Volkswagen Golf recalls and safety
54 recalls · crash ratings 2011-2021 · 1,444 owner complaints
54
recalls
54
recalls
The Volkswagen Golf has 54 recalls covering 7.38 million vehicles as reported; model year 2015 is covered by the most (13). The 2021 Volkswagen Golf earned 5 of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Owners filed 22 safety complaints in the 12 months to Sep 2026; electrical system is named most over all years.
Updated Oct 11, 2026 · recalls to Oct 6, 2026
Recalls
54
Most for 2015: 13
Units affected
7.38M
As reported
Overall stars
5 of 5
Model year 2021
Complaints, 12 mo
22
+37.5% vs 12 months before
Do-not-drive
2
Recalls
By model year
Which model years are covered by the most recalls, and which get the most complaints
Recalls by model year
How many recalls cover each model year. Hover a year for the count.
Crash test star ratings
13 rated versions, model years 2011 to 2021
Overall stars by model year
The best and lowest overall rating of the versions tested each year (5 is best).
| Year | Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4 DR · FWD | 13.4% risk | |||
| 2020 | 4 DR · FWD | 13.4% risk | |||
| 2019 | 4 DR · FWD | 13.4% risk | |||
| 2018 | 4 DR · FWD | 13.4% risk | |||
| 2017 | 4 DR · FWD | 13.4% risk | |||
| 2016 | 2 DR · FWD | 11.1% risk | |||
| 2016 | 4 DR · FWD | 13.4% risk | |||
| 2015 | 2 DR · FWD | 11.1% risk | |||
| 2014 | 4 DR · FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 12.1% risk |
| 2013 | 4 DR · AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 12.1% risk |
| 2013 | 4 DR · FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 12.1% risk |
| 2012 | 4 DR · FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 12.1% risk |
| 2011 | 4 DR · FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 12.1% risk |
5 stars is the best. Ratings before model year 2011 used older tests.
Owner complaints
Safety complaints about the Volkswagen Golf, by the month they were received
Complaints per month
22 in the 12 months to Sep 2026.
Components named most
- Electrical system195
- Air bags188
- Fuel/propulsion system181
- Engine165
- Power train153
- Engine and engine cooling135
- Unknown or other111
- Complaints
- 1,444
- Crashes reported
- 52
- Fires reported
- 31
- People injured
- 68
Counts only, as reported by owners and not verified.
Parts recalled
Recalls of the Volkswagen Golf by component
- Fuel system, gasoline10 · 1.19M units
- Air bags7 · 1.44M units
- Service brakes, hydraulic6 · 306K units
- Equipment4 · 441K units
- Electrical system3 · 775K units
- Seat belts3 · 28K units
- Suspension3 · 67K units
- Engine and engine cooling2 · 126K units
Volkswagen Golf recalls
The 25 newest of 54
Related pages
Questions and answers
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Golf recalled?
Yes: 2 recalls cover the 2021 Volkswagen Golf. Check the recall pages below for what is wrong and the free fix; a dealer can tell if a single vehicle still needs the repair.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Golf have?
54 recalls cover the Volkswagen Golf, for 7.38 million vehicles as reported. The most common problem is fuel system, gasoline (10 recalls).
What is the safety rating of the 2021 Volkswagen Golf?
5 of 5 stars overall (4 DR): frontal crash 4, side crash 5 and rollover 4 stars, with a 13.4% chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
What do owners complain about most on the Volkswagen Golf?
Electrical system: named in 195 of the 1,444 safety complaints about the Volkswagen Golf, then air bags (188). One complaint can name several components.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data, updated daily. Models are written as published, so a few versions of one model can be listed under slightly different names.