Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Volkswagen Golf, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine26
- Unknown or other23
- Air bags21
- Electrical system18
- Fuel/propulsion system16
- Suspension15
- Power train14
- Structure10
- Service brakes8
- Steering7
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 14 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 2015 Golf vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 3 of the vehicles rolled over. 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 2015 Volkswagen Golf failed the safety check 2.32% of the time — 12% more often than the average 2015 passenger car (2.08%). Median odometer at inspection: 88,511 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2015
601,552 new Volkswagen Golf cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2015; the largest markets were Germany (270,307), the United Kingdom (69,514), France (46,853).
- Average mass
- 1,381 kg
- Average power
- 104 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 50% · Petrol 44% · Petrol/electric 2.5% · Natural gas 2.4%
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
Engines
The most common engines in 2015 Volkswagen Golf cars on Dutch roads are the 1.4 hybrid (110 kW, 148 hp), 1.2 petrol (81 kW, 109 hp) and 1.4 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp), out of 12 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 hybrid | 110 kW 148 hp | 7,103 |
| 1.2 petrol | 81 kW 109 hp | 3,222 |
| 1.4 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 2,925 |
| 1.2 petrol | 77 kW 103 hp | 2,151 |
| 1.0 petrol | 85 kW 114 hp | 2,051 |
| 1.6 diesel | 81 kW 109 hp | 1,826 |
| 1.4 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 1,795 |
| 1.2 petrol | 63 kW 84 hp | 983 |
| 1.4 petrol | 90 kW 121 hp | 779 |
| 2.0 diesel | 110 kW 148 hp | 391 |
| 2.0 petrol | 169 kW 227 hp | 355 |
| 2.0 petrol | 221 kW 296 hp | 330 |
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
25,040 first registered in 2015 are on Dutch roads; 39% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €34,104.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde15,297
- Band onvoldoende profiel8,431
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld5,626
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm5,083
- Band beschadigd2,828
- Schokdemper aanwezig die lekkage vertoont2,735
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage2,032
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht1,522
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
68,726 cars built in 2015 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,201 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, 68,118 of these cars first registered in 2015 took their annual MOT test. 84% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2015 the figure was 75%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 6.0% | 6.6% |
| Suspension | 3.4% | 6.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3.2% | 7.7% |
| Brakes | 2.8% | 5.1% |
| Visibility | 2.4% | 3.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.6% | 2.1% |
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
6,163 of these cars first registered in 2015 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 166,000 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
2,359 2015 cars are on the New Zealand register; 46% arrived as used imports, 53% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Volkswagen Golf 2 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 11.1 % |
| 2015 Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | — | 0.0 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- No
- 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 10 variants: combined 6.5–8.5 L/100 km (about 28–36 mpg US), CO₂ 177–196 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf TDI (modified) · Compact · Diesel | 7.6 | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| Golf TDI (modified) · Compact · Diesel | 7.8 | 5.2 | 6.5 |
| Golf SportWagon TDI (modified) · Station wagon: Small · Diesel | 7.6 | 5.6 | 6.7 |
| Golf SportWagon TDI (modified) · Station wagon: Small · Diesel | 7.6 | 5.5 | 6.7 |
| Golf · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.3 | 6.4 | 8.0 |
| Golf · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.3 | 6.5 | 8.1 |
| Golf Sportwagon · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 9.4 | 6.8 | 8.2 |
| Golf Sportwagon · Station wagon: Small · Regular gasoline | 9.5 | 6.6 | 8.2 |
| Golf GTI · Compact · Premium gasoline | 9.4 | 6.9 | 8.3 |
| Golf GTI · Compact · Premium gasoline | 9.5 | 7.2 | 8.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
13 Transport Canada recalls for the 2015 Volkswagen Golf.
| 2024095 14 Feb 2024 | Fuel System Issue: On certain vehicles, a seal for the suction jet pump inside the fuel tank could fail. As a result, fuel may flow directly into the evaporative emission… |
| 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… |
| 2020353 4 Aug 2020 | Label Issue: On certain vehicles, the warning label for the engine block heater cable is written in English only. As a result, a French user may not receive importa… |
| 2019423 22 Aug 2019 | Powertrain Issue: On certain vehicles, a build-up of silicate on the shift lever switch could cause the transmission to detect that it is in the Park position when it is… |
| 2019116 6 Mar 2019 | Suspension Issue: On certain vehicles, the rear suspension coil springs may not have been properly manufactured and could break over time. This could cause damage to a r… |
| 2018371 11 Jul 2018 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the park position switch may malfunction due to a problem with the electrical contacts. This could allow for removal of the ignition key wi… |
| 2016430 2 Sept 2016 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the suction pump inside the fuel tank designed to purge fuel from the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system may be compromised. This could ca… |
| 2015504 23 Oct 2015 | Engine On certain vehicles, the camshaft lobe which actuates the vacuum pump may fail, causing the pump to fail to deliver further vacuum supply to the brake booster, … |
| 2015445 5 Oct 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, an electro-magnetic coil inside the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module was manufactured with improper insulation bet… |
| 2015161 16 Apr 2015 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, improper nickel plating of certain fuel pump internal components could contaminate the pump, potentially resulting in an inoperative fuel p… |
| 2014575 17 Dec 2014 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, a sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail to seal, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment during engine operation. Leaking fuel, … |
| 2014295 16 Jul 2014 | Powertrain On certain vehicles equipped with 1.8T engines and torque-converter (non-DSG) automatic transmissions, out of specification transmission cooler sealing O-rings … |
| 2014288 9 Jul 2014 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the stabilizer link fasteners may have been improperly torqued during the assembly process. As a result, the fasteners may loosen over tim… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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."
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Volkswagen 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 "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf, Golf SportWagen, GTI, Audi A3 sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. Due to a problem with the suction pump inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured September 8, 2014, to November 28, 2014, Golf vehicles manufactured April 2, 2014, to December 3, 2014, and E-Golf vehicles manufactured July 26, 2014, to October 18, 2014. The affected vehicles are equipped a Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) that may have been manufactured improperly. As a result, the front passenger seat occupant may be improperly classified or may not be detected.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Golf, and GTI manufactured on February 17, 2014, to May 22, 2014, and Audi A3 manufactured on February 16, 2013, to April 23, 2014. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured January 27, 2014, to May 12, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the stabilizer link fasteners may come loose and possibly interfere with the steering of the vehicle.
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 2015 Volkswagen Golf: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011377 | This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication for the airbag control module. For trouble code DTC B10001B. Driver airbag igniter resistance too high -N95 |
| 11011373 | Instruction for replacement of Diesel Particulate Filter |
| 11011371 | This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed and only order the successor parts going forward. |
| 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 |
| 11007402 | Multiple Update closures: 20AH Atlas Quality Package 1, 24AE 1.8T ECM/TCM SW, 24BG Jetta Hybrid ECM SW, 24BM 2.0L Jetta MPI SW Update, 24X7 Jetta ECM SW, 24X8 CC ECM/TCM SW, 24Y4 MPI Jetta SW, 24Z5 Jetta Hybrid System SW, 27G2 Battery, 37H3 DSG SW, 37J2 TCM SW, 69V7 Atlas Quality Package 3, 87F6 Atlas Quality Package 2, 91P3 Adaptive Cruise Calibration |
| 11007398 | Battery testing |
| 11007393 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11005825 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11005823 | KESSY Key adaptation |
| 11005820 | Engine Assembly Tip |
| 11005819 | Engine Replacement Tip |
| 11002875 | Engine oil quality standards |
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