NEW HOOD LATCH.

NHTSA complaint #10168878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Volkswagen Golf at 165,000 miles Blue Springs, MO

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL # 98V160000, WHICH REFERS TO THE HOOD LATCH, APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10162989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Volkswagen Golf at 27,000 miles Baton Rouge, LA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

THE HOOD LATCH FAILED RESULTING IN THE HOOD FLIPPING UP AND SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD AND DAMAGING THE FRONT FENDERS AND HOOD.

NHTSA complaint #10162465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Volkswagen Golf at 55,000 miles Newark, NJ

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

POSSIBLE TO REMOVE ENTIRE DOOR LOCK CORE WITHOUT SETTING OFF THE CAR ALARM IN VW GOLF. *BF

NHTSA complaint #10109420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Volkswagen Golf at 96,000 miles Saint Louis, MO

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE'S HOOD FLEW UP WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE WINDSHIELD GLASS WAS SHATTERED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10092439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Volkswagen Golf at 82,000 miles Sulphur, LA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

THE LATCH FOR THE DOOR ON THE CENTER CONSOLE BROKE OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10080856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volkswagen Golf at 200 miles Rome, GA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

THE CAR HAS HAD SQUEAKING AND CREAKING FRONT DOORS SINCE TWO WEEKS AFTER DELIVERY. THE DEALER HAS TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO LUBRICATE, ADJUST THE DOOR AND STRIKER. THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN SOLVED. IT CAN BE HEARD WHENEVER THE CAR ACCELERATES, DECELERATES, OR CHANGES DIRECTION. IT ALSO HAS BUZZES, CREAKS, SQUEAKS, AND RATTLES IN THE DASH. THE PROBLEM IS GROWING WORSE AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO SOLVE IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE IT WAS TWO WEEKS OLD. IT ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AT PRESENT.

NHTSA complaint #10072966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volkswagen Golf at 23,000 miles Brooklyn, NY

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE HOOD ON MY 1999 VW GOLF UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH A DEGREE OF IMPACT THAT DENTED THE HOOD IN SEVERAL PLACES AND THE HOOD WILL NO LONGER CLOSE. I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE. THE CARS BEHIND ME SWERVED TO PREVENT HITTING ME. THE HOOD APPEARED TO BE SECURELY SHUT PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I RESEARCHED THE NHTSA RECALL HISTORY AND FOUND THAT IT INDICATES THAT VW ISSUED A RECALL OF 93-96 GOLF, GOLF GTI AND JETTA (98V-160) DUE TO THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH LOOSENING OVER TIME AND CAUSING DISENGAGEMENT OF HOOD STRIKER FROM LATCH AND POSSIBLE UNEXPECTED OPENING OF HOOD. WONDERING IF SOMETHING SIMILAR MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME I CALLED VW US AND MADE A COMPLAINT WITH DYLAN DUNBAR ON MAY 10TH 2004 AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS - A MALFUNCTION / DEFECT OR "SOMETHING I NEED TO SPEAK TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY ABOUT". IT SEEMS LIKE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON THE PART OF VW TO HAVE VW TO DETERMINE IF THEY OR RESPONSIBLE OR NOT.

NHTSA complaint #10072353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Volkswagen Golf at 64,000 miles Chula Vista, CA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

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.

1997 Volkswagen Golf at 30,000 miles Winchester, IN

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONED IN COLD TEMPERATURES. DOOR KNOB POPPED UP, BUT THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN OR LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #10053474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Volkswagen Golf at 5,415 miles Miami, FL

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS INCLUDED: MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON, VEHICLE CUT OFF, TRUNK SWITCH FELL OUT, DRIVER DOOR LOCK INOPERATIVE, FUEL GAUGE INOPERATIVE, ENGINE RATTLE. MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS - CAMSHAFT SENSOR, TRUNK SWITCH, POWER DOOR LOCKS, FUEL LINES INSTALLED, FUEL SENDER UNIT, TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER. *TT

NHTSA complaint #10026474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Volkswagen Golf NEW Orlean, LA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER SNAPPED WHEN TRYING TO UNLOCK VEHICLE IN A DARK PARKING LOT, ALL LOCKING AND UNLOCKING MUST BE DONE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE, THE BROKEN LOCK CYLINDER IS EASILY REMOVED AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A BRAKE IN WHEN UNATTENDED. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #785105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Volkswagen Golf Deerfield Beach, FL

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

WIRING UNDER THE HOOD IS TERRIBLE- SUNROOF LATCH BROKE AFTER 2YEARS- BATTERY LEAKS 3 TIMES CAUSING DAMAGES TO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR TWICE, MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS SO OFTEN. PLASTIC PARTS THAT THE MFG ARE USING ARE BAD QUALITY THEREFORE CAUSING CONSTANT BREAKDOWS .. AK..

NHTSA complaint #725878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Volkswagen Golf Latrobe, PA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY BROKE, CAUSING THE DOOR TO STAY OPEN AND NOT LATCH. DEALER SAID THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW DOOR LATCH ASSEMBY.

NHTSA complaint #856762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Volkswagen Golf Tulsa, OK

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

RECALL 98V160000/VW HOOD LATCH; BEFORE RECALL RECEIVED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HOOD LATCH FAILURE WHILE DRIVING A T APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MP.; HOOD UNLATCHED AND HIT TOP OF ROOF AND CRACKED FRONT WINDSHIELD. AFTER RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT LATCH WAS TEMPERED WITH AND BENT. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR HOOD LATCH. ASKING NHTSA TO HELP IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #850771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Volkswagen Golf Ringoes, NJ

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO RECALL LETTERS. ONE LETTER WAS CONCERNING THE REAR BRAKE LINE, THE SECOND LETTER WAS CONCERNING THE HOOD LATCH. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE DEALER MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR INSPECTION, BUT CANCELED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE DEFECT. THESE DEFECTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH RECALL NUMBERS 98V195000 AND 98V1960000. *AK *NLM

NHTSA complaint #829608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Volkswagen Golf Pompario Beach, FL

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

HOOD LATCH CAN LOOSEN ANYTIME, CAUSING THE LATCH TO MOVE. IT MIGHT DISENGAGE THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.

NHTSA complaint #832907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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