Volkswagen Golf Complaints (2011)
110 consumer complaints on file.
- #11546719September 26, 2023FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The High-pressure Fuel pump failed during a routine drive at approximately 1500 RPMs. This caused an immediate loss of power while in traffic. Manage to limp the car to the nearest gas station in which the car finally died and would not start. Had to call for a tow truck. This immediate loss of power could have cause myself and my daughter to get into an accident. Luckily, we were not on a major highway doing 65+ MPH, which could have been a lot worse. The vehicle flashed a MIL light or flashing glow plug light at the time of the incident. The car did not show any signs of possible failure beforehand. This same issue has been recalled by Fiat-Chrysler on their Heavy-Duty Ram pickup trucks with 6.7L Cummins due to catastrophic failure of the CP4 fuel pump.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11496080December 5, 2022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Fuse F16 (30A) in the engine fuse plate, melted instead of breaking - causing half of the cars lights to stop functioning including turn signals and brake lights. Cannot be fixed with replacing the fuse as it was never tripped but instead the whole fuse plate needs to be replaced. No warning lights preceded the event, all lights went out while driving. VW dealership requires a new plate to be put in with no explanation of what caused the melt and no guarantee that it won’t happen again. Multiple online forums suggest a similar finding, and even other models have tickets for recalls (same problem, same part) but not the 2011 Golf TDI.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11466179May 26, 2022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The wire from the alternator to the underhood fuse block is not thick enough to handle the current from the stock alternator. This causes the wire to get too hot melting the fuse block at the 30 amp fuse causing headlight issues.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11464271May 11, 2022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Electrical Short caused catastrophic fire in engine compartment, suspected issue is a water leak due to faulty manufacturing. Leak was noted by Volkswagen repair facility and was to be inspected and repaired within 30 days
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11445727December 31, 2021FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
Driving on interstate at 70 mph with cruise control on when car suddenly slowed and warning lights began flashing. I slowed to 60 mph and within a minute the engine shut off and was almost rear ended by a semi truck before I could get to the shoulder of the highway. Engine would not restart and I was stranded on the highway. Had to have the vehicle towed by AAA back to my home. Used my Ross-Tech VCDS scanning tool to troubleshoot and found codes: P0087 (fuel rail system pressure too low), P020 (cylinders 1-4 injection timing), P1004-P1007 (torque difference cylinders 1-4). Examined fuel filter and fuel metering valve and found metal chips and particles in both places. Based on this evidence, the high pressure fuel pump has likely failed. My safety was put at risk when the failure occurred due to the sudden loss of power and subsequent near collision with a truck. Additionally I was in danger of being hit by other vehicles as I sat on the shoulder of the highway waiting for a tow truck. My vehicle is available for inspection by the local VW dealership, but will have to be towed at my expense to be examined.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11361687September 29, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LOST ALL LIGHTS, F16 AND F17 FUSES AND THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX WAS MELTED. FUSES WERE ARCING AND SHORTING INTERNALLY, BUT DIDN'T FAIL. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE IT SEEMS FROM RESEARCHING ONLINE, BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO COVER THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND MAJOR FIRE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11327322June 4, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS RIDING AS THE PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE. MY FOOT WAS BURNT BY AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT WAS DANGLING DOWN UNDERNEATH THE GLOVE BOX. IT WAS THE BLOWER RESISTOR. THE BLOWER RESISTOR MELTED THROUGH PLASTIC, THEN THE BLOWER RESISTOR WAS HANGING BY WIRES WHEN IT BURNT MY FOOT. *CC *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11325657May 23, 2020FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
