IllustrationTURBOCHARGER ON 2005 VW GOLF FAILED TWICE (5000 MI AND 95000 MI). FIRST BLADE FAILED (COVERED BY WARRANTY), SECOND SHAFT BROKE IN HALF ($1,800 OUT OF POCKET). I BOUGHT CAR BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RELAAIBLE AND SUPPOSED REPUTATION OF THE DIESEL ENGINE. I DON'T THINK TWO FAILURES OF $1,800ITEM IN 2.5 YRS IS ACCEPTABLE.
2005 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: 18 of 19 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
2 reportsDT: CONSUMER OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF WITH TURBO DIESEL INJECTION. SHE BOUGHT VEHICLE WITH 75 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON AND PASSING A BIG TRUCK WHICH WAS MERGING INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FELL BACK. TRUCK VEERED INTO THE LANE AND CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS FORCED …
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DT: CONSUMER OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF WITH TURBO DIESEL INJECTION. SHE BOUGHT VEHICLE WITH 75 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON AND PASSING A BIG TRUCK WHICH WAS MERGING INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FELL BACK. TRUCK VEERED INTO THE LANE AND CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO THE MEDIAN UNTIL TRUCK NOTICED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, GOT OVER, AND LET HER BACK IN THE LANE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CONSUMER CALLED DEALER THE NEXT MORNING AND DEALER CAME AND PICKED UP VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS FIXED. CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE. WHEN SHE GOT INTO VEHICLE AND TURNED KEY ON SHE SAW THAT ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. WHEN GETTING BACK ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND VEHICLE HAD NO POWER. WHEN CONSUMER ARRIVED AT HUSBAND'S JOB TO PICK HIM UP SHE RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE DEALER TELLING HER THAT THE TURBO WAS OUT, AND VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE . TURBO PART WOULD BE IN ON FRIDAY. SHE RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY GAVE HER A LOANER VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED TURBO. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR DIFFERENT FUEL RELATED PROBLEMS.*AK
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.