Problems · by component
2017 Volkswagen Golf fuel/propulsion system problems
70 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2017 Volkswagen Golf cite fuel/propulsion system, 29% of all 242 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
70
29% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the fuel/propulsion system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“On June 24, 2026, Safety Recall 20UF (Suction Jet Pump) was completed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer. Upon leaving the dealership, the vehicle immediately experienced a severe engine stall and extended no-start condition. During the recall service, liquid fuel flooded the EVAP lines and charcoal canister, saturating the intake with raw fuel. This caused an immediate safety hazard, stalling the vehicle in active traffic in 110+ degree summer heat. The vehicle was brought back to the dealer, who confirmed the stall but incorrectly blamed a fuel injector, refusing to acknowledge the EVAP flooding caused by the recall work. Due to the no-start condition, the vehicle was flatbed towed. Raw fuel from this EVAP lines washed past the piston rings, requiring an emergency engine oil change to prevent catastrophic engine failure from severe oil dilution. VW Customer CARE (Case #07594393) refused reimbursement for the towing ($167.00) and oil flush ($101.74) resulting directly from the botched recall. VW failed to provide a safe, effective, cost-free recall remedy. Repair documents attached.”
“Had an immediate loss of propulsion event without warning (2-Feb-2026) after recall work completed on 16-Dec-20256 (24V110000). I lost propulsion on public roads and was lucky that this happened just after I exited the highway otherwise I would have ended up in a life threatening situation”
“Description of the Problem: The fuel pump failed and began spraying gasoline during operation. The malfunction was documented on video by an authorized Volkswagen mechanic and confirmed by a Volkswagen dealership in Honolulu, Hawaii. The component is available for inspection if required. Safety Risk: The failure caused pressurized gasoline to spray within the engine compartment, presenting a serious fire and explosion hazard. This defect posed a danger to the driver, passengers, and others nearby due to potential ignition of leaked fuel. Reproduction and Inspection: The condition was reproduced and confirmed by both an independent authorized Volkswagen mechanic and a Volkswagen dealership in Honolulu. The issue has not yet been inspected by Volkswagen of America, insurance representatives, or police authorities. Warning Signs or Prior Symptoms: A strong smell of gasoline inside the passenger cabin was present prior to discovery of the leak. No dashboard warning lights or error messages appeared. Summary: Fuel pump failure caused gasoline to spray under pressure. The problem was verified by an authorized VW mechanic and dealership in Honolulu, HI. The defective…”
“On October 13, 2025, while driving my 2017 Volkswagen GTI, I noticed a strong odor of gasoline inside and around the vehicle. After parking and inspecting the car, I observed a large pool of gasoline forming in front of the rear passenger-side wheel well. This poses a serious safety risk due to the potential for fire or explosion from fuel leakage. This is the second time my vehicle has experienced gasoline leaking from this same area. The issue appears to originate from a component in or near the fuel system (potentially the fuel line, rollover valve, or suction jet pump assembly), but the specific part has not yet been confirmed. The vehicle is currently at Honolulu Volkswagen for inspection, and the affected components are available for review upon request. At this time, no warning lights, dashboard messages, or prior symptoms appeared before the leak occurred. The odor of gasoline was the first sign of the issue. I believe this recurring fuel leak presents a significant fire hazard and warrants further investigation by Volkswagen and NHTSA.”
“In December 2021, my fuel gauge read empty, so I stopped at a gas station near the Honolulu Airport and VW Honolulu dealership. As I was pumping the gasoline, it began overflowing from the top of the tank, although I had just started pumping. I immediately removed the pump which is when gas began leaking out of the bottom of the tank, like a faucet. Luckily, I was right by the dealership, and was able to make it there without anything dangerous happening. After assessing my vehicle, the VW technicians said there was an internal issue with a faulty fuel tank. They said this issue was not something that I caused. Attached are the invoices and notes provided by the technicians. I paid $3,877 to get the problem fixed.”
“I had fuel leaking from my carbon canister. I was driving the previous day and noticed a gasoline smell. I thought it was something I ran over. The next day, while performing errands, I noticed the smell even more. Then I exited the vehicle to see the fuel pouring out of the car. The dealership has it now.”
Showing 6 of 70 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.