2011 GOLF TDI 2DOOR. STARTED THROWING AND ERROR CODE OF P2BA6. TOOK IT FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY STATED THAT ISSUE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL AND WAS FIXED ALREADY. I CONTACTED VW DIRECTLY TO SEE HOW TO GO ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THEY STATED THE CAR WAS FIXED IN 2011 AND EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAVE 44K MILES ON THE CAR THEY WILL STILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IN CONCLUSION THE PART THAT HAD ALREADY GONE BAD AND RECALLED HAS BEEN FIXED ONCE THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THE NEW PART SINCE IT HAS BEEN REPLACED. CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THE RECALLED PART HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE WITH IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11217698June 4, 2019FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS HAD A WEIRD SHUTTERING IN ANY GEAR WHEN COASTING AT A REGULAR SPEED. I TOOK IT TO ONE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT YOU BASICALLY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHIFT. TWO WEEKS LATER I NOTICED A SOFT MUFFLED HUSH SOUND THAT REMINDED ME OF A ROCK IN A TIRE. WHEN LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE CAR WE NOTICED DARK LIQUID COATING THE BOTTOM COVER. WE TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND AFTER HOISTING IT UP THEY CALLED US AND SAID THAT THE FLYWHEEL HAD SPRUNG LOOSE DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE AND A SPRING SPRUNG INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING A HOLE AND RUPTURING IT. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS SAME PART HAD BEEN REPLACED BACK IN 2014 BUT WE WERE UNAWARE . OUR THOUGHT IS THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND WHOMEVER REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME DID NOT DO IT PROPERLY BECAUSE NO ONE AND NOTHING SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND TORQUE THE BOLTS AT THE PROPER PRESSURE. HOWEVER I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OVERALL MECHANICS OF THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH COMBINATION. THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY AND HAS CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11173312January 31, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED FLAMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE COIL PACK, HARNESS WIRING, AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE TWICE AFTER THE REPAIR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11140999October 17, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WITHIN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE HORN FAILED TO WORK. THE DEALER (ANTHONY CARVONI VOLKSWAGEN, 12 MERIDEN PL, MELVILLEE, NY, 516-848-7315) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HORN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAG BEING ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO THE HORN. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HORN AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF WHAT AIR BAG RECALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11081082March 23, 2018AIR BAGS
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11048012November 22, 2017AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL YEAR MAKE AND MODEL RECALLED, BUT VIN DOESN'T MATCH. SUSPECT CLERICAL ERROR WITH VIN PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE TO CHECK AND/OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG INFLATOR. DEALER AND VW REFUSE TO EXAMINE AIRBAG INFLATORS. THEY SUGGEST CONTACTING YOU.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11022637September 11, 2017ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LIGHTING CHECK ENGINE . I COULDN'T PASS INSPECTION ON MY VW DUE TO: CODE P0106. MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE/BAROMETRIC. PRESSURE CTRL. RANGE/PERFORMANCE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10959486March 8, 2017ENGINE
INTERCOOLER EXPERIENCED CONDENSATION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO "HYDROLOCK" RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS A CONDITION THAT VW IS AWARE OF BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY IT'S CUSTOMERS OF.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10946705January 20, 2017AIR BAGS
MY CAR HAS BEEN LISTED AS HAVING DEFECTED AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE GOLF TDI, WHICH I HAVE, IS ALSO RECALLED FOR THE EMISSIONS SCANDAL. I PLAN ON DRIVING IT UNTIL 2018, WHEN I HAVE TO TURN IT IN. I AM GUESSING VW WILL TRY TO IGNORE THIS RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10919683October 27, 2016AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN APRIL. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10919134October 26, 2016AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL THE RECALL NOTICE WENT OUT FEBRUARY 9, 2016. STILL NO FIX AVAILABLE AND MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO PROVIDE SAFE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION. MANUFACTURER SAYS TO KEEP DRIVING RECALLED VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY FIXES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10917954October 21, 2016AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 11/21/16 *BF
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10907394September 17, 2016POWER TRAIN
WHILE IN MOTION AND UNDER POWER, CAR SUDDENLY LOSES DRIVE; ACTS AS IF SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. SOMETIMES A FLASHING WRENCH INDICATOR IS SEEN IN PLACE OF THE GEAR NUMBER IN THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY. THIS IS HAPPENING INCREASINGLY OFTEN. AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0