2017 Volkswagen GOLF R: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
20,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 15 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 13.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 6 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 |
Engine: 6; Electrical System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11005039 · 2017-07-13 (July 13, 2017)
WE PURCHASED THE (NEW) CAR ON JUNE 09, 2017. 5 DAYS AFTER WE PURCHASED, WE FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED AND THAT FACT WAS NOT DISCLOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE SERVICE ACTIONS AND FURTHER STATED VW CONCURRED. VW MAINTAINS THE RECALL WAS ISSUED BY NHTSA. HERE IS THEIR EMAIL RESPONSE INDICATING SAME: REFERENCE # 170784881 THANK YOU FOR REACHING BACK OUT TO ME. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY IN MY RESPONSE, AS WELL AS FOR THE EXPERIENCES YOU'VE HAD WITH YOUR VEHICLE AND THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11005039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11054393 · 2017-12-13 (December 13, 2017)
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR LOST COOLANT. DISCOVERED ROAD DEBRIS HAD PUNCTURED THE SECONDARY HEAT EXCHANGER LOCATED ON THE LOWER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE FRONT FACIA PROVIDES ABSOLUTELY NO PROTECTION FROM DEBRIS AND OTHER DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON THE EXCHANGER SURFACE. HAD TO PULL OVER AS THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND GET THE CAR TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW - SEARCHING THE INTERNET THERE ARE SEVERAL INCIDENCES OF PUNCTURED HEAT EXCHANGERS.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11054393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11078412 · 2018-03-09 (March 9, 2018)
FROM 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP UNTIL NOW 12 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE ENGINE MISFIRES. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THAT HAS BEEN HOPELESS. THEY SIMPLY CLEAR THE CODE AND IT POPS BACK UP ON MY WAY BACK HOME. IT'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU PAY $40,000 FOR A CAR AND EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS IN AS LITTLE AS 2000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11078412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11206783 · 2019-05-10 (May 10, 2019)
PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE; CLUTCH WAS WORN AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT 25 MONTHS AND 16,000 MILES. MADE CAR DANGEROUS AND HARD TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11206783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11271084 · 2019-10-25 (October 25, 2019)
I HAVE A 2017 GOLF R EQUIPPED WITH DSG TRANSMISSION, AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. OCCASIONALLY THE CAR WOULD MAKE A CONTINUOUS AND PERIODIC CLICKING NOISE THAT CAN LAST FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN IN MOTION AND WHEN BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED. AS SOON AS I STEP ON THE BRAKE, THE CLICKING STOPS. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED, THE CLICKING COMES BACK. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN MAY/JUNE 2018 WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 14000 MILES, AND HAS BEEN DOING THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE SINCE THEN. I BROUGHT IT TO A VW DEALER IN JULY 2018, B…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11271084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287489 · 2019-12-06 (December 6, 2019)
YOUR SYSTEM IS MISLABELING CARS. SEARCH FOR 2017 GOLF R. IT SHOWS 58 COMPLAINTS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CARS TIED TO THESE COMPLAINTS IT'S VW ALLTRACKS. I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THE ISSUES I'M HAVING WITH MY CARS BUT I NEED YOU TO FIX THE WEBSITE. PLEASE HELP. I FIND IT STRANGE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO VW AFTER ALL THE ISSUES THEY HAVE HAD.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11287489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11308797 · 2020-02-12 (February 12, 2020)
"RAZOR-LIKE" MATERIAL/DEFECT ON FRONT OF SHIFT BOOT TRIM NEAR THE INGRESS TO THE FRONT CUBBY AREA HAS CUT ME MULTIPLE TIMES; DRAWING BLOOD EACH TIME, WHEN TAKING MY PHONE IN AND OUT OF THE CUBBY. THIS CUBBY IS DESIGNED TO HOLD A PHONE, AS THERE IS A USB PORT AND CONNECTS THE DRIVER'S PHONE TO THE APPLE CARPLAY UNIT. THE MATERIAL THAT HAS COME OFF THE TRIM THAT FORMS A THIN "RAZOR", SEEMS TO HAVE DELAMINATED FROM THE TRIM. VW SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. SKIN THAT WAS REMOVED BY THE TRIM CAN BE SEEN IN THE FOLLOWING ATTACHED SHOTS.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11308797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11351518 · 2020-08-27 (August 27, 2020)
PCV (POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION) VALVE MALFUNCTION. VW'S PCV VALVE, ALSO SOMETIMES CALLED THE OIL SEPARATOR VALVE, WHICH IS FOUND ON MANY OF THEIR CARS/SUVS BECOMES FAULTY AROUND 40-50K MILES. WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS IS THE THE VALVE FAILS TO VENT INTERNAL ENGINE PRESSURE, WHICH CAUSES THE PRESSURE TO BUILD UP WITHIN THE ENGINE. EVENTTUALLY THE PRESSURE WILL FIND SOME PLACE TO VENT, USUALLY OUT OF WEAKEST OIL GASKET POINT, OFTEN BEING THE REAR MAIN SEAL AND VALVE COVER. SINCE THE EXHAUST IS BEHIND THE ENGINE, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT OIL CAN …
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11351518 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.