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2013 Volkswagen Golf Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Golf, most often about the fuel system (33% of complaints, typically around 37,500 miles). It is 12th of 24 Golf model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2013 Volkswagen Golf problems
Fuel system
14 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 37,500 miles.
Driving in freeway traffic at around 35-40 MPH. Prior,to this incident, car has been well maintained and trouble free. Engine died, subsequently power steering stopped working and I needed to steer vehicle to shoulder of road. I consider myself to be an experienced driver and was able to adjust to situation, concerned…
Vehicle check engine light came on while driving. Driver immediately pulled over, turned engine off. Driver restarted engine, checked under hood. Engine started, but there was a strong vibration and high pitch metal on metal sound. Vehicle towed to dealer. Dealer diagnosed a failure of high pressure fuel pump. Fuel…
Engine
14 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
The problem started about three months ago when my car had 50k mi. Right after it had been serviced by the dealer. Initially, the yellow engine light would come on occasionally (e.g. On in the morning and then off in the afternoon). Now the yellow engine light is steady on and the engine makes some weird noise when…
Driving in freeway traffic at around 35-40 MPH. Prior,to this incident, car has been well maintained and trouble free. Engine died, subsequently power steering stopped working and I needed to steer vehicle to shoulder of road. I consider myself to be an experienced driver and was able to adjust to situation, concerned…
Air bags
9 complaints · 21%I do not feel safe to drive this car due to the airbag recall has no remedy at this time, its been 1.5 years since the takata airbag fiasco. Air bags are required on all vehicles being sold new or used. This airbag might kill me, the opposite of what it was designed to do. Why hasn't the federal government mandated…
Electrical
7 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles.
On two occasions, about two weeks apart, the power cut off while driving. The car became very difficult to steer. The alternator light came on. After turning the ignition off and on again once or twice, the car started again, and the light was no longer on. On the first of these occasions, the car was being driven on…
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that the front passengerâs side seat overheated and burned the occupant. The burn injuries were minor and there was no medical attention sought. The contact mentioned that the front passenger side fan was failing as well. The vehicle was taken to the dealer…
Steering
5 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 15,000 miles.
I was sitting in traffic and when I began to accelerate the car just died in the middle of the road. I turned on my hazard lights for people could go around me so I could figure out how to get to safety. As soon as the car died I tried to turn the key to get it started again. Once I did that a bunch of lights came on…
After exiting the freeway, I was driving in stop and go traffic and the engine cut out without warning. I was unable to change lanes due to lack of power and power steering, so I tried to re-start the engine while coasting in the fast lane. The hud indicated that I had to put the car in park, so I stopped the car in…
Brakes
5 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
The rear brakes (mainly driver side) on my 2013 sportwagon tdi, are sticking bad.. Mileage has dropped 10 mpg-ish, and they are really emitting quite a bit of heat.. So obviously the brakes are sticking, but I cant find the reason... I asked the dealer if they could take a look. And they said that it just needs new…
On two occasions, about two weeks apart, the power cut off while driving. The car became very difficult to steer. The alternator light came on. After turning the ignition off and on again once or twice, the car started again, and the light was no longer on. On the first of these occasions, the car was being driven on…
Suspension
4 complaints · 9%Speed control
3 complaints · 7%I was entering the freeway and accelerating when I realized that my car wouldn't go faster than 40mph. I pulled the car over at the next exit and the car would no longer accelerate. It would not let me go past the slowest speed that I had reached while exiting. I turned the car off and it would no longer start. I had…
Driving at highway speed (60mph) engine shut down abrubtly and glow plug warning light came on. This resulted in having to coast across three lanes of traffic with difficulty in steering and braking to narrow shoulder area. Engine would crank over but not restart. Vehicle towed to dealer. Diagnosis is high pressure…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Volkswagen Golf recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Other: unknown or other
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Fix: 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 may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: frontal
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.
Fix: 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 customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Air bag clockspring failure
Summary
In august 2015, volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) launched safety recall 15v-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 model year (my) cc, passat, eos, golf, gti, tiguan, jetta and jetta sportwagen models.contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to tear resulting in loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag and any steering wheel mounted controls.the loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag will result in i
Air bag clockspring failure
Summary
In august 2015, volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) launched safety recall 15v-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 model year (my) cc, passat, eos, golf, gti, tiguan, jetta and jetta sportwagen models.contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to tear resulting in loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag and any steering wheel mounted controls.the loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag will result in i
Air bag clockspring failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (sccm) failures in model year (my) 2012 volkswagen passat and cc models.the sccm is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a ribbon cable) to electrically connect the steering wheel to the vehicle's electrical system while allowing for the turning of the steering wheel.complainants alleged that that the clock spring failed while driving and without warning.when the sccm fails electrically, an air bag warning light is illuminated on the dash of the vehicle.if a vehicle with a failed sccm were to be invo
Questions about the 2013 Volkswagen Golf
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Volkswagen Golf?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (14 complaints, typically around 37,500 miles); engine (14 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); air bags (9 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Volkswagen Golf have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 4, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Volkswagen Golf?
- It is 12th of 24 Golf model years by number of complaints, with 43 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.