2018 Volkswagen Golf problems and recalls

Owners have filed 37 complaints on the 2018 Volkswagen Golf, and NHTSA has issued 6 recalls. The most cited component is the Fuel/Propulsion System (10 complaints).

37
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
56.2
Severity index

Severity index 56.2 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 56.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 10 complaints (27.0%)10 27%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 7 complaints (18.9%)7 19%StructureStructure: 5 complaints (13.5%)5 14%EngineEngine: 4 complaints (10.8%)4 11%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (10.8%)4 11%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 3 complaints (8.1%)3 8%SteeringSteering: 2 complaints (5.4%)2 5%SuspensionSuspension: 2 complaints (5.4%)2 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1027.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER718.9%
STRUCTURE513.5%
ENGINE410.8%
POWER TRAIN410.8%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE38.1%
STEERING25.4%
SUSPENSION25.4%

Complaints filed per year

0482018: 22019: 82020: 22021: 42022: 52023: 52024: 62025: 22026: 3 (partial year)1819820212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20182
20198
20202
20214
20225
20235
20246
20252
2026 (year to date)3
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (13 against 11).

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
20V37200024/06/2020EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling two 2018 Golf GTI vehicles. The VIN printed on the Federal Certification label may not match the actual VIN on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certificatio
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.