2017 Volkswagen Golf problems and recalls

Owners have filed 187 complaints on the 2017 Volkswagen Golf, and NHTSA has issued 5 recalls. The most cited component is the Fuel/Propulsion System (55 complaints).

187
Complaints
5
Recalls
3
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
8
Injuries
47.7
Severity index

Severity index 47.7 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 47.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 95 of 137 by severity index among 2017 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 31% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2017 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 55 complaints (29.4%)55 29%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 35 complaints (18.7%)35 19%EngineEngine: 25 complaints (13.4%)25 13%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 24 complaints (12.8%)24 13%StructureStructure: 21 complaints (11.2%)21 11%Air BagsAir Bags: 18 complaints (9.6%)18 10%Power TrainPower Train: 12 complaints (6.4%)12 6%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 12 complaints (6.4%)12 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5529.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3518.7%
ENGINE2513.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2412.8%
STRUCTURE2111.2%
AIR BAGS189.6%
POWER TRAIN126.4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER126.4%

Complaints filed per year

018352017: 62018: 282019: 232020: 122021: 252022: 352023: 282024: 202025: 72026: 3 (partial year)1718192021223523242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20176
201828
201923
202012
202125
202235
202328
202420
20257
2026 (year to date)3
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (55 against 72).

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 "
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.
16V95500029/12/2016SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Add
21V32100005/05/2021UNKNOWN OR OTHERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applica
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 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.