RoadVitals

2018 Volkswagen Golf R Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Latest Mar 23, 2024
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R, 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

  • Brakes325.0%
  • Powertrain (other)325.0%
  • Driver assistance216.7%
  • Other / unspecified18.3%
  • Fuel system18.3%
  • Electrical18.3%
  • Exterior lighting18.3%

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

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

EXITING A PARKING LOT WITH A 15% INCLINE @3MPH MERGING INTO THE ROAD, THE FRONT PARK ASSIST SENSORS BEEPED AND THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED BRAKES INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE STALLED SINCE I HAD THE CLUTCH FULLY RELEASED, INCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP WHEN THEY NOTICED THE VEHICLE NOT MOVING. PARKPILOT SYSTEM WILL OFTEN MISREAD THE ROAD AS AN OBSTACLE AND APPLY BRAKES ON ITS OWN, SPECIALLY BELOW THE 3MPH SPEED. IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF THE RIDE HEIGHT OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE LAYOUT OF REGULAR PARKING LOTS IN THE US.

NHTSA ID 11278045 · filed Nov 4, 2019

FRONT COLLISION WARNING SOUNDS WHEN LEAVING PARKING LOTS WITH SMALL DIP WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE EXIT. 25% OF THE TIME MY EMERGENCY BRAKES ACTIVATE STOPPING THE CAR WHEN I WANT TO EXIT. THE CAR THINKS THE ROAD IS AN OBSTACLE BECAUSE OF THE DIP. THIS HAPPEN OFTEN AND IN DIFFERENT PARKING LOTS. VERY DANGEROUS SINCE YOU'RE ENTERING A ROAD WAY AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID 11210352 · filed May 28, 2019

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

After starting the car and then beginning to drive, the transmission falls into neutral when it should have shifted from 1st to 2nd gear. In order to recover, the driver has to stop applying the accelerator and then wait a second or two for the rpm’s to approach idle rates before the transmission will re-engage. It is not repeatable, and is sporadic but always when first driving the car after it has been recently started. This has occurred about 5times in 35k and is happening more often. I have taken it to the dealer multiple times but they dismiss the concern because they haven’t yet been able to repeat it. This bad shift / loss of power is dangerous when trying to initially accelerate and merge into traffic.

NHTSA ID 11579064 · filed Mar 23, 2024

When driving the car it occasionally slips into neutral when it should be making the 1st to 2nd shift. Happens rarely; about 12-15 times in 60K miles. More common after filling up with gas, but has happened at other times. Very dangerous as one pulls out to merge into traffic to have the car do this when trying to accelerate. Acceleration is moderate and not flooring it when this happens. I know of 3-4 others on VW forum reporting the same issue. Again, this is potentially DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID 11437660 · filed Oct 21, 2021

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

EXITING A PARKING LOT WITH A 15% INCLINE @3MPH MERGING INTO THE ROAD, THE FRONT PARK ASSIST SENSORS BEEPED AND THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED BRAKES INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE STALLED SINCE I HAD THE CLUTCH FULLY RELEASED, INCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP WHEN THEY NOTICED THE VEHICLE NOT MOVING. PARKPILOT SYSTEM WILL OFTEN MISREAD THE ROAD AS AN OBSTACLE AND APPLY BRAKES ON ITS OWN, SPECIALLY BELOW THE 3MPH SPEED. IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF THE RIDE HEIGHT OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE LAYOUT OF REGULAR PARKING LOTS IN THE US.

NHTSA ID 11278045 · filed Nov 4, 2019

FRONT COLLISION WARNING SOUNDS WHEN LEAVING PARKING LOTS WITH SMALL DIP WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE EXIT. 25% OF THE TIME MY EMERGENCY BRAKES ACTIVATE STOPPING THE CAR WHEN I WANT TO EXIT. THE CAR THINKS THE ROAD IS AN OBSTACLE BECAUSE OF THE DIP. THIS HAPPEN OFTEN AND IN DIFFERENT PARKING LOTS. VERY DANGEROUS SINCE YOU'RE ENTERING A ROAD WAY AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID 11210352 · filed May 28, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AFTER A RAIN THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PAD STICKS TO THE OUTBOARD ROTOR. THE PAD BINDS TO THE ROTOR CAUSING THE BRAKE TL SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE BACKING OUT.OF PARK.

NHTSA ID 11154223 · filed Nov 27, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE CAR WHILE DRIVING ON A 55MPH DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND 1/2 TANK OF GAS INDICATED. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BACK ROADS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE IT TO A SERVICE STATION, ~1/8 TANK OF GAS WAS INDICATED BY GAUGE, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AFTER ONLY 1 STUMBLE. HEAVY SMELL OF RAW GASOLINE INSIDE OF CAR AND UNDER HOOD. NO PUDDLE OF GAS WAS OBSERVED UNDER CAR. THE LOCAL POLICE WERE CALLED OUT AND CONFIRMED NO CURRENTLY LEAKING GAS BEFORE AAA WOULD DISPATCH A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SELLING DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND A CLAMP NOT CONNECTED BETWEEN HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL HOSE. I WAS TOLD THIS FAULT WOULD CAUSE AN INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL TO BE SHOWN BUT DEALER WOULD NOT CONFIRM IT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LOST GASOLINE. THE CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD THE FUEL RECALL PERFORMED BY THE SAME DEALER AND DEALER SAID THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED PROPERLY AND THIS FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED. WHEN CAR WAS RETUNED AFTER PUMP REPLACEMENT, INTERIOR OF CAR AND ENGINE STILL SMELLED OF GASOLINE BUT CAR SEEMED TO BE DRIVING NORMALLY.

NHTSA ID 11190933 · filed Mar 22, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

BACKUP CAMERA MAY NOT DISPLAY UPON SHIFTING TO REVERSE - I HAD AN ANDROID PHONE PROJECTING AN ANDROID AUTO SESSION. WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, STATIONARY AT A PARKING LOT, I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND SHIFTED TO REVERSE. THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM DID NOT SHOW THE BACKUP CAMERA NOR A WARNING POPUP OF AN ERROR - IT JUST DISPLAYED THE MEDIA SCREEN. I TRIED 3 TIMES MORE - THE 2ND TIME THE INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY SHOWED "PARKPILOT IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE". PICTURE IS ATTACHED. VIDEO IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ID 11208209 · filed May 17, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Golf R. The contact stated that the headlights had become significantly dim while driving due to moisture accumulation inside the headlights housing. The contact stated that the failure had reduced the visibility of the roadway while driving at night. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the manufacturer had advised to drive 30 minutes after starting the vehicle to allow the moisture to evaporate, as per TSB Number: 94-19-01. The dealer and the manufacturer informed the contact that the headlights were designed to collect condensation. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

NHTSA ID 11567348 · filed Jan 23, 2024

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

Data on this page last refreshed .