2015 Volkswagen E-Golf Electrical Problems

CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER. PULLED OFF ROAD, WAITED AND RESTARTED VEHICLE WITH NORMAL FUNCTION. EVALUATED AT VW DEALER AND TOLD THE DC-DC CONVERTOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND SHUTTING DOWN THE MOTOR. THIS PART WAS PART OF A PRIOR SAFETY RECALL BY NHSTA, AND THE CAR WAS EVALUATED AND SAID TO BE FIXED. CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA (CASE # 04750977) AND TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11414340

Incident

Apr 17, 2021

Mileage

27,500 mi

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT UNLOCK/RELEASE THE CHARGING CONNECTOR FROM THE CONNECTION PORT. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE EMERGENCY RELEASE PROCEDURE FOR THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHARGING CONNECTOR. THE CHARGING STATUS INDICATOR IS RED. EVENTUALLY CONNECTOR FINALLY RELEASES BUT AFTER EITHER HOURS OF WAITING OR SOMETIMES HITTTING THE CONNECTOR TO JAR IT FREE. DURING THE LOCKED CONDITION, THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVEABLE - WILL NOT OPERATE. IF IT OCCURS AT A PUBLIC CHARGER, THE CAR IS LITERALLY TIED TO THE CHARGER AND BUILDING, UNABLE EVEN TO BE TOWED. CHARGERS CAN BE IN SOME KIND OF BLEAK, SCARY PLACES. NOT ALWAYS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE TRAPPED ALONE AT NIGHT. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS BY OTHER OWNERS/DRIVERS OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL, SEE: HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839&START=10 OR HTTPS://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?9292185-NOW-CHARGER-PORT-WON-T-RELEASE-CHARGER-CONNECTER! OR HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=158&START=30 . THERE ARE OTHERS ALSO.

NHTSA ID

11268374

Incident

Oct 14, 2019

Mileage

25,000 mi

THE 2015 EGOLF LOCKS THE CHARGING CONNECTOR ONTO THE VEHICLE DURING CHARGING. THIS FUNCTIONALITY HAS TWO (AT LEAST) BENEFITS TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. ONE BENEFIT IS THAT THE (VERY EXPENSEIVE) CAR CHARGER'S POWER SUPPLY CAN'T EASILY BE STOLEN DURING CHARGING. A SECOND, SAFETY-CENTRIC, FUNCTION IS DERIVED BY NOT ALLOWING THE CHARGING PORT TO SEPARATE WHILE A CHARGE IS UNDERWAY PREVENTING POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ARCS AND ELECTROCUTION. THE LOCKING MECHAISM INTERMITTENLY FAILS TO UNLOCK TOGETHER WITH THE REST OF THE DOORS AND FUNCTIONS ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS SEVERAL POTENTIAL DANGERS TO A VEHICLE OPERATOR. WHEH THE CHARGE CONNECTER WILL NOT RELEASE, THE VEHICLE WILL START AND MIGHT CREATE A SITUATION OF BEING STRANDED AT NIGHT IN A PUBLC CHARGING LOCATION. TJRTRRWERT---9RR-RRWPWRHIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. TRYING TO RELEASE THE PLUG REQUIRES A STRONG LONG NARROW OBJECT (USUALLY METAL) BE INSERTED INTO THE SHIELDED AREA OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THE MECHANISM CAN SOMETIMES BE OVER-RIDDEN THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR. EVENAUALLY, THOUGH AN OOPERATOR IS GOING TO ACCIDENTALLY CONTACT ONE OF THE HIGH VOLTAGE TERMINALS.AND BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. CLIPPERCREEK CHARGING EQUIPMENT SEEMS MORE LIKELY TO CAUSRE THIS CONDITION. OUR HSC-40 UNIT AND THE SMALLER 120V TRAVEL MODEL THESE ARE OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS FOUND ONLINE: HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839 ' HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839#P7764 ' HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839#P7764

NHTSA ID

11255767

Incident

Sep 2, 2019

Mileage

47,000 mi

EV CHARGER WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM PORT EVEN WHEN CAR IS UNLOCKED WITH REMOTE. RED LIGHT INDICATING CHARGING FAILURE REMAINS AND CHARGER MUST BE REMOVED USING EMERGENCY DISENGAGE PIN WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS AND CAR IS IMMOBILIZED WHILE CHARGER REMAINS STUCK. ELECTRICAL ERROR MESSAGE REQUESTING SERVICE COMES UP ON DASHBOARD TWO DAYS BUT DISAPPEARS UPON RESTART OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11241947

Incident

Aug 3, 2019

Mileage

26,415 mi

MY VEHICLE IS PARKED PLUGGED INTO A 240 V CHARGING STATION IN MY GARAGE/DRIVEWAY. I CANNOT DISCONNECT THE CHARGER BECAUSE THE RED LIGHT ON MY CAR IS ON SOLID RED AND THE LOCK WILL NOT DISENGAGE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON RED SOLID TO SEEK EXPERT ADVICE. HOWEVER, NO ONE AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT. NOW MY VEHICLE STUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND CAN'T EVEN BE TOWED BECAUSE IT IS ATTACHED TO MY HOUSE.

