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2018 Volkswagen Golf Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Volkswagen Golf, most often about the fuel system (35% of complaints). It is 13th of 24 Golf model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2018 Volkswagen Golf problems
Fuel system
10 complaints · 35%Right front (passenger) side has a very loud consistent rattling noise at around 2000-3500 engine RPM range. Reading alone and confirming with other owners of the same vehicle, it is a loose fuel line going under the front passenger side rattling against the chassis. Could be a high risk, not sure, check and advise.
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 17%Less than one year into ownership, the car has experienced a panoramic sunroof leak on both the drivers side and passenger side front area near the a-pillar and the sunvisor. There have been multiple reported incidents all over various sources on the internet. The sunroof, visor and dome light area is exactly the same…
Trim on center console above shifter and below center cubby is razor sharp and has cut my hand deeply twice while parked and cleaning interior since purchasing the car.
Transmission
4 complaints · 14%Coolant leak noticed underneat the engine. It run down to the oil pan dripping on the drive way. Took the car to the dealership for diagnosis. They said leak is coming from the thermostat housing. Mileage is now 73700. Vw powertrain warranty covers up to 72000.
Engine
3 complaints · 10%After restarting hot engine after a brief stop, car might stumble during first attempt to accelerate, for example trying to enter traffic from a parking lot. This has happened several times and has been cause for alarm. The engine is running but feels as if it is not. This is not normal turbo lag and the problem…
Coolant leak noticed underneat the engine. It run down to the oil pan dripping on the drive way. Took the car to the dealership for diagnosis. They said leak is coming from the thermostat housing. Mileage is now 73700. Vw powertrain warranty covers up to 72000.
Body and structure
3 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: body.
Immediately after beginning to leave work on november 13, 2019, I noticed the sunroof on my 2018 vw Golf was shattering and crumbling away, starting toward the front and center of the sunroof. The initial break must have occurred either as it was sitting in the parking lot at work, or immediately after beginning to…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 Volkswagen Golf recalls
Fuel system: fuel system, gasoline
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 previously recalled under 16v-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16v-647.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: labels
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Electrical: control module
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Suspension: coil springs
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: control module
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Brakes: caliper
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47n8, 47n9, and 47n6.
Full defect summary
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.
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
Fuel leak due to suction jet pump failure within fuel tank (remedy effectiveness of recall 16v647)
Summary
On december 12, 2023, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened rq23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of volkswagen (vw) recall 16v-647. Recall 16v-647 was issued on september 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (sjp) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the sjp could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle. This recall covered certain model year (my) 2015-2016 volkswagen golf and audi a3 passenger car vehicles. The recall remedy repair replaced sjp version 1.0 with an improved version, version 1.1. The sjp is designed to purge fuel from the evaporative emissions (evap) system. Vwâs recall filing stated the sjp may have been damaged during assembly, which
Questions about the 2018 Volkswagen Golf
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Volkswagen Golf?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (10 complaints); other or unspecified (5 complaints); transmission (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Volkswagen Golf have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 14, 2024 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2018 a bad year for the Volkswagen Golf?
- It is 13th of 24 Golf model years by number of complaints, with 29 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.