2015 Volkswagen Golf: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 130 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 12 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
130
Complaints
12
Recalls
7
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
14
Injuries
121.5
Severity index
Severity index 121.5 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 143 2015 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf ranks 27 of 143 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 81% of its model-year peers. See the full 2015 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 26 | 20.0% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 23 | 17.7% |
| AIR BAGS | 21 | 16.2% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 18 | 13.8% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 16 | 12.3% |
| SUSPENSION | 14 | 10.8% |
| POWER TRAIN | 14 | 10.8% |
| STRUCTURE | 10 | 7.7% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 26 of 130 complaints (20.0%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 4 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V464000 | 11/07/2018 | STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | Volkswagen 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 " |
| 18V904000 | 19/12/2018 | SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture. |
| 18V329000 | 16/05/2018 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal |
| 19V188000 | 06/03/2019 | SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | Volkswagen 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. |
| 19V615000 | 22/08/2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE | Volkswagen 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 |
| 16V647000 | 07/09/2016 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf, Golf SportWagen, GTI, Audi A3 sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. Due to a problem with the suction pump inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVA |
| 15V627000 | 07/10/2015 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured September 8, 2014, to November 28, 2014, Golf vehicles manufactured April 2, 2014, to December 3, 2014, and E-Golf vehicles manufactured July 26, 2014, to October 18, 2 |
| 14V412000 | 07/07/2014 | STEERING | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured January 27, 2014, to May 12, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the stabilizer link fasteners may come loose and possibly interfere with the steering of the vehicl |
| 15V028000 | 23/01/2015 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2 |
| 15V229000 | 17/04/2015 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Golf, and GTI manufactured on February 17, 2014, to May 22, 2014, and Audi A3 manufactured on February 16, 2013, to April 23, 2014. Improper nickel plating of components within the fue |
| 15V705000 | 26/10/2015 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss |
| 24V110000 | 14/02/2024 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | Volkswagen 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 |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.