NHTSA ID

11024860

Incident

Sep 21, 2017

Mileage

21,000 mi

TODAY, WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROAD, CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND MESSAGE APPEARED "BATTERY MALFUNCTION" AND CAR JUST DIED WHILE RUNNING 40 MPH. AFTER I TURNED IT OFF AND ON AFTER FEW MINS EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF HUNDREDS FEET AND THEN IT REPEATED AGAIN. THIS TIME WHILE I WAS ON THE TRAFFIC LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11013776

Incident

Aug 8, 2017

Mileage

27,000 mi

THE CHARGING CABLE DOES NOT DISENGAGE PROPERLY FROM THE CHARGING PORT. THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY HAS A CHARGING FAULT, DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THAT CAR IS UNLOCKED AND THEREFORE THE CABLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE REMOVED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL ALSO NOT SUSTAIN CHARGING. OF COURSE CHARGING OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN A CHARGING CABLE IS ENGAGED.

NHTSA ID

11000917

Incident

Jun 23, 2017

Mileage

22,000 mi

I EXPERIENCED THIS ERROR "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE: STOP!". I COULDN'T USE MY CAR. I HAD TO WAIT FOR COUPLE OF MINUTES AND AFTER THIS EVERITHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL

NHTSA ID

10937081

Incident

Dec 21, 2016

Mileage

25,555 mi

AFTER CHARGING TIME RESUMED, THE CAR DOESN'T RELEASE THE CHARGE PLUG . CHARGE LIGHT TURNED RED.-LOCK WON'T RELEASE.-THE CAR IS STUCK BECAUSE THE PIN IS STUCK AND IT WON'T UNLOCK. AT THE END OF THE DAY IT UNLOCKED BY ITSELF NOW IT HAPPENED FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER ONLY 3 DAYS SINCE LAST TIME.

NHTSA ID

10936112

Incident

Dec 18, 2016

Mileage

19,000 mi

THERE ARE MULTIPLE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE CAR'S CHARGING CONNECTOR ALLOWS REMOVAL OF THE PLUG FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE POWER IS ENGAGED. THIS HAS LEAD TO SPARKS BEING GENERATED ON REMOVAL. THE CONDITIONS INVOLVE THE FAILURE OF THE PHYSICAL LOCKING PIN ON THE CHARGE PORT, AND VW'S INCOMPLETE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE J1772 CHARGING STANDARD, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE PROXIMITY CIRCUIT.

NHTSA ID

10926245

Incident

Sep 16, 2016

Mileage

4,800 mi

AT ABOUT 17500 MILE ON ODOMETER, I HAD JUST UNPLUGGED THIS ELECTRIC CAR FROM A PUBLIC LEVEL 2 CHARGING STATION AND SAW A WARNING "ERROR: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. STOP!". I ASSUMED IT WAS JUST A LIGHT WHEN FIRST TURNING THE CAR ON SO SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. ( I WAS PARKED IN A STANDARD PARKING LOT, RACKING THE CHARGER. THE CAR STARTED ROLLING OUT OF THE SPOT, BUT HAD NO POWER. I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND NOT ROLL INTO TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO VW AND I AM TOLD THAT TWO SEPERATE SMALL BATTERIES HAD A PROBLEM AND NEEDE TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS OCCURRED AND THE CAR SHOULD BE RETURNED IN A FEW DAYS. I'M WORRIED ABOUT ANOTHER FAILURE HAPPENING WHEN I AM DRIVING WITH KIDS IN CAR, AS HAS BEEN REPORTED ON YOUR SITE.

