Volkswagen Golf Complaints (2011)

110 consumer complaints on file.

#10905899September 12, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10899215August 29, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/07/16*LJ *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10889280July 28, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ONE SIDE OF VEHICLE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT DOES NOT WORK. I NOTICED PASSATS AND JETTAS HAVE HAD THIS RECALLED AND IT IS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL WIRING ISSUE. THIS IS NOT A BULB REPLACEMENT SINCE BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL NOT WORKING. IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE HOOD WHEN IT CLOSES KNOCKING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OUT. SAME ISSUE AS THE PASSATS AND JETTAS. WHY WAS THIS NOT RECALLED FOR THE GOLF AS WELL?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10873212June 8, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL HELLO NHTSA, I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS A CONCERN THAT I HAVE REGARDING MY 2011 VW GOLF TDI. MY CONCERN IS THAT VEHICLES AFFECTED BY BOTH THE TAKATA RECALL AND THE VW "CLEAN DIESEL" TDI EMISSIONS SCANDAL WILL NOT BE GIVEN EQUAL PRIORITY BY VW THROUGHOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL AND REPLACEMENT PROCESS. SPECIFICALLY, I WORRY THAT THE IMPENDING BUY-BACK OF OLDER TDI DIESEL MODELS LIKE MINE WILL CAUSE VW TO GIVE THOSE AIRBAG REPLACEMENTS A MUCH LOWER PRIORITY IN COMPARISON TO OTHER VEHICLES THAT REQUIRE A REPLACEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, STRICTLY FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT FOR VW, IT IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO WAIT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BEFORE COMMISSIONING THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT OF MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE TRUE BECAUSE THE TDI BUY-BACK WOULD NEGATE THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT ENTIRELY, AS THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER BE LEGAL TO OPERATE IN THE US. FURTHERMORE, IF THE TDI BUY-BACK VEHICLES ARE RESOLD IN OTHER COUNTRIES WITH LESSER SAFETY STANDARDS, VW MAY CONCLUDE THAT IT IS MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THEM FINANCIALLY TO LEAVE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS IN PLACE, SINCE NO LEGISLATION WOULD BE PREVENTING IT. I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS DIRECTLY WITH VW, BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO SHARE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE TIMING OF REPLACEMENT PARTS OR TO WHICH ORDER OF MODELS THE REPLACEMENTS WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE ALSO UNWILLING TO PRESENT ANY OTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR ME. I DO REALIZE THAT SOME OF MY CONCERNS ARE SPECULATIVE IN NATURE. HOWEVER, GIVEN VW'S UNTRUSTWORTHINESS ACTIONS OF LATE, AND THAT THIS DIRECTLY IMPACTS MY FAMILY'S SAFETY, I FEEL THAT I AM JUSTIFIED IN EXPRESSING THESE CONCERNS TO A SAFETY-ORIENTED AGENCY SUCH AS THE NHTSA. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE -- NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR THE OTHER NEARLY 500,000 VEHICLES/FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO ISSUES. BEST REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10863571May 6, 2016
AIR BAGS
YESTERDAY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW SAYING MY CAR WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR A TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE. THE LETTER SAID PARTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS AND TO DO NOTHING AT THIS TIME. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A HONDA CRV THAT WAS ALSO AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THEY WERE PROVIDED WITH A RENTAL CAR AND TOLD NOT TO MOVE THE HONDA UNTIL NOTIFIED TO DO SO. AS I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM, WHY AM I BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY CAR WHEN MY NEIGHBOR WAS TOLD NOT TO MOVE THEIRS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE? THE LETTER LISTS "NHTSA 16V078".
