MYRModel Year Report

Volkswagen Golf — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

4 model years to watch and 4 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Caution4 years

Best bets4 years

Complaint history

1985: 10 complaints, Not enough data 1985 1986: 13 complaints, Not enough data 1987: 4 complaints, Not enough data 1988: 9 complaints, Not enough data 1989: 17 complaints, Not enough data 1990: 10 complaints, Not enough data 1990 1991: 8 complaints, Not enough data 1992: 6 complaints, Not enough data 1993: 7 complaints, Not enough data 1994: 43 complaints, Recommended 1995: 43 complaints, Recommended 1995 1996: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1997: 7 complaints, Not enough data 1998: 18 complaints, Not enough data 1999: 64 complaints, Recommended 2000: 88 complaints, Recommended 2000 2001: 116 complaints, Caution 2002: 74 complaints, Recommended 2003: 26 complaints, Not enough data 2004: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2005: 19 complaints, Not enough data 2005 2006: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2007: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2008: 1 complaint, Not enough data 2009: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2010: 69 complaints, Recommended 2010 2011: 110 complaints, Caution 2012: 48 complaints, Recommended 2013: 43 complaints, Recommended 2014: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2015: 131 complaints, Caution 2015 2016: 85 complaints, Recommended 2017: 117 complaints, Caution 2018: 29 complaints, Not enough data 2019: 62 complaints, Recommended 2020: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2020 2021: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 81 complaints, Recommended 2023: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2015 · 131
1985: 10 complaints, Not enough data 1985 1986: 13 complaints, Not enough data 1987: 4 complaints, Not enough data 1988: 9 complaints, Not enough data 1988 1989: 17 complaints, Not enough data 1990: 10 complaints, Not enough data 1991: 8 complaints, Not enough data 1991 1992: 6 complaints, Not enough data 1993: 7 complaints, Not enough data 1994: 43 complaints, Recommended 1994 1995: 43 complaints, Recommended 1996: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1997: 7 complaints, Not enough data 1997 1998: 18 complaints, Not enough data 1999: 64 complaints, Recommended 2000: 88 complaints, Recommended 2000 2001: 116 complaints, Caution 2002: 74 complaints, Recommended 2003: 26 complaints, Not enough data 2003 2004: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2005: 19 complaints, Not enough data 2006: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2006 2007: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2008: 1 complaint, Not enough data 2009: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2009 2010: 69 complaints, Recommended 2011: 110 complaints, Caution 2012: 48 complaints, Recommended 2012 2013: 43 complaints, Recommended 2014: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2015: 131 complaints, Caution 2015 2016: 85 complaints, Recommended 2017: 117 complaints, Caution 2018: 29 complaints, Not enough data 2018 2019: 62 complaints, Recommended 2020: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2021: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2021 2022: 81 complaints, Recommended 2023: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2015 · 131
1985: 10 complaints, Not enough data 1985 1986: 13 complaints, Not enough data 1987: 4 complaints, Not enough data 1987 1988: 9 complaints, Not enough data 1989: 17 complaints, Not enough data 1989 1990: 10 complaints, Not enough data 1991: 8 complaints, Not enough data 1991 1992: 6 complaints, Not enough data 1993: 7 complaints, Not enough data 1993 1994: 43 complaints, Recommended 1995: 43 complaints, Recommended 1995 1996: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1997: 7 complaints, Not enough data 1997 1998: 18 complaints, Not enough data 1999: 64 complaints, Recommended 1999 2000: 88 complaints, Recommended 2001: 116 complaints, Caution 2001 2002: 74 complaints, Recommended 2003: 26 complaints, Not enough data 2003 2004: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2005: 19 complaints, Not enough data 2005 2006: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2007: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2007 2008: 1 complaint, Not enough data 2009: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2009 2010: 69 complaints, Recommended 2011: 110 complaints, Caution 2011 2012: 48 complaints, Recommended 2013: 43 complaints, Recommended 2013 2014: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2015: 131 complaints, Caution 2015 2016: 85 complaints, Recommended 2017: 117 complaints, Caution 2017 2018: 29 complaints, Not enough data 2019: 62 complaints, Recommended 2019 2020: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2021: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2021 2022: 81 complaints, Recommended 2023: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2023 2015 · 131
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2023 ○ Not enough data 11 Only 11 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2022 ● Recommended 81 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2021 ○ Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2020 ○ Not enough data 6 Only 6 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2019 ● Recommended 62 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2018 ○ Not enough data 29 Only 29 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2017 ◆ Caution 117 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2016 ● Recommended 85 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2015 ◆ Caution 131 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2014 ○ Not enough data 11 Only 11 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2013 ▲ Recommended 43 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2012 ▲ Recommended 48 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2011 ◆ Caution 110 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2010 ● Recommended 69 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2009 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2008 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2007 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2006 ○ Not enough data 12 Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2005 ○ Not enough data 19 Only 19 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2004 ○ Not enough data 28 Only 28 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2003 ○ Not enough data 26 Only 26 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2002 ● Recommended 74 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2001 ◆ Caution 116 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2000 ● Recommended 88 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1999 ● Recommended 64 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1998 ○ Not enough data 18 Only 18 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1997 ○ Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1996 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1995 ▲ Recommended 43 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1994 ▲ Recommended 43 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1993 ○ Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1992 ○ Not enough data 6 Only 6 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1991 ○ Not enough data 8 Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1990 ○ Not enough data 10 Only 10 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1989 ○ Not enough data 17 Only 17 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1988 ○ Not enough data 9 Only 9 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1987 ○ Not enough data 4 Only 4 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1986 ○ Not enough data 13 Only 13 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1985 ○ Not enough data 10 Only 10 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

60

recalls on file across every Volkswagen Golf model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Volkswagen models