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2004 Volkswagen Golf

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
28Owner complaints

Model-year median: 18

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2004 Volkswagen Golf

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 28 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 4 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 reports
  • Air Bags: 3 reports
  • Fuel/propulsion System: 3 reports
  • Power Train: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
116
200174
200226
200328
200419
200512
20062
2007
Compare all Golf years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
4Engine And Engine Cooling
4Air Bags
3Fuel/propulsion System
3Power Train
3
All reported categories
Fuel System, Diesel
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel System, Other
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
49,830 miles · Dec 16, 2007
Latches/locks/linkages

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON I-35 IN KANSAS AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON DECEMBER 13, 3007 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM, THE LATCH TO MY VEHICLE RELEASED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE TO FLY UP IMPAIRING MY VIEW. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND CALLED THE KANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL. THE HIGHWAY PATROL OFFI…

Read full complaint

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON I-35 IN KANSAS AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON DECEMBER 13, 3007 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM, THE LATCH TO MY VEHICLE RELEASED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE TO FLY UP IMPAIRING MY VIEW. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND CALLED THE KANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL. THE HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER PUSHED DOWN ON THE HOOD BUT WAS UNABLE GET THE HOOD TO LATCH. DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE HOOD LATCH MY HOOD HAS BEEN DAMAGED. I CHECKED YOUR WEBSITE FOR COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AND DISCOVERED THIS DEFECT HAD HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY TO THE SAME VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212018

27,000 miles · Jul 15, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages

THE HOOD LATCH FAILED RESULTING IN THE HOOD FLIPPING UP AND SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD AND DAMAGING THE FRONT FENDERS AND HOOD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10162465

Recall campaigns

2

07V063000 · 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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.