Car battery spontaneously exploded when trying to start the car.
2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Golf Alltrack years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
42 reports with mileage · 30 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
14 reportsInfotainment system is restarting itself repeatedly every 30 seconds to every few minutes.This has been going on for about 2 weeks. The component has not yet been inspected by a 3rd party.
I've been experiencing a recurring issue with my vehicle where the EPC light frequently activates. When this happens, the car significantly reduces its speed, making it difficult to drive safely. I've noticed this situation over the past six to eight months, and it typically requires me to pull over. After turning off the vehicl…
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I've been experiencing a recurring issue with my vehicle where the EPC light frequently activates. When this happens, the car significantly reduces its speed, making it difficult to drive safely. I've noticed this situation over the past six to eight months, and it typically requires me to pull over. After turning off the vehicle multiple times, I'm usually able to reset it and drive normally again. I'm seeking advice on how to address this problem effectively.
This is the second time since November 2022 that our clock spring has failed. While it's broken the driver has no airbag, horn, or usability of controls on steering wheel. This is a huge saftey concern especially driving in winter conditions.
Passenger window (front) and locks not working. Suddenly stopped working on my low mileage car. The wire harness had to be replaced. Similar recall for the VW Atlas that would also effect the airbag because of corroded wire contacts. Brought to VW dealer and they determined (after 2 weeks) the wire harness had to be replaced. N…
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Passenger window (front) and locks not working. Suddenly stopped working on my low mileage car. The wire harness had to be replaced. Similar recall for the VW Atlas that would also effect the airbag because of corroded wire contacts. Brought to VW dealer and they determined (after 2 weeks) the wire harness had to be replaced. Not functioning doors and locks and possible airbags are a huge safety issue.
Bought the car from autonation in October 2021 and had condensation wet dog smell. Car was garaged until 4/2022 at which time I noticed headliner stains and water coming into wheel well, called dealer was advised to check drain tubes. I cannot. More rain more issues. Care warning lights all came on including airbag. Car has 3815…
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Bought the car from autonation in October 2021 and had condensation wet dog smell. Car was garaged until 4/2022 at which time I noticed headliner stains and water coming into wheel well, called dealer was advised to check drain tubes. I cannot. More rain more issues. Care warning lights all came on including airbag. Car has 38150 miles. VW refusing to cover under recall. Wants me to file insurance claim. Dealer did not acknowledge mold headliner issues until I called back after picking up the car. PANORAMIC SUNROOF LEAKS. HEADLINER I AND CARPET IS BADLY STAINED WITH VISIBLE MOLD GROWTH. PILLAR STAINING AS WELL. WATER LEAKS FROM DOME LIGHT AND SUNROOF CONTROL BUTTONS. WATER ALSO LEAKS INTO FOOT WELL. TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHO HAVE SAID THAT IT IS LIKELY THE SUNROOF DRAINS ARE BLOCKED BY DEBRIS AND REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. THERE IS NO WAY FOR THE CONSUMER TO ACCESS THE SUNROOF DRAINS TO KEEP THEM CLEAR, PARTICULARLY THE REAR DRAINS, WHICH ENTAILS DISMANTLING PART OF THE CAR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MANY REPORTED COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS WITH A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BEING ISSUED. PLEASE ENCOURAGE AN INVESTIGATION
THE MOON ROOF HAS BEEN LEAKING WATER THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE RADIO BACK UP CAMERA NAVIGATION SYSTEM HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING THERE'S WATER THAT CAME ALL IN THROUGH THE FRONT BY THE WINDSHIELD THE TWO PILLARS AND NOW IT'S HAPPENING IN THE BACK IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY
ON OR ABOUT 6.13.2019, MY 2017 VW GOLF ALLTRACK SE LEAKED WATER THROUGH THE LIGHT IN THE ROOF, BEHIND THE VISOR (DRIVER'S SIDE) WHILE STATIONARY. EACH TIME THE HEADLINER WAS STAINED, WATER SAT IN THE LIGHT AND IT LEAKED ALL OVER MY LAP. AS OF 6.11.2020, IT IS STILL LEAKING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE AND A CLASS ACTION SU…
