IllustrationDRIVING A 2004 VW GOLF GL AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND REAR-ENDED AN SUV. THE FRONT END OF THE GOLF WAS SMASHED IN ALL THE WAY TO THE RADIATOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT RELEASE AT EITHER THE DRIVERS NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
2004 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
70–25K
725–50K
450–75K
375–100K
3100–150K
1150K+
25 reports with mileage · 3 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
3 reportsDEFECTIVE SIDE AIRBAG. THEY SAID IT IS TEARING OUT AND THE WANT $600.00 TO FIX SOMETHING 3-4 YEARS OLD. *JB
I BOUGHT A NEW VW GOLF IN FEBRUARY 2004. AT ABOUT 6:30 P.M. ON 4/1, I DROVE OVER A POTHOLE (OR SOME BUMP IN THE ROAD) WHILE DRIVING ON STORROW DRIVE IN BOSTON AND SUDDENLY TWO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR AND MY SEAT BELT APPEARED TO RECOIL. THE TWO AIRBAGS THAT DEPLOYED WERE THE SIDE AIRBAG AND THE CURTAIN AI…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT A NEW VW GOLF IN FEBRUARY 2004. AT ABOUT 6:30 P.M. ON 4/1, I DROVE OVER A POTHOLE (OR SOME BUMP IN THE ROAD) WHILE DRIVING ON STORROW DRIVE IN BOSTON AND SUDDENLY TWO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR AND MY SEAT BELT APPEARED TO RECOIL. THE TWO AIRBAGS THAT DEPLOYED WERE THE SIDE AIRBAG AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAG. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO A BOSTON DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE FOLLOWING MORNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR (EXCEPT OF COURSE THE DEPLOYED AIRBAGS AND BROKEN SEAT BELT), BUT THAT THERE WAS "CRASH DATA" ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WENT ON TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY SITUATION BECAUSE THE CAR DETECTED A CRASH (DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS ADMITTEDLY NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR), CAUSING THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. *NM
Official recalls
207V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Feb 20, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
04V586000 · Fuel System, Diesel
Dec 15, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
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.