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10849614March 14, 2016
ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE AND GLOW PLUG LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR EVENTUALLY WOULD ONLY RUN AT AROUND 50% POWER. AFTER DRIVING FOR ANOTHER 20 MILES IT EVENTUALLY SHUT DOWN. VW CONDUCTED A DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD ME THE HPFP WAS DAMAGED AND THAT DEBRIS MADE ITS WAY INTO THE ENGINE. ALSO THE PARTICULATE FILTER AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CAR HAS 130K AND HAS NEVER HAD A GASOLINE INCIDENT. I EXPECTED THE TDI TO MAKE IT A LOT LONGER THAN THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819020January 8, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. THIS RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DURING DRIVING. ATTEMPTS TO RE-START THE CAR WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. NOTE: NO FAULT LIGHTS CAME ON. A NEAR MISS COLLISION OCCURRED, BUT LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT. CAR WAS PUSHED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND LEFT FOR A FEW HOURS. AFTER A FEW HOURS, THE CAR DID RE-START WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. ON RE-STARTING, A PLUME OF GREY SMOKED CAME FROM THE TAIL PIPE THIS FAULT IS THE SECOND TIME OF OCCURRENCE AFTER THE MANUFACTURER (VW) SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED A FAULT 202 ERROR THE LAST TIME A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED. I FEEL THE CAR'S FUEL SYSTEM IS A NON-SAFE DESIGN AS A SERIOUS COLLISION NEARLY OCCURRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790432November 14, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE 2011 VW GOLF TDI SHUT OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781439October 12, 2015
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY GOLF TDI SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. LUCKILY EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON MY DASH LIT UP ABOUT 30 SECONDS PRIOR TO COMPLETE FAILURE ALLOWING ME TO BEGIN TO MERGE FROM THE LEFT HAND LANE AND COAST WITH MY HAZARDS ON TO THE RIGHT LANE. FROM INITIAL SYMPTOM TO COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS LESS THAN 1 MINUTE. SEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE, ONE THAT RESULTS IN UPWARDS OF AN $8000 REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779518October 3, 2015
SUSPENSION
THERE IS A VERY AUDIBLE "CLUNKING" SOUND THAT COMES FROM THE FRONT UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE. IT MOSTLY OCCURS WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS AT LOWER SPEEDS (1-25MPH) OR WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN ELEVATION (A BUMP).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760164August 29, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASHBOARD LAMP OUT INDICATOR AND DASH READ OUT INDICATES MULTIPLE LAMPS OUT (HEADLIGHTS, FOG, BACK UP, BRAKES ETC) AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE OUT BUT COME BACK ON LATER. VW CURRENTLY HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT (SA-97-AM) ON JETTAS AND GTI'S OF EARLIER VINTAGE THAN MY 2011. THIS BULLETIN IS FOR MELTED FUSE PLATES, MY FUSE PLATE SHOWS THE SAME MELTING AND DAMAGED FUSE. VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS DEFECT. THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10750213August 21, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WHILE EXITING THE OFF RAMP OF THE HIGHWAY AT 1100 AT NIGHT THE CAR DIED AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WAS LOCKING UP THEIR BRAKES AND SWERVING TO AVOID A COLLISION. AFTER AN EXPENSIVE TOW AND FINALLY GETTING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD EXPLODED IN THE TANK SENDING METAL INTO THE WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM. I AM TOLD THE REPAIR BILL WILL COST AROUND $6500 TO FIX. THIS CAR HAS 54000 MILES AND I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW STATING MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY A MONTH PRIOR HOWEVER VW WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THEY DID A FUEL SAMPLE TEST AND THE FUEL DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH LUBRICATION IN IT WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED VW HAS HAD MORE THAN 3500 REPORTED CASES OF THESE FUEL PUMP FAILURES AND REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THE BOSCH PRODUCTS THEY USE. I ALSO TALKED WITH THE SERVICE STATION WHERE I PURCHASED THE FUEL TO LET THEM KNOW THE PUMP FAILURE IS BEING BLAMED ON LACK OF LUBRICATION IN THEIR FUEL AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD ONE OTHER COMPLAINT OF FUEL ISSUES REPORTED. ON A SIDE NOT I FILLED MY DODGE DIESEL TRUCK WITH THE SAME PUMP AND FUEL AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. TO ME THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT VW IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND IF THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THESE FUEL PUMPS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE A KNOWN BAD PART THAT IS NOT GETTING REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10734069July 14, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ON MY 2011 GOLF TDI. MY FAMILY AND WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. VW