Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Volkswagen Golf R, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine6
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Power train2
- Unknown or other2
- Electrical system2
- Forward collision avoidance1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Service brakes1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Vehicle speed control1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 2017 Golf R vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2017 Volkswagen Golf R failed the safety check 1.21% of the time — 32% less often than the average 2017 passenger car (1.79%). Median odometer at inspection: 59,088 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2017
8,858 new Volkswagen Golf R cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2017; the largest markets were the United Kingdom (8,858).
- Average mass
- 1,474 kg
- Average CO₂
- 149 g/km (NEDC)
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 81% · Diesel 19%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 variant; 1 of 1 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Volkswagen Golf R 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 13.4 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 9.3–9.4 L/100 km (about 25 mpg US), CO₂ 216–220 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf R · Compact · Premium gasoline | 10.4 | 7.9 | 9.3 |
| Golf R · Compact · Premium gasoline | 10.9 | 7.7 | 9.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2017 Volkswagen Golf R.
| 2021326 26 May 2021 | Fabrics Issue: On certain models, the chrome layer could peel off of the trim located around the gear shift cover. If this happens, sharp edges can be created. Sa… |
| 2016662 30 Dec 2016 | Airbag Certain vehicles may have been equipped with airbag and/or pretensioner igniters that do not meet specifications. This could cause affected airbags and/or prete… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2017 Volkswagen Golf R.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 2017 Volkswagen Golf R: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11010024 | Lack of paint under roof |
| 11010022 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11010021 | Additional reporting |
| 11010011 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11008861 | Fluid requirements |
| 11008860 | Manual transmission noise diagnosing |
| 11008858 | A list of engine oil that meet Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards |
| 11008857 | How to perform the engine oil consumption measurement |
| 11008856 | Checking Engine Oil and correctly reading dip stick |
| 11008853 | How to manage software versions using VW diagnostic Tool |
| 11008852 | Recommended Gasoline Quality |
| 11008851 | Engine Misfire Diagnostic Aid |
| 11008850 | Fuel additive to help with misfire faults |
| 11008846 | Wind & Water Leak Checking |
| 11007398 | Battery testing |
| 11007393 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11005825 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11005823 | KESSY Key adaptation |
| 11005820 | Engine Assembly Tip |
| 11005819 | Engine Replacement Tip |
| 11005811 | Closure of the campaign. |
| 11002875 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11001522 | These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the Class Action Settlement |
| 11001508 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11001503 | Forigen objects inside seat belt buckle |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation