2004 Volkswagen GOLF: complaints, problems and recalls

I BOUGHT A NEW VW GOLF IN FEBRUARY 2004. AT ABOUT 6:30 P.M. ON 4/1, I DROVE OVER A POTHOLE (OR SOME BUMP IN THE ROAD) WHILE DRIVING ON STORROW DRIVE IN BOSTON AND SUDDENLY TWO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR AND MY SEAT BELT APPEARED TO RECOIL. THE TWO AIRBAGS THAT DEPLOYED WERE THE SIDE AIRBAG AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAG. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO A BOSTON DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE FOLLOWING MORNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR (EXCEPT OF COURSE THE DEPLOYED AIRBAGS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064502 at NHTSA ↗

THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED THEN THE ENGINE CUT COMPLETELY OFF. *PH VEHICLE'S EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AT 798, 1,029 AND 1,110 MILES RESPECTIVELY. ON THE FIRST TWO REPAIRS, THEY FOUND PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE. *LA (THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, IDLE AIR CONTROL SYSTEM RPM WAS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED, AND THE THROTTLE VALVE DRIVE-G186 EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAULT IN THE CIRCUIT-PER SELF DIAGNOSIS LOG) THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY DIE OUT, IDLED ROUGHLY, WHISTLING SOUNDS WERE HEARD, THE EPC LIGHT WOULD CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 798 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067448 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE TO WARN.FOR SAFETY REASONS, 2004 VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 100-HP TDI DIESEL ENGINE OPTION REQUIRE USE OF A SPECIAL ENGINE OIL FOR ALL OIL CHANGES AND TOPPING OFF OF THE OIL LEVEL.*AK VOLKSWAGEN HAS STATED THAT FOR THESE ENGINES, "FAILURE TO USE ENGINE OIL FOR YOUR ENGINE THAT EXPRESSLY CONFORMS TO VOLKSWAGEN OIL STANDARD 505.01 CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE ON THE HIGHWAY THAT CAN CAUSE A CRASH AND SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY" HOWEVER, THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT CONVEYED TO ME BY VOLKSWAGEN. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLIED WITH THE C…

Owner-reported narrative. 59 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081089 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS DUE TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. LESS THAN 2,000 MILES THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR WHILE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094614 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES AND HAD THE REPAIRS MADE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR TIRES (BOTH ORIGNAL TIRES) WERE LOW ON AIR. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101523 at NHTSA ↗

OWNER WAS DRIVING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL MODE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STAYED ENGAGED AT 55 MPH AND VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. VEHICLE WENT THROUGH ALL KINDS OF DEBRIS, AND HIT A TREE STUMP. THEN, WENT AIRBORNE INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED INSTANTLY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113394 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT ON JUNE 30, 2005, HIS VEHICLE BURNED TO THE GROUND, VW 2004 TURBO DIESEL GOLF. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CONSUMER STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE. THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR. AFTER THE CONSUMER RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, HE TURNED AROUND TO SEE THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES FROM THE BACK SEATS. THERE WAS ALSO A CASE OF OIL BEHIND THE BACK SEAT, WHICH THE CONSUMER STA…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127884 at NHTSA ↗

TURBO FAILED ON MY 2004 GOLF TDI (100HP) TWO MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS WAS UNUSUAL, BUT HAD TO SEND TO GERMANY FOR A REPLACEMENT TURBO UNIT. THE CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PEP SINCE THE NEW TURBO UNIT WAS INSTALLED. I HAVE HEARD OF ONE OTHER CASE WHERE THE TURBO FAILED AS WELL. I SUSPECT MY TURBO UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITH THE ONE FOR THE 90HP GOLF TDI. HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I HAVE THE CORRECT PART INSTALLED? *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130682 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-12-15 (December 15, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2007-02-20 (February 20, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.