COVERS UP TO 120,000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAS 122K MILES. THIS CAR IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND ALMOST LOST MY JOB DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. HPFP IS A FAULTY PUMP AND VW DENIES TO COVER THIS EXPENSE. I DO NOT HAVE $8000 TO COVER THIS EXPENSE, AND I WILL KEEP ON CONTACTING VW TO FIX IT. OTHER CARS WITH HIGHER MILEAGE HAVE BEEN COVERED, BUT NOT MINE. I AM ON OF THOUSANDS WITH THIS TDI HPFP PROBLEM. I ALWAYS USE CHEVRON DIESEL, SO THERE IS NO WAY IT CAN BE "CONTAMINATED" IT IS VW FAULTY PIECE. I HOPE SOMEONE READS THIS AND HELPS ME OUT, THANKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10724128June 8, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE READY TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK POSITION WHEN IT LUNGED FORWARD AND HIT THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF MINE. WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, ONES FOOT IS ONE THE BRAKES, THEREFORE I BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A CASE OF SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION. THE OTHER CAR, NATURALLY, SUSTAINED DAMAGES, AS WELL
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10723924June 8, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. MOMENTS AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT; HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10691939March 3, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682871February 12, 2015
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
2011 VW GOLF TDI (DIESEL ENGINE). AFTER DRIVING FROM RAINY WEATHER INTO FREEZING AND SNOW CONDITIONS, THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS IN A 50 DEG. GARAGE. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEXT STARTED, IT WOULD STRUGGLE TO START AND STALL OUT. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TDI ENGINES AND KNOW ABOUT CONDENSATION IN THE INTERCOOLER FREEZING, THEN THAWING, CAUSING WATER TO BUILD UP IN THE INTERCOOLER PIPING. I REMOVED THE INTERCOOLER TO ENGINE INTAKE PIPE AND DRAINED ABOUT A CUP OF WATER AND INTERCOOLER. IF THIS WATER WAS DRAWN INTO THE ENGINE, IT COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON SEVERAL VOLKSWAGEN FORUMS. MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY VOLKSWAGEN FACTORY UPDATES WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT COST TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672579January 14, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 15 MPH AROUND A PARKING LOT AT A BODY SHOP. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS OR COMPUTER WARNING SYSTEM IDENTIFIED ANY PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY, TURNING OFF POWER STEERING, ABS BRAKES, SHIFTING TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, AND PREVENTING WINDOWS FROM OPENING. STRUGGLED TO BRING CAR TO A STOP WHILE TURNING. CAR ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING DURING THE ENTIRE EVENT. TURNED OFF IGNITION. RESTARTED CAR, NO PROBLEM INDICATORS OR WARNINGS SHOWN. CAR WAS DRIVEN TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. SECOND DEALER STATED ALTERNATOR PROBLEM, BUT CAR NEVER WARNED OF ANY ELECTRICAL OR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR AS FAILURE OF VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD LIKELY LEAD TO DEATH IF DRIVING ON FREEWAY. VW DEALERSHIPS WERE USELESS AND CONTRADICTORY AND VW OF AMERICA NOT HELPFUL IN EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM. CAR IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE TO OPERATE, THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM WILL NOT WARN OF DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING WHATSOEVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672117January 13, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTER-COOLER HAD ICE INSIDE THE HOSES. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE INTER-COOLER WITH A NEW KIT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660976November 25, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2011 GOLF DIESEL WITH 31,000 MILES DIED IN RUSH HOUR ON A MAJOR STREET. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. A WEEK LATER, I GOT THE CAR BACK. THEY FOUND METALLIC DEBRIS IN THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP BORE AND WERE ADVISED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM, A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF PARTS. THEY TESTED THE DIESEL, WHICH WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY COVERED THIS APPROXIMATE $8000 COST. NOW, I HAVE A MAJOR DECISION ON KEEPING THE CAR OR BUYING ANOTHER ONE. MY SERVICE REP SAID THAT MY WARRANTY WAS FOR 1 YEAR FROM THE DATE I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK. THIS DOES NOT SEEM FAIR, IT SHOULD BE FOR ANOTHER 5 YEARS, FALLING UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, THESE ARE ALL NEW PARTS. WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE VW WAS SUPPOSE TO BE SUCH A RELIABLE CAR AND WOULD HATE TO GET RID OF IT, CAUSE IT IS AN EXCELLENT CAR BUT I AM NOT SURE IF IT WORTH THE RISK OF THIS MAYBE HAPPENING AGAIN AND HAVING TO DISH OUT $8000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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