NHTSA ID

10918074

Incident

Sep 21, 2016

Mileage

17,653 mi

ON AUGUST 28 2016 PRIOR TO CHARGING E-GOLF, CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE DAMAGE ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND BATTERY. THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE UCSD THORNTON PARKING LOT. AT THAT TIME CAR ODOMETER SHOWS 8727 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN DIDN'T (FAILED TO) INFORM ME ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROL CHARGING SYSTEM AND BATTERY CHARGING. NOT SURE IF THE SOFTWARE FOR THE BATTERY/CHARGING SYSTEM IS THE ONLY PROBLEM SINCE THE VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA STATE THAT BATTERY NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED, TESTED AND IF BROKEN FIXED OR REPLACED. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN UNABLE TO START OR MOVE. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TAKE THE CAR TO OXNARD THE ONLY AVAILABLE SERVICE CENTER FOR E-GOLF IN CALIFORNIA. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET SINCE THE AUGUST 29TH WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

10906064

Incident

Aug 28, 2016

Mileage

8,727 mi

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING ~40 MPH ON PUBLIC ROAD. REACHED DOWN TO PRESS "MODE" BUTTON TO LEFT OF SHIFTER TWICE TO SWITCH TO ECO MODE. PRESSED "POWER" BUTTON BY MISTAKE. TWO PRESSES OF POWER BUTTON CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF, EVEN WHILE MOVING. VEHICLE SUFFERED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. WAS ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP THANKS TO LIMITED TRAFFIC, ENGAGED PARK, AND PRESSED POWER BUTTON TO RESTART VEHICLE. MODE AND POWER BUTTONS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, BOTH REQUIRE TWO BUTTON PRESSES TO EITHER ENGAGE ECO MODE (MODE BUTTON), OR ACTIVATE EMERGENCY VEHICLE SHUTOFF (POWER BUTTON). NOT ENOUGH DIFFERENTIATION IN FEEL TO DETERMINE WHICH BUTTON IS BEING PRESSED WITHOUT TAKING EYES OFF ROAD AND LOOKING DOWN AT SHIFTER CONSOLE.

NHTSA ID

10882754

Incident

Mar 14, 2016

Mileage

1,500 mi

AFTER THE VEHICLE IS DONE CHARGING USING THE J1772 PLUG (L2 OR L1 CHARGING), THE PLUG REMAINS LOCKED TO THE VEHICLE CHARGING INLET. PRESSING THE J1772 PLUG BUTTON DOES NOT RELEASE THE PLUG AS THE CAR MUST BE UNLOCKED USING A KEY TO RELEASE THE PLUG. IN A PUBLIC CHARGING LOCATION, ANOTHER EV DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE PLUG FROM MY CAR AND MAY HAVE BROKEN MY CAR IF I HAD NOT INTERVENED. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INLET DAMAGED BECAUSE THE PLUG STAYS LOCKED IN THE CAR DURING CHARGING AND AFTER CHARGING IS COMPLETE. ON A SEPARATE NOTE, AN ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE SAME CAR USED A PUBLIC L2 J1772 PLUG WITH A BROKEN LOCKING LATCH. WHEN HE REMOVED THE PLUG WHILE THE CAR WAS CHARGING, THERE WAS A LARGE SPARK WHICH JUMPED BETWEEN THE PLUG AND THE CAR. VW IS NOT FOLLOWING THE J1772 PROTOCOL AND THIS COULD LEAD TO SAFETY PROBLEMS IN THE CASE OF A BROKEN CHARGE PORT AND PERSONAL INJURY DUE TO SPARKING. PLEASE ASK VW TO CORRECTLY IMPLEMENT THE J1772 CHARGING PROTOCOL SO THAT PRESSING THE PLUG BUTTON AND/OR REMOVING THE PLUG STOPS CHARGING. PLUG LOCKING SHOULD ALSO BE DISABLED WHEN CHARGING IS COMPLETE.

NHTSA ID

10860617

Incident

Jan 3, 2016

Mileage

7,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE ALL-ELECTRIC CAR HOME FROM WORK ON A 3/4 CHARGE (~75 MILES REMAINING RANGE) WHEN I NOTICED TWO FAST, SPLIT-SECOND JERKING MOTIONS, ABOUT 30 SECONDS APART. WITHIN ANOTHER MINUTE, THE CAR'S DASH SYSTEM SOUNDED AN ALARM AND AN ERROR POPPED UP ON THE DASH SCREEN, SAYING "ERROR: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. STOP!" THE CAR EFFECTIVELY TURNED OFF, GIVING ME JUST A FEW SECONDS TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION - I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH - AND I WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO-LANE ROAD - FORTUNATELY NOT ON THE HIGHWAY - BUT THE CAR WENT FROM FULL DRIVE TO COMPLETE STOP IN JUST A FEW SECONDS. EFFORTS TO RESTART THE CAR (TURNING IT OFF AND ON) WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.

