Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 43 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Equipment. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
43 reports
202,800 miles · Apr 11, 2012
Electrical System
THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FINE IN THE MORNING, BUT AFTER WORK (APPROX 5 PM) IT EITHER DOES NOT WORK OR ONLY WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES/MILES. SOMETIMES TAPPING ON THE FRONT OF THE GAUGE HELPS IT RESUME REGISTERING THE SPEED, SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT HELP. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF VW GOLF/CABRIO/JETTA OF SI…
Read full complaint
THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FINE IN THE MORNING, BUT AFTER WORK (APPROX 5 PM) IT EITHER DOES NOT WORK OR ONLY WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES/MILES. SOMETIMES TAPPING ON THE FRONT OF THE GAUGE HELPS IT RESUME REGISTERING THE SPEED, SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT HELP. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF VW GOLF/CABRIO/JETTA OF SIMILAR MODEL YEAR AS MINE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10454885
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2004
Electrical System
IT IS SUSPECTED THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAULTY. BRAKE LIGHTS WILL CONSTANTLY BLOW, CAR WON'T START, DASHBOARD LIGHTS STAY OFF, SUNROOF WILL NOT WORK.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10060456
Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2000
Electrical SystemVisibility
WHILE DRIVING WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, THEY COULD QUIT WORKING. HEADLIGHTS COULD BE ON, THEN TURN OFF.*AK
NHTSA ODI #874851
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2000
Structure
TRYING TO KEEP DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CLOSED AT ALL TIME, BUT COULD NEVER KEEP IT CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE DOOR CHANNEL. THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN THERE SINCE THE BEGINING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #872458
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2000
Equipment
A/C COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER FAILED-VALVE DID NOT OPEN PROPERLY- NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT INSTEAD OF VALVE ONLY. COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW. NHTSA SHOULD HAVE THIS UNIT RECALLED. *AK
WIRING UNDER THE HOOD IS TERRIBLE- SUNROOF LATCH BROKE AFTER 2YEARS- BATTERY LEAKS 3 TIMES CAUSING DAMAGES TO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR TWICE, MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS SO OFTEN. PLASTIC PARTS THAT THE MFG ARE USING ARE BAD QUALITY THEREFORE CAUSING CONSTANT BREAKDOWS .. AK..
NHTSA ODI #725878
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2000
Electrical System
BATTERY LEAKS - DESTROY THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #725210
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2000
Electrical SystemEquipment
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #725207
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. CONTROLLER WAS NOT TRANSMITTING TO TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT. TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REPLACED. EFFECT OF A BAD TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ALLOW CONSUMER TO PACE WITH FLOWING TRAFFIC. *AK
NHTSA ODI #862393
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2000
Electrical System
UNABLE TO REPAIR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SPEEDOMETER) DUE TO PARTS SHORTAGE FROM VOLKSWAGEN. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK. THE LINE COULD BE DAMAGED BY CHAFING AGAINST THE FUEL TANK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: REPEATED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LEAKING BRAKE LINE CAUSING DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT INCREASING THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH CAN LOOSEN OVER TIME. THE LATCH WOULD MOVE CAUSING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD COULD OCCUR OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.
IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.
THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS RIDGE CAN DAMAGE THE INSIDE THREAD OF THE JACK'S SCISSOR SHOE WHEN THE JACK IS USED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE JACK COULD COLLAPSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON STANDING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED.
THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.
Consequence: THIS RIDGE CAN DAMAGE THE INSIDE THREAD OF THE JACK'S SCISSOR SHOE WHEN THE JACK IS USED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE JACK COULD COLLAPSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON STANDING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED.
THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.
Consequence: THIS RIDGE CAN DAMAGE THE INSIDE THREAD OF THE JACK'S SCISSOR SHOE WHEN THE JACK IS USED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE JACK COULD COLLAPSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON STANDING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.
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
2
PE98037 · Hood Latch Failure
Opened Jul 1, 1998 · Closed Jul 20, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
ODI HAS RECEIVED THREE REPORTS, INCLUDING THE PETITIONERS, REGARDING ALLEGED HOOD LATCH FAILURES.ALL OF THE ODI REPORTS INDICATE THE HOOD FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING.FOLLOWING A TELEPHONE INQUIRY, VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED ODI WITH SOME LIMITED INFORMATION REGARDING SIX ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF HOOD FLY-UP FOR MODEL YEARS 1995 AND 1996.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.DEFECT DESCRIPTION:IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ON SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH MAY LOSE THEIR SPECIFIED FASTENING TORQUE OVER TIME.SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THE LATCH COULD MOVE OUT OF ITS DESIGN POSITION AND CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.IN SOME VEHICLES THE LATCH MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ALIGNED DURING PRODUCTION.REPEATED OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HOOD WITH AN IMPROPERLY ALIGNED LATCH COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE LATCH.EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD AND COULD OBSTRUCT A PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.REMEDY: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. WILL INITIATE A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL INSTRUCTING ITS AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO CHECK THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.
DP98006 · Hood FLY-UP
Opened Jun 11, 1998 · Closed Jul 1, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
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