IllustrationVEHICLE CAN NOT BE LOCKED. THE TUMBLER HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE DOOR HANDLE LEAVING A HOLE. PRIOR TO FALLING OUT THE CAR LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND COULD NOT BE OPENED, PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE.
1995 Volkswagen Golf
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 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
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 reportsALL THE DOOR LOCKS ARE POPPING OUT OF THE HOLE. (TUMBLER.) TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALE, R AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE LOCKS UNLESS THE DRIVER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. DRIVER SAID COULD NOT GET IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE LOCKS BROKE, AND THE KEY DID NOT WORK. *AK
STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. ALSO METAL THAT HOLDS WHEEL IS VISIBLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY DEALER. *AK
IAR BAGS: PULLED OUT OF GAS STATION OIN MAIN STREET AT 5MPH AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON AND DID NOT HIT A BUMP OR ANYTHING, THE AIR BAGS JUST DEPLOYED. *AK
ENGINECOOLING FAN: FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL.
DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING A SMELL OF MELTED PLASTIC AND SHORTAGE OF ELECTRICTY WHICH COULD RESULT INTHE VEHICLE BECOMING INOPERATIVE. DISTRIBUTOR OF ALTENATOR SAID THAT HE HAD TO ORDER 24 ALTERNATORS WHICH ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR 94-95 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. *AK
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA HAS NOT SENT HER HER RECALL EPLACEMENT FOR THE JACK SINCE NOVEMBER OF 1995. SHE HAS CALLED THEM EVERY THREE MONTHS SINCE THEN AND STILL NO REPLACEMNT JACK. *AK
RECEIVED RECALL LETTER REGARDING JACK NOT BEING PROPERLY MACHINED DURING MANUFACTURE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER MANY TIMES, NOT REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. 95V-054. *AK
THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKED UP IN THE COLD AND WHEN TRYING TO USE THE KEY, THE DOOR STILL WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE DOOR BUT THEY HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM YET. *AK
WAITING FOR JACK SINCE NOVEMBER OF 1995. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER MANY TIMES. STILL NO JACK. *AK
Official recalls
498V195000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Aug 17, 1998
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.
98V160000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Jul 16, 1998
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.
95V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Sep 20, 1995
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.
95V054000 · Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/screw/bottle Jack/lift; Equipment:mechanical:integrated Jack/leveler/stabilizer
Mar 13, 1995
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.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:mechanical:integrated Jack/leveler/stabilizer
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.
Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/screw/bottle Jack/lift
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
2PE98037 · 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