The Lemon Index

All cars · Volkswagen Golf · 2013

2013 Volkswagen Golf. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index77100 = average car
Complaints33NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold30,931U.S. model year
Per 100K sold107complaints
Year rank#3 of 19#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 7

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (AM-S6)FWD24 / 33 / 27Premium$2,850
2.0L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdFWD21 / 31 / 25Premium$3,100
2.0L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdAWD19 / 27 / 22Premium$3,500
2.0L 4-cyl turbo dieselAuto (AM-S6)FWD29 / 37 / 32Diesel$2,950
2.0L 4-cyl turbo dieselManual 6-spdFWD29 / 39 / 32Diesel$2,950
2.5L 5-cylAuto (S6)FWD24 / 31 / 26Regular$2,400
2.5L 5-cylManual 5-spdFWD23 / 33 / 26Regular$2,400

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 12,500 and 77,200 miles. Median 44,000, from 58 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Engine37,50014,000–79,50019
Fuel or ev drive system49,00015,800–82,10016
Electrical37,50010,700–59,20010
Brakes41,5002,500–67,5006
Transmission & drivetrain57,00014,000–77,5005

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Engine39%
Fuel or ev drive system30%
Steering12%
Airbags12%
Brakes9%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
8242215

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 19V862000 Dec 2019 Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

    Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.

  • 18V329000 May 2018 Unknown Or Other

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

    Risk. If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

    Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

  • 18V148000 Mar 2018 Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

    Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

  • 16V078000 Feb 2016 Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

    Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners m

  • 15V483000 Aug 2015 Air Bags / Frontal

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

    Risk. A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
OpenAir bag clockspring failure2018–
ClosedAir bag clockspring failure20172018
ClosedAir bag clockspring failure20152015

Manufacturer communications 1381

Volkswagen filed 1381 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Possible oil leak from oil filter housing
  • If electronic steering column lock was replaced or updated, would cause the remote keyless entry
  • Due to accessory drive belt being damaged or missing, the charging system is inoperative

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Volkswagen Golf 2 DR FWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
Volkswagen Golf 4 DR AWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆
Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆
Volkswagen Golf R 4 DR AWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
Volkswagen Golf R 2 DR AWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
20101966128,286Fuel system, diesel
20112158734,706Transmission & drivetrain
2012974340,885Transmission & drivetrain
2013773330,931Engine
201422833,675Airbags
201517511165,308Electrical
20161398761,687Electrical

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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