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ON OR ABOUT 6.13.2019, MY 2017 VW GOLF ALLTRACK SE LEAKED WATER THROUGH THE LIGHT IN THE ROOF, BEHIND THE VISOR (DRIVER'S SIDE) WHILE STATIONARY. EACH TIME THE HEADLINER WAS STAINED, WATER SAT IN THE LIGHT AND IT LEAKED ALL OVER MY LAP. AS OF 6.11.2020, IT IS STILL LEAKING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE AND A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS PENDING. VW CLAIMS THIS IS A REPAIR DEFECT, NOT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND ONLY OFFERS TO COVER 75% OF A $12K REPAIR ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS 34K MILES, BEEN MOSTLY GARAGE KEPT OR COVERED AND ALL MAINTENANCE COMPLETED ONLY AT VW DEALERSHIPS. I HAVE FILED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH VW. THEY STATE THAT SINCE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF 3 YEAR WARRANTY (3YR/36K MI), THEY ARE OFFERING GOODWILL. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS FAIR OR RIGHT TO HAVE TO SPEND EVEN $1 TO REPAIR A KNOWN STRUCTURAL DEFECT RELATED TO THE SPOT WELDS AND SUNROOF, WHICH WERE LIKELY THE CAUSE OF EACH AND EVERY LEAK THAT THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR LIKES TO SUDDENLY ATTEMPT TO ACTIVATE THE COLLISION WARNINGS FOR NO REASON - AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AS WELL, POSSIBLY RELATED TO WATER DAMAGE. VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO TAKE ANY ACTION BEYOND THEIR OFFER OF 75% COVERAGE OF COSTS AS GOODWILL ON A CAR THAT WASN'T BUILT RIGHT TO BEGIN WITH AND FRANKLY, IS A RISK TO THE SAFETY OF MY TWO CHILDREN, 4 & 2, AS A SPOT WELD IN THE SUNROOF IS SURELY A SIGN THAT IT'S LIKELY NOT THE ONLY STRUCTURAL DEFECT OR FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS MY 4TH VW AND CLEARLY WILL BE MY LAST.
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND I FELT SOME SORT OF STRINGY-LIKE METALLIC RESISTANCE AS I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL (SIMILAR TO A RUBBERBAND HELD TAUT AND BEING PLUCKED). APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER, AN AIRBAG AND A TRANSMISSION WARNING APPEARED AND MY HORN AND ALL BUTTONS ON MY STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING. I WAS AT 50,…
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I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND I FELT SOME SORT OF STRINGY-LIKE METALLIC RESISTANCE AS I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL (SIMILAR TO A RUBBERBAND HELD TAUT AND BEING PLUCKED). APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER, AN AIRBAG AND A TRANSMISSION WARNING APPEARED AND MY HORN AND ALL BUTTONS ON MY STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING. I WAS AT 50,0170+ MILES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER RECALL, EVEN THOUGH 400,000 + OTHER VWS HAD THE SAME RECALL...
PURCHASED A USED 2017 VW ALLTRACK APRIL 2 YEARS AGO. PRESENTLY HAS ~30K MILES. CHRISTMAS DAY THIS YEAR, 4 WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED LIT-UP IN THE CONSOLE-AIR-BAG, TIRE PRESSURE, ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, AND ADVISED THAT WATER-INTRUSION OCCURRED DUE TO BLOCKED SUN-ROOF DRAINS [WHIC…
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PURCHASED A USED 2017 VW ALLTRACK APRIL 2 YEARS AGO. PRESENTLY HAS ~30K MILES. CHRISTMAS DAY THIS YEAR, 4 WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED LIT-UP IN THE CONSOLE-AIR-BAG, TIRE PRESSURE, ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, AND ADVISED THAT WATER-INTRUSION OCCURRED DUE TO BLOCKED SUN-ROOF DRAINS [WHICH ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY ACCESSIBLE. ADVISED THAT IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED STANDARD MAINTENANCE AND AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. ALSO REPAIRED WERE CORRODED WIRING CONNECTORS AND CORRODED WIRES! DEALER ADVISED THAT ONCE CORRECTED 'IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM AGAIN' WHICH WE DON'T TRUST OR BELIEVE. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN AND WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. WE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED AND CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY OCCURRING. RUST NEVER SLEEPS
Official recalls
120V561000 · Unknown Or Other
Sep 16, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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