Volkswagen Golf years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 20 model years of the Volkswagen Golf by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2017, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2011 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | 2 | 0.6 | 1 | 0 | Typical |
| 2020 | 14 | 2 | 0.6 | 2 | 0 | Typical |
| 2019 | 82 | 10 | 3.2 | 6 | 3 | Most complaints |
| 2018 | 37 | 4 | 1.3 | 6 | 0 | Typical |
| 2017 | 242 | 24 | 7.5 | 5 | 4 | Most complaints |
| 2016 | 152 | 14 | 4.3 | 9 | 2 | Most complaints |
| 2015 | 228 | 19 | 5.9 | 12 | 9 | Most complaints |
| 2014 | 12 | 1 | 0.3 | 5 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2013 | 44 | 3 | 1.0 | 5 | 3 | Typical |
| 2012 | 48 | 3 | 1.0 | 6 | 4 | Typical |
| 2011 | 110 | 7 | 2.1 | 6 | 4 | Most complaints |
| 2010 | 70 | 4 | 1.3 | 4 | 3 | Typical |
| 2006 | 12 | 1 | 0.2 | 3 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2005 | 19 | 1 | 0.3 | 4 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2004 | 28 | 1 | 0.4 | 6 | 3 | Fewest complaints |
| 2003 | 31 | 1 | 0.4 | 6 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2002 | 81 | 3 | 1.0 | 7 | 3 | Typical |
| 2001 | 125 | 5 | 1.5 | 9 | 5 | Typical |
| 2000 | 100 | 4 | 1.1 | 8 | 3 | Typical |
| 1999 | 64 | 2 | 0.7 | 7 | 3 | Typical |
- 202111 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 202014 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 201982 complaints · 6 recallsMost complaints
- 201837 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2017242 complaints · 5 recallsMost complaints
- 2016152 complaints · 9 recallsMost complaints
- 2015228 complaints · 12 recallsMost complaints
- 201412 complaints · 5 recallsFewest complaints
- 201344 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 201248 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2011110 complaints · 6 recallsMost complaints
- 201070 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 200612 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 200519 complaints · 4 recallsFewest complaints
- 200428 complaints · 6 recallsFewest complaints
- 200331 complaints · 6 recallsFewest complaints
- 200281 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2001125 complaints · 9 recallsTypical
- 2000100 complaints · 8 recallsTypical
- 199964 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
Fewest complaints for their age: 2006, 2005, 2014, 2004, 2003.
About this comparison
What Volkswagen Golf years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2017, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2011 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 20 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.