2018 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen problems and recalls

Owners have filed 12 complaints on the 2018 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and NHTSA has issued 5 recalls. The most cited component is the Power Train (4 complaints).

12
Complaints
5
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
72.3
Severity index

Severity index 72.3 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 72.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (33.3%)4 33%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 3 complaints (25.0%)3 25%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 2 complaints (16.7%)2 17%Air BagsAir Bags: 2 complaints (16.7%)2 17%StructureStructure: 2 complaints (16.7%)2 17%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 2 complaints (16.7%)2 17%EngineEngine: 1 complaints (8.3%)1 8%WheelsWheels: 1 complaints (8.3%)1 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN433.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER325.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM216.7%
AIR BAGS216.7%
STRUCTURE216.7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL216.7%
ENGINE18.3%
WHEELS18.3%

Complaints filed per year

0232018: 12019: 22020: 12021: 32022: 12023: 12024: 12025: 12026: 1 (partial year)1819202132223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20181
20192
20201
20213
20221
20231
20241
20251
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (3 against 5).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V46400011/07/2018STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Sportwagen vehicles. The build of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle shift lever is not in "
18V36900001/06/2018SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reduc
19V18800006/03/2019SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
19V61500022/08/2019ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless e
24V11000014/02/2024FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 20

Other Volkswagen Golf SportWagen model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 4 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.