NHTSA ID

10823647

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

2,576 mi

TRIED TO START THE CAR AND ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON DASH. MESSAGE READ "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE". TURNED CAR COMPLETELY OFF, WAITED APPROX. 1 MINUTE THEN STARTED CAR AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10820530

Incident

Dec 5, 2015

Mileage

9,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED BRIEFLY, AND THE ELECTRIC DRIVE TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER AIRBAG WAS DISABLED, IN ADDITION TO STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST, AND OTHER SAFETY FEATURES. THE WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY STATING "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, STOP!" I ENABLED THE HAZARD LIGHTS, COASTED TO A STOP, AND PLACED THE CAR IN PARK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE ELECTRIC DRIVE WOULD NOT RESTART. VW 24-HOUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A VW SERVICE CENTER.

NHTSA ID

10811289

Incident

Dec 18, 2015

Mileage

2,800 mi

I JUST EXPERIENCED THIS ERROR "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE: STOP!" ON THE WAY HOME FORM SAN FRANCISCO TO OAKLAND THANKFULLY I WAS ALREADY OVER THE BAY BRIDGE. THE CAR JUST LOST POWER AND STOPPED. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED I PUT ON THE HAZARDS PUT ON THE BREAK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF I HAD TO DO ABOUT 5 ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE CAR OFF, WHILE STILL IN THE CAR I LOCKED THE CAR THEN RE OPENED IT WITH THE KEY FOB AND PUSHED THE START BUTTON THE CAR CAME BACK TO LIFE AND THE DASH READ "READY" IN GREEN. I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TODAY INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL TOMORROW NO POINT IN WASTING A DAY. THE ERROR "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE: STOP!" HAPPENED AGAIN 3 TIMES EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO TURN OF THE CAR WAIT AND TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN ALTHOUGH IT DROVE IT DEFINITELY FELT WRONG AND I KEPT IT UNDER 25MPH.

NHTSA ID

10809311

Incident

Dec 8, 2015

Mileage

700 mi

THE E-GOLF WAS IN MOTION ON A PEDESTRIAN ROAD, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THEN, A MESSAGE DISPLAYED STATING SOMETHING LIKE "ERROR: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM." THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN, YET NOTHING HAPPENED; IT COULD NOT BE RESTARTED, THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN, AND THE CAR HAD TO THEN BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN "NEUTRAL" FOR SAFETY. THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS UNKNOWN. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP/SERVICE CENTER. THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THEY CALLED VOLKSWAGEN FOR A SPECIALIST TO COME OUT. A SPECIALIST CAME ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND THE SPECIALIST ALSO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, A WEEK LATER THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER CONCLUDED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR VIA VOLKSWAGEN (THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER CLAIMS THAT VOLKSWAGEN CALLED THEM AND TOLD THEM THAT).

NHTSA ID

10807870

Incident

Nov 11, 2015

Mileage

2,250 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 5-MONTH OLD VW E-GOLF ON A CITY ROAD WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC AND TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40 MPH WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN MY ELECTRIC CAR SHUT OFF AND CAME TO A SHUDDERING STOP. IT FELT ALMOST LIKE ANOTHER CAR HAD HIT ME FROM BEHIND. THE ELECTRIC VW GOLF CAME TO SUCH AN ABRUPT STOP THAT THE CAR BEHIND ME NEARLY HIT ME. BUT, THEY WERE ABLE TO SWERVE AROUND ME. BUT MY CAR REMAINED STUCK IN THE ROAD AND WITH AN ELECTRIC FAILURE MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR WOULD NOT START OR EVEN MOVE. I WAS FRIGHTENED BY THIS INCIDENT. THE VW CAR DEALER WORKED ON THE CAR AND CONSULTED VW. VW STATED THAT IT WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY THE DRIVER HITTING THE START/STOP BUTTON BY ACCIDENT. BUT, I DID NOT PRESS THE BUTTON. THE VW DEALER WAS ABLE TO RE-SET ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN WITHOUT FURTHER ERROR MESSAGES OR INCIDENTS. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN READING OF SIMILAR ONLINE REPORTS OF THIS ELECTRICAL MOTOR FAILURE HAPPENING WITH OTHER E-GOLF DRIVERS. I DO NOT BELIEVE VW HAS A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THEIR E-GOLF IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THIS TYPE OF MID-TRIP FAILURE IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND INJURY/DEATH IF NOT FIXED BY VW. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS I HAVE READ ONLINE, THIS FAILURE WARRANTS A RECALL BY THE US GOVERNMENT. HERE IS A LINK TO THE OTHER REPORTS: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?7108546-DOH!-ERROR-ELECTRICAL-SYSTEM-STOP! HTTP://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=422

NHTSA ID

10765206

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

Mileage

2,300 mi