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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

Power Train complaints

3 reports
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35,000 miles · Nov 24, 2007
Power Train

MY WIFE WAS TAKING A SHORT TRIP TO PICK ME UP FROM WORK IN OUR 2004 VW GOLF, WHEN THE CLUTCH FAILED SUDDENLY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE, BUT THE CLUTCH WAS FAILING TO FULLY DISENGAGE. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ON SURFACE STREETS AND DID NOT HAVE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WE LIMPED HOME AND REQUESTED TO HAVE THE…

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MY WIFE WAS TAKING A SHORT TRIP TO PICK ME UP FROM WORK IN OUR 2004 VW GOLF, WHEN THE CLUTCH FAILED SUDDENLY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE, BUT THE CLUTCH WAS FAILING TO FULLY DISENGAGE. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ON SURFACE STREETS AND DID NOT HAVE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WE LIMPED HOME AND REQUESTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A VW SERVICE CENTER. THE SERVICE CENTER INDICATED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILURE WAS DUE TO WEAR AND WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. WE HAD NO INDICATIONS OF IMPENDING FAILURE (SLIPPAGE, DIFFICULTY PUTTING IN GEAR, VIBRATIONS, STRANGE NOISES, ETC.) AND MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH EXPERIENCED USERS OF MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE SERVICE CENTER MADE THE REPAIRS (TOTAL COST OVER $1900) AND WE HAVE RESUMED USING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209791

107,000 miles · Aug 16, 2007
Power Train

THE DUAL-MASS FLYWHEEL CAME APART IN MY VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TDI (2004) CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING AND NEED FOR PREMATURE CLUTCH REPLACEMENT. THE PROBLEM STARTED NEARLY A MONTH BEFORE I HAD IT DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER AS A BAD CLUTCH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10199793

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2004
Power Train

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS DUE TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. LESS THAN 2,000 MILES THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR WHILE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10094614

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.