2017 Volkswagen GOLF SPORTWAGEN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
46,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 38 complaints (36.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 10.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 7.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 14 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
Suspension: 14; Electrical System: 7; Engine: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Air Bags: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 24 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 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2017: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 5; 2021: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 8; 2024: 11; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 11025155 · 2017-09-23 (September 23, 2017)
THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE, MOST RECENTLY TODAY. CAR DOES NOT TURN ON, AND EPC AND ENGINE LIGHT FLASH. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED ON 9/917, I CALLED A TOW. WHEN THE TOW ARRIVED, THE CAR TURNED ON AND I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH CHECKED IT OVER AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AND MADE A STOP AT THE POST OFFICE. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. I LEFT IT WHERE I HAD PARKED IT, RETURNED TO IT 3 HOURS LATER BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT TURN ON. AM HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSH…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11025155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11258006 · 2019-09-25 (September 25, 2019)
AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND FAILED USB PORT WITH NO APPLECARPLAY ACCESS FAILED USB PORT NOTED WHILE CAR IN MOTION ADVISED CLOCKSPRING FAILURE- STATED NOT RECALL OR WARRANTY- RECEIVED LETTER IN MAIL REGARDING RECALL 2018 BUT NONE NOTED AS CURRENT. INTERNET SHOWS MANY ISSUES WITH VW CLOCKSPRING WAS ADVISED IT DID NOT PERTAIN TO MY VIN #. OBVIOUSLY IT DOES!
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11258006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11271717 · 2019-10-28 (October 28, 2019)
WHILE PARKED OUTDOORS DURING HEAVY RAINSTORM, PANORAMIC SUNROOF LEAKS THROUGH A PILLAR SOAKING HEADLINER NEAR VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE. WATER ALSO PUDDLES ON DRIVER-SIDE FLOOR BOARD AND REAR PASSENGER-SIDE FLOOR BOARD ON THE DRIVER-SIDE. WATER CAN BE HEARD SLOSHING IN FLOOR PANEL. UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS DUE TO ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF MOISTURE INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11271717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11271720 · 2019-10-28 (October 28, 2019)
CAR LOSES POWER ON HIGHWAY EVEN WITH GAS PEDAL PRESSED DOWN TO FLOOR BOARD. SOURCE OF ISSUE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11271720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11306579 · 2020-02-02 (February 2, 2020)
ON 1/31/2020 AT 5:30 PM THE REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET
Owner-reported narrative. 31,115 miles reported. Look up ODI 11306579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319948 · 2020-04-01 (April 1, 2020)
DURING YEARLY MAINTENANCE WORK, DEALER STATED ON MULTI-POINT INSPECTION THAT TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 36 P.S. I. WHEN I CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE WITH GAUGE, ALL 4 TIRES WERE AT 20 P.S.I. THERE WAS NO TPMS LIGHT ON THE DASH. THE OWNERS MANUAL LISTS IN BOLD LETTERS, TPMS. HOWEVER, IT IS REALLY INDIRECT TPMS. WHAT IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, IS THAT IF ALL 4 TIRES ARE UNDERINFLATED THE SAME AMOUNT, THE TPMS LIGHT WILL NEVER ILLUMINATE, EVER. I THINK THIS FACT SHOULD BE MENTIONED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. I THINK THAT MOST OWNERS, MYSELF INCLUDED…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11328045 · 2020-06-09 (June 9, 2020)
SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON OPEN ROAD WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND AND NOT UNDER ANY TREES, ETC SO WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANYTHING BUT EXPLODED AND TOTALLY SHATTERED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11328045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11328872 · 2020-06-15 (June 15, 2020)
I HAVE 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SPORTWAGEN. THE REAR AXLE COIL SPRING PART NUMBER 5QM 511 115 BROKE. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN RECALLED (SEE SAFETY RECALL CODE 42J5). BUT MY VIN DOES NOW SHOW ANY RECALL. PLEASE HELP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11328872 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V464000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V188000 · Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs
Reported: 2019-03-06 (March 6, 2019)
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.
Consequence: If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V615000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device
Reported: 2019-08-22 (August 22, 2019)
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."
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 November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V110000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