2015 Volkswagen Golf

◆ Worse than typical
2015 Volkswagen Golf
RENDERED 2026-08-02T10:00:17.062Z

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Volkswagen Golf Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2015 highlighted. 1985: 10 complaints 1985 1986: 13 complaints 1987: 4 complaints 1988: 9 complaints 1989: 17 complaints 1990: 10 complaints 1990 1991: 8 complaints 1992: 6 complaints 1993: 7 complaints 1994: 41 complaints 1995: 43 complaints 1995 1996: 3 complaints 1997: 7 complaints 1998: 18 complaints 1999: 64 complaints 2000: 88 complaints 2000 2001: 116 complaints 2002: 73 complaints 2003: 26 complaints 2004: 28 complaints 2005: 19 complaints 2005 2006: 12 complaints 2007: 2 complaints 2008: 1 complaints 2009: 3 complaints 2010: 69 complaints 2010 2011: 110 complaints 2012: 48 complaints 2013: 43 complaints 2014: 11 complaints 2015: 129 complaints 2015 2016: 85 complaints 2017: 115 complaints 2018: 29 complaints 2019: 62 complaints 2020: 6 complaints 2020 2021: 6 complaints 2022: 81 complaints 2023: 11 complaints 2023
2015: 129 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
198510
198613
19874
19889
198917
199010
19918
19926
19937
199441
199543
19963
19977
199818
199964
200088
2001116
200273
200326
200428
200519
200612
20072
20081
20093
201069
2011110
201248
201343
201411
2015129
201685
2017115
201829
201962
20206
20216
202281
202311

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ENGINE 20%

20% of complaints: engine — 26 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

I DROVE THE CAR TO A MEETING ON THURSDAY EVENING, JAN 4TH, 2018. PARKED IT IN A RESIDENTIAL HOME OFFICE PARKING AREA IN SANTA FE, NM AT 6PM. AT 6:10PM ANOTHER PERSON ARRIVED TO THE MEETING AND SAID SHE SAW FLAMES BY A RED CAR. IT WAS MY GOLF.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180110

AIR BAGS 15%

15% of complaints: air bags — 19 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I WAS DRIVING ON 210N PASADENA FWY WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AND OFF AVE43 AROUND 4AM.

NHTSA ODI report, 20161204

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%

13% of complaints: electrical system — 17 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

I smelled a strong odor coming from the heater that turned out to be burnt plastic and wiring associated with the auxiliary heater. This is an obvious fire/ smoke hazard that could have been deadly if other nearby components caught fire.

NHTSA ODI report, 20231126

I DROVE THE CAR TO A MEETING ON THURSDAY EVENING, JAN 4TH, 2018. PARKED IT IN A RESIDENTIAL HOME OFFICE PARKING AREA IN SANTA FE, NM AT 6PM. AT 6:10PM ANOTHER PERSON ARRIVED TO THE MEETING AND SAID SHE SAW FLAMES BY A RED CAR. IT WAS MY GOLF.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180110

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 12%

12% of complaints: fuel/propulsion system — 16 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
SUSPENSION 10%

10% of complaints: suspension — 13 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20140723 — steering

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured January 27, 2014, to May 12, 2014.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front stabilizer links, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40K9/1W.

Campaign 14V412000 — check if this car was fixed

2015 — complaint volume: 129
R 20150209 — fuel system, gasoline

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

Campaign 15V028000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20150616 — fuel system, gasoline

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.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any affected fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi at 1-800-253-2834.

Campaign 15V229000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20151120 — air bags

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PODS control module, free of charge. The recall began on November 20, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswgen's number for this recall is 69L6.

Campaign 15V627000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160309 — engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles.

Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

Campaign 15V705000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20161031 — engine and engine cooling, fuel system, gasoline

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.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. The recall began November 2016.

Campaign 16V647000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20181129 — unknown or other

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.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018.

Campaign 18V329000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190131 — suspension

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.

Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Campaign 18V904000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190319 — electrical system, steering

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Sportwagen vehicles.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Campaign 18V464000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190412 — suspension

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.

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 19V188000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20191119 — electrical system, steering

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 19V615000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20231212 — RQ (closed 20240701)

Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)

R 20240725 — fuel system, gasoline

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 24V110000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2015 Volkswagen Golf — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for engine issues (26 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (19 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (17 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 14V412000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V028000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V229000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V627000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V705000 (engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V647000 (engine and engine cooling, fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V329000 (unknown or other) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V904000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V464000 (electrical system, steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V188000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V615000 (electrical system, steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 24V110000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1994 ▲ 2013 ▲ 1995

WORST YEARS

◆ 2001 ◆ 2017 ◆ 2011

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2015 Volkswagen Golf reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Volkswagen Golf?

The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 20% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2015 Volkswagen Golf have?

12 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.