2015 Volkswagen E-Golf Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Volkswagen E-Golf, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical2050.0%
- Fuel system922.5%
- Engine512.5%
- Powertrain (other)410.0%
- Driver assistance12.5%
- Steering12.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving and the car shuddered and lost all power and would not accelerate. The car glided to a stop, but there were no shoulders so I was stuck blocking traffic. Later, the police helped push it to a side street where it was safe to park. The dashboard displayed the following error: "Error: Electrical System. Stop!" This message occured at the time of the failure. There were no symptoms or warnings prior to the failure. This message can not be found in the owners manual. Turning the car off and on does not change the situation. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer and is awaiting a tow to a dealer
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.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving and the car shuddered and lost all power and would not accelerate. The car glided to a stop, but there were no shoulders so I was stuck blocking traffic. Later, the police helped push it to a side street where it was safe to park. The dashboard displayed the following error: "Error: Electrical System. Stop!" This message occured at the time of the failure. There were no symptoms or warnings prior to the failure. This message can not be found in the owners manual. Turning the car off and on does not change the situation. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer and is awaiting a tow to a dealer
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .