2015 Volkswagen GOLF SPORTWAGEN: complaints, problems and recalls

I OWN A 2015 VW GOLF SPORTWAGEN WITH A LITTLE OVER 46,000 MILES. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS GONE BAD AND WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACE (OEM ONLY) BY A VW SPECIALTY GARAGE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED AND CAN HEAR, THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING GOING BAD AS WELL. IT ALL STATED WITH A LOW HUM WHICH CHANGED PITCH WITH THE SPEED OF THE CAR. OVER TIME IT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER UNTIL I FINALLY TOOK IT IN TO A DIAGNOSIS. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY GEN 3 LATE MODEL GOLFS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD NOT FAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019792 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SPORTWAGEN. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VIC BAILEY VOLKSWAGEN (2671 REDVILLE RD, SPARTANBURG, SC 29301). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,836.

Owner-reported narrative. 22,836 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064477 at NHTSA ↗

LOUD SNAPPING SOUND WHILE TURNING, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, LOST ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF STEERING WHEEL, INCLUDING HORN & AIRBAG. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. HAD VEHICLE EXAMINED, CODES PULLED, DETERMINED IT WAS FAILURE OF THE CLOCK SPRING MECHANISM.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11074193 at NHTSA ↗

JUST IN FRONT OF THE SHIFTER AND BEHIND THE CENTER STORAGE CONSOLE, METALLIC TRIM ON PLASTIC PEELED UP LEAVING A RAZOR SHARP EDGE. I DID NOT SEE THIS DEFECT. AS I PULLED MY KEYS OUT OF THE CONSOLE, THE SMALLEST FINGER ON MY RIGHT HAND WAS BADLY SLICED, CAUSING QUITE A LOT OF BLEEDING. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT THE TIME, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE SURPRISE, PAIN, AMOUNT OF BLOOD AND THE DISTRACTION CAUSED BY THOSE THINGS. FORTUNATELY, I HAD JUST PARKED AT MY HOME AND WAS ABLE TO RUN INSIDE AND STANCH THE BLOOD FLOW.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129543 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS A 2015 TDI GOLF THAT SAT ON THE DEALER CAR LOT FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. WE BOUGHT IT SPRING 2018. MINIMAL MAINTENANCE DONE ON VEHICLE WHEN CAR WAS PURCHASED. IN FACT, WE BOUGHT THREE. TIRES HAD FLAT SPOTS, AND HAD TO ALL BE REPLACED. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR DEVELOPED SOFT BRAKES. MINE AS WELL, AND NOT STOPPING WELL. HER CAR FAILED TO STOP, RESULTING IN A CRASH...THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT THAT THE BRAKE FLUSH AND FLUID ARE REPLACED EARLIER THAN THE "RECOMMENDED" 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE. BEFORE OTHERS ARE INJURED. PLEASE

Owner-reported narrative. 30,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11152664 at NHTSA ↗

THE DISPLAY SCREEN SAYS ERROR: AIRBAG, THEN IT SAYS ERROR: TRANSMISSION. ALL THE BOTTONS ON THE STREEING WHEEL DO NOT WORK CURSE CONTROL, BOTTONS FOR CHANGING THE DISPLAY TO SEE INFO ABOUT THE CAR, AND RADIO. THE CAR WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS WHEN THE MESSAGES FIRST WHERE NOTICED. I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THINK IT MIGHT BE THE CLOCK SPRING. THE FACT THAT IT IS SAYING ERROR: AIRBAG, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK, OR MIGHT JUST GO OFF FOR NO REASON.

Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11164399 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEM NOTICED DECEMBER 12TH WHEN ONE BY ONE ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING THE AIR BAG, THE STABILIZATION SYSTEM, THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AND OTHERS. THEN WHEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. I ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED BACK HOME. THE NEXT DAY A MECHANIC SCANNED IT AND SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE EMITIONS SYSTEM WHICH DISABLED THE CAR BY MAKING IT NOT ABLE TO DRIVE. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THE WHOLE PROBLEM, INCLUDING THE FAILURE OF THE SAFETY …

Owner-reported narrative. 60,936 miles reported. Look up ODI 11174488 at NHTSA ↗

CLOCK SPRING FAILED AT 52,000 MILES--AFFECTING BOTH THE AIRBAG AND HORN. VW REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR, DESPITE THEIR CLOCK SPRING RECALL ON MULTIPLE VW MODELS, THAT WAS INITIATED BY NHTSA INVESTIGATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181182 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2018-07-11 (July 11, 2018)

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."

Consequence: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

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. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37L5.

Reported: 2019-09-25 (September 25, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible 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.

Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.

Reported: 2024-02-14 (February 14, 2024)

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.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.