2019 Volkswagen Golf problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (19) · Power Train (11) · Fuel/Propulsion System (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Golf model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
47 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Fuel System, Gasoline 2024-02-14 · campaign 24V110000 · 261,257 vehicles
Defect: 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 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and re
Electrical System:ignition:switch 2023-08-30 · campaign 23V604000 · 62,538 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
Risk: Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.
Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems 2022-10-31 · campaign 22V815000 · 296,044 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirem
Risk: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Wheels 2019-12-11 · campaign 19V879000 · 8 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta GLI, Golf Alltrack, and Golf GTI vehicles. The front wheel bearings may have been improperly machined, potentially causing excessive stress on the wheel, wheel bolts, or wheel bearings.
Risk: The excessive stress can cause steering, traction or other stability issues or breakage relating to the front wheels, and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the wheel bearing assemblies, wheels, and wheel bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40P1. Note: The affected owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repairs have been made.
Electrical System:ignition:anti-Theft:control Module 2019-08-22 · campaign 19V615000 · 679,027 vehicles
Defect: 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 entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
Suspension:rear:springs:coil Springs 2019-03-06 · campaign 19V188000 · 56,173 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
Service bulletins (562)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-17 · V0116152014815_20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suggested fuel additive
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Service Brakes 2026-08-27 · V4622022067177_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
repair or replace information
Power Train 2026-08-10 · V4015022033347_8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
replacement instruction
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-06 · TT 00-13-04_7 · Other
permission to change daily order upgraded to red order
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-04 · V0026012081638_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
differences between a leak and seepage
Showing the 6 most recent of 562 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-03 · Suspension · 59,000 mi“the contact owns a 2019 volkswagen golf. the contact stated that the turbocharger failed to operate as needed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the mechanic informed the contact that during the inspection, the rear coil spring fractured. the contact researched and became aware of nhtsa campaign number: 19v188000 (suspension), which was asso…”
2025-07-31 · Unknown Or Other“i am currently stationed in the united kingdom and the vw dealership is stating that they are unable to complete the needed recall because it is an imported vehicle?! not sure how something that important can just be shrugged off because i am in a different country. …”
2025-04-10 · Air Bags · 75,038 mi“the contact owns a 2019 volkswagen golf. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle and the air bag warning light illuminated. the contact attempted to contact the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. the contact stated that an independent mechanic was contacted, and the vehicle was s…”
2024-08-17 · Fuel/Propulsion System“this has been an open recall for 5 years and the manufacturer will not fix it. this could lead to vehicle fires and injuries.. it is not acceptable that volkswagen can just ignore these safety recalls!…”
2024-05-06 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings“when driving down the road doing about 35 mph with no car close in front of me my forward collision sensor went off without warning and initiated sharp braking which almost caused the car behind me to run into me. my car jolted like i’d been hit (i hadn’t) and the red warning light lit up the dashboard. the person behind me was able to brake in t…”
2024-04-24 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings“when driving over train tracks the automatic emergency brakes engaged and the forward collision detection beeping alarm sounded. this has happened over 5 times since i have owned the car. many times the forward collision alarm will go off without engaging the brakes, seemingly without cause. only when passing over train tracks do the emergency brak…”
2024-04-05 · Service Brakes“purchased vehicle brand new from seacoast vw in greenland, nh in march of 2020. in february of 2022 with just 12804 miles on this vehicle i had them check a problem with noisy rear brakes. i was informed that the rear brakes were delaminating and needed replacement for around $800. as this was beyond the 12 month warranty that this charge was not t…”
2023-12-29 · Electrical System“the contact owns a 2019 vw golf. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v604000(electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for th…”
2023-10-11 · Unknown Or Other“driving on the interstate with no cars near me and my sunroof exploded and showered me with glass. vw is claiming that it was hit and it was not. the car is my daily driver, and i inspect it daily. the plastic insert was cracked (also an issue with this model)and mentioned by me on a previous service visit at baxter volkswagen of omaha, but it was…”
2023-10-10 · Unknown Or Other“i was driving and the spring from the grab handle (driver side) popped out and hit me by my left eyebrow. at home, i tried to compare the driver side grab handle with the front passenger grab handle to see if i can fix it. as i grabbed the handle and the spring became loose and it is now sideways (picture) in addition, according to my repair log, m…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.