2015 Volkswagen Golf problems and recalls

Owners have filed 131 complaints on the 2015 Volkswagen Golf, and NHTSA has issued 12 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (26 complaints).

131
Complaints
12
Recalls
7
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
14
Injuries
94.8
Severity index

Severity index 94.8 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 94.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 31 of 143 by severity index among 2015 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 78% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2015 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 26 complaints (19.8%)26 20%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 23 complaints (17.6%)23 18%Air BagsAir Bags: 21 complaints (16.0%)21 16%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 18 complaints (13.7%)18 14%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 16 complaints (12.2%)16 12%SuspensionSuspension: 15 complaints (11.5%)15 11%Power TrainPower Train: 14 complaints (10.7%)14 11%StructureStructure: 10 complaints (7.6%)10 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE2619.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2317.6%
AIR BAGS2116.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1813.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1612.2%
SUSPENSION1511.5%
POWER TRAIN1410.7%
STRUCTURE107.6%

Complaints filed per year

010202015: 202016: 172017: 122018: 92019: 112020: 62021: 92022: 162023: 122024: 112025: 32026: 5 (partial year)15201617181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201520
201617
201712
20189
201911
20206
20219
202216
202312
202411
20253
2026 (year to date)5
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (26 against 31).

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 "
18V90400019/12/2018SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSVolkswagen 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.
18V32900016/05/2018UNKNOWN OR OTHERVolkswagen 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
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
16V64700007/09/2016FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEVolkswagen 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
15V62700007/10/2015AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVEVolkswagen 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
14V41200007/07/2014STEERINGVolkswagen 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
15V02800023/01/2015FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAILVolkswagen 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
15V22900017/04/2015FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPVolkswagen 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
15V70500026/10/2015ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINEVolkswagen 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
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 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 7 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-18. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.