The Lemon IndexAll cars · Volkswagen Golf · 2018
2018 Volkswagen Golf. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 9
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | FWD | 25 / 34 / 29 | Regular | $2,150 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S6) | FWD | 24 / 33 / 28 | Regular | $2,200 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (AM-S6) | AWD | 22 / 30 / 25 | Regular | $2,500 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | AWD | 21 / 30 / 24 | Regular | $2,600 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | FWD | 25 / 33 / 28 | Regular | $2,200 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (AM-S6) | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 | Regular | $2,300 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (AM-S7) | AWD | 22 / 29 / 25 | Premium | $3,100 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | AWD | 21 / 29 / 24 | Premium | $3,200 |
| Electric | Auto (A1) | FWD | 126 / 111 / 119 | Electricity | $650 |
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 2,600 and 20,200 miles. Median 9,600, from 37 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission & drivetrain | 10,000 | 800–45,800 | 5 |
| Brakes | 8,500 | 4,100–23,000 | 9 |
| Engine | 10,000 | 1,900–41,800 | 5 |
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
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Brakes | 22% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 20% |
| Engine | 11% |
| Body structure | 11% |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 9% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 6
24V110000 Feb 2024 Fuel System, Gasoline
Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy. Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. 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 VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previ
20V372000 Jun 2020 Equipment / Other / Labels
Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling two 2018 Golf GTI vehicles. The VIN printed on the Federal Certification label may not match the actual VIN on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk. If the stamped vehicle identification number (VIN) does not match the VIN on the Vehicle Certification Label, owners may be unable to tell if their vehicle is under an important safety recall, possibly exposing them to an increased risk of a crash, fire or injury.
Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a correct certification label, free of charge. This recall began July 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E7.
19V615000 Aug 2019 Electrical System / Ignition / Anti-Theft / Control Module
Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Risk. Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
19V188000 Mar 2019 Suspension / Rear / Springs / Coil Springs
Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Risk. If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
18V464000 Jul 2018 Steering / Column Locking / Anti-Theft Device
Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Sportwagen vehicles. The build of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle shift lever is not in "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk. Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37L5.
18V369000 Jun 2018 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Disc / Caliper
Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Risk. A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volksw
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Fuel leak due to suction jet pump failure within fuel tank (remedy effectiveness of recall 16v647) | 2023 | 2024 |
Manufacturer communications 643
Volkswagen filed 643 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Standard Maintenance Section: Moved: "Exterior Lighting" from Extended Maintenance Section
- Standard Maintenance Section: Added "boots" to "Engine and engine compartment components:…
- Water leaks from the sunroof/overhead light console area, Park distance to sensitive to…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | Optional |
Nearby model years
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
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
. Get the data