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2011 Volkswagen Golf

Safety ratings, recalls, and consumer complaints from NHTSA

NHTSA Safety Ratings

2011 Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD

Overall
Not Rated
Front Crash
Not Rated
Side Crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★☆

2011 Volkswagen Golf 2 DR FWD

Overall
Not Rated
Front Crash
Not Rated
Side Crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated

Recalls(6)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

Campaign: 18V329000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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.

Campaign: 18V148000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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.

Campaign: 16V078000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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.

Campaign: 15V483000

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE FUEL INJECTION PULSES COULD COINCIDE WITH THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE INJECTOR LINE #2, IN SPECIFIC LOAD AND RPM CONDITIONS. THIS RESONANCE CREATES ADDITIONAL STRESS IN THE FUEL LINE.

Campaign: 11V490000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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.

Campaign: 19V862000

Consumer Complaints(110 total, showing 10)

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The High-pressure Fuel pump failed during a routine drive at approximately 1500 RPMs. This caused an immediate loss of power while in traffic. Manage to limp the car to the nearest gas station in which the car finally died and would not start. Had to call for a tow truck. This immediate loss of power could have cause myself and my daughter to get into an accident. Luckily, we were not on a major highway doing 65+ MPH, which could have been a lot worse. The vehicle flashed a MIL light or flashing glow plug light at the time of the incident. The car did not show any signs of possible failure beforehand. This same issue has been recalled by Fiat-Chrysler on their Heavy-Duty Ram pickup trucks with 6.7L Cummins due to catastrophic failure of the CP4 fuel pump.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Fuse F16 (30A) in the engine fuse plate, melted instead of breaking - causing half of the cars lights to stop functioning including turn signals and brake lights. Cannot be fixed with replacing the fuse as it was never tripped but instead the whole fuse plate needs to be replaced. No warning lights preceded the event, all lights went out while driving. VW dealership requires a new plate to be put in with no explanation of what caused the melt and no guarantee that it won’t happen again. Multiple online forums suggest a similar finding, and even other models have tickets for recalls (same problem, same part) but not the 2011 Golf TDI.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The wire from the alternator to the underhood fuse block is not thick enough to handle the current from the stock alternator. This causes the wire to get too hot melting the fuse block at the 30 amp fuse causing headlight issues.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

Electrical Short caused catastrophic fire in engine compartment, suspected issue is a water leak due to faulty manufacturing. Leak was noted by Volkswagen repair facility and was to be inspected and repaired within 30 days

Fire reported

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Driving on interstate at 70 mph with cruise control on when car suddenly slowed and warning lights began flashing. I slowed to 60 mph and within a minute the engine shut off and was almost rear ended by a semi truck before I could get to the shoulder of the highway. Engine would not restart and I was stranded on the highway. Had to have the vehicle towed by AAA back to my home. Used my Ross-Tech VCDS scanning tool to troubleshoot and found codes: P0087 (fuel rail system pressure too low), P020 (cylinders 1-4 injection timing), P1004-P1007 (torque difference cylinders 1-4). Examined fuel filter and fuel metering valve and found metal chips and particles in both places. Based on this evidence, the high pressure fuel pump has likely failed. My safety was put at risk when the failure occurred due to the sudden loss of power and subsequent near collision with a truck. Additionally I was in danger of being hit by other vehicles as I sat on the shoulder of the highway waiting for a tow truck. My vehicle is available for inspection by the local VW dealership, but will have to be towed at my expense to be examined.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LOST ALL LIGHTS, F16 AND F17 FUSES AND THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX WAS MELTED. FUSES WERE ARCING AND SHORTING INTERNALLY, BUT DIDN'T FAIL. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE IT SEEMS FROM RESEARCHING ONLINE, BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO COVER THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND MAJOR FIRE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS RIDING AS THE PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE. MY FOOT WAS BURNT BY AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT WAS DANGLING DOWN UNDERNEATH THE GLOVE BOX. IT WAS THE BLOWER RESISTOR. THE BLOWER RESISTOR MELTED THROUGH PLASTIC, THEN THE BLOWER RESISTOR WAS HANGING BY WIRES WHEN IT BURNT MY FOOT. *CC *TR

1 injury

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

2011 GOLF TDI 2DOOR. STARTED THROWING AND ERROR CODE OF P2BA6. TOOK IT FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY STATED THAT ISSUE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL AND WAS FIXED ALREADY. I CONTACTED VW DIRECTLY TO SEE HOW TO GO ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THEY STATED THE CAR WAS FIXED IN 2011 AND EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAVE 44K MILES ON THE CAR THEY WILL STILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IN CONCLUSION THE PART THAT HAD ALREADY GONE BAD AND RECALLED HAS BEEN FIXED ONCE THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THE NEW PART SINCE IT HAS BEEN REPLACED. CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THE RECALLED PART HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE WITH IT. *TR

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS HAD A WEIRD SHUTTERING IN ANY GEAR WHEN COASTING AT A REGULAR SPEED. I TOOK IT TO ONE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT YOU BASICALLY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHIFT. TWO WEEKS LATER I NOTICED A SOFT MUFFLED HUSH SOUND THAT REMINDED ME OF A ROCK IN A TIRE. WHEN LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE CAR WE NOTICED DARK LIQUID COATING THE BOTTOM COVER. WE TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND AFTER HOISTING IT UP THEY CALLED US AND SAID THAT THE FLYWHEEL HAD SPRUNG LOOSE DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE AND A SPRING SPRUNG INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING A HOLE AND RUPTURING IT. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS SAME PART HAD BEEN REPLACED BACK IN 2014 BUT WE WERE UNAWARE . OUR THOUGHT IS THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND WHOMEVER REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME DID NOT DO IT PROPERLY BECAUSE NO ONE AND NOTHING SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND TORQUE THE BOLTS AT THE PROPER PRESSURE. HOWEVER I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OVERALL MECHANICS OF THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH COMBINATION. THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY AND HAS CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED FLAMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE COIL PACK, HARNESS WIRING, AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE TWICE AFTER THE REPAIR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Fire reported

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