Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Volkswagen Golf, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Structure3
- Visibility3
- Vehicle speed control1
- Electrical system1
- Seat belts1
- Power train1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1986 Volkswagen Golf cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (66 kW, 89 hp), 1.6 petrol (55 kW, 74 hp) and 1.6 diesel (40 kW, 54 hp), out of 10 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 petrol | 66 kW 89 hp | 250 |
| 1.6 petrol | 55 kW 74 hp | 227 |
| 1.6 diesel | 40 kW 54 hp | 217 |
| 1.3 petrol | 40 kW 54 hp | 214 |
| 1.8 petrol | 70 kW 94 hp | 109 |
| 1.6 diesel | 51 kW 68 hp | 79 |
| 1.8 petrol | 82 kW 110 hp | 69 |
| 1.6 petrol | 53 kW 71 hp | 52 |
| 2.8 petrol | 128 kW 172 hp | 24 |
| 1.9 diesel | 66 kW 89 hp | 22 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
1,423 first registered in 1986 are on Dutch roads; 60% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen174
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde120
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld69
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm65
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar52
- Slijtage/beschadiging wiellager hoorbaar of voelbaar49
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse47
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af46
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
196 cars built in 1986 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 985 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 362 of these cars first registered in 1986 took their annual MOT test. 68% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1986 the figure was 71%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1986 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 19.1% | 16.2% |
| Brakes | 12.4% | 9.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 10.2% | 6.9% |
| Suspension | 10.2% | 8.2% |
| Visibility | 9.1% | 6.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.4% | 5.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
38 of these cars first registered in 1986 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 213,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
23 1986 cars are on the New Zealand register; 74% arrived as used imports, 17% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1986 Volkswagen Golf.
| 1992149 23 Nov 1992 | Structure CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT MAY PREVENT THE HOOD LATCH AND THE SAFETY CATCH FROM WORKING PROPERLY. THIS COULD RESULT IN HOOD FLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOT… |
| 1992057 11 May 1992 | Heater And Defroster IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE WALL OF THE END CAP CONNECTING THE HEAT EXCHANGER'S CORE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD RUPTURE AND ALLOW… |
| 1987044 29 Apr 1987 | Fuel System The fuel pump located inside the fuel tank could seize during high ambient temperatures because of an extreme fine mesh fuel filter restricting the fuel flow. T… |
| 1987020 16 Feb 1987 | Emissions THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. - INOPERATIVE EGR VALVE - |
| 1986022 18 Feb 1986 | Other THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 301 - FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY. |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE END CAP CONNECTING THE HEAT EXCHANGER'S CORE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD RUPTURE AND ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
FUEL PUMP, LOCATED INSIDE FUEL TANK, COULD SEIZE DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BECAUSE OF AN EXTREME FINE MESH FUEL FILTER RESTRICTING THE FUEL FLOW.
MORE FUEL THAN PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301 MAY ESCAPE FROM THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: CARS ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 301.
MORE FUEL THAN PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301 MAY ESCAPE FROM THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY UNDER THE TEST CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN THE STANDARD. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE CAR IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE FUEL SPILLAGE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
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
NHTSA investigations
HEATER CORE FAILURE
WINDSHIELD WIPERS
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation