2018 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen

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. VW’s recall filing stated the SJP may have been damaged during assembly, which could potentially allow fuel to flow directly into the EVAP system. Over time, the fuel could accumulate in, and cause a leak from, the charcoal canister filter element. ODI received consumer complaints of SJP failure leading to a fuel leak, refueling spit back, refueling shutoff, and/or fuel odor in vehicles previously repaired under recall 16V-647. Additional complaints alleging SJP failure leading to the previously stated outcomes were received in vehicles outside the scope of recall 16V-647, including MY 2016-2020 VW Golf and Audi A3 vehicles. VW issued recall 24V-110 on February 14, 2024, to address issues with SJPs Versions 1.0 and 1.1. The recall remedy replaces the SJP Version 1.0 or 1.1 with an improved version, Version 2.0. Recall 24V-110 covers certain MY 2015-2020 VW Golf (including Golf GTI), 2015-2020 Audi A3, and 2019-2020 VW Jetta GLI vehicles, including vehicle previously repaired under 16V-647. Vehicle owners were notified of this recall in April 2024 and VW’s projected date for owner notification of recall remedy availability is August 2024. In view of the recall being conducted by VW, ODI is closing this Recall Query (RQ). The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

My vehicle was serviced at an authorized VW dealer on Dec 12 for recall-related work & a diagnostic water test (fee waived; $0 paid). Before leaving the dealership, while still on property, I observed extensive interior damage not present prior to service: widespread staining/saturation of headliner, sunroof shade, interior pillars (A–D), plus damage to interior trim. Substance was not colorless or odorless; damage was systemic, not localized. I documented immediately w/ photos taken on dealership property. I requested help/loaner; denied; required to take vehicle. After leaving, additional wet areas appeared & later dried w/ visible staining, indicating prolonged saturation following service. Dealer service documentation states rear sunroof drains were leaking; however damage was present throughout interior, including areas inconsistent w/ a rear-only drain issue. Based on the location (headliner + pillars), this raises concern for potential impact to electrical components/wiring & airbag-related areas, plus latent issues due to moisture/chemical exposure. I requested confirmation of procedures/substances used during testing; info not provided. I requested a garage liability claim; declined. Dealer offered cleaning & later proposed replacing only the headliner. This issue occurred during recall-related service, raising concern about whether OEM-approved procedures were followed during diagnostic testing. The dealer declined to confirm what liquids or methods were used. Because the damage pattern contradicts the stated diagnosis, any repair based on that diagnosis would be incomplete, potentially allowing continued intrusion or latent electrical or airbag-related issues to develop over time. The vehicle was returned to me in this condition without corrective action, leaving the potential safety and electrical risks unresolved following recall-related service. No independent post-service inspection was offered to verify system integrity.

NHTSA ID

11709265

Incident

Dec 12, 2025

Our VW Sportwagen registered owner [XXX] - my wife, which we purchased new has a coolant leak at 41000 miles. This is the 3rd time. It was repaired twice under warranty at two separate dealers - 10/2024 was the 2nd time - 3 separate leaks including the original repaired seal failing again. The new car warranty has now expired. 7/2025 is is leaking again. Will the engine seize up? VW says we aren't their customer. I wonder who made the VW? They won't tell me where to get it repaired properly. VW says everything is up to the dealer and that they cover their repairs for 12 months. The dealer says there is no warranty on the repair beyond the new car warranty. Who is telling the truth? Lesson learned. VW doesn't want us to buy their defective cars. We won't again. I hope we don't cause an accident because of this leaking engine cooling system before we are able to replace the car. Wish there was a way to fix the issue but the manufacturer - Volkswagen - isn't willing to share the needed guidance. Apparently they don't know which of there dealerships has competent technicians. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11677611

Incident

Jul 31, 2025

The clutch master cylinder failed at less than 37,000 miles and is not covered under the manufacturer's standard (for 2018 models) 72,000 mile warranty. I had to spend $500+ to replace the part at an independent mechanic. Fluid levels were fine and there were no leaks. Just a faulty part. I have owned cars with a manual transmission for almost 40 years and never once had to replace any clutch components, including in cars with well over 100,000 miles on them. It was a potentially dangerous event. I depressed the clutch pedal to put it in gear and the pedal sank to the floor. I couldn't get the car in gear. I couldn't restart the car. Fortunately I was on a side street not too far from home. I was able to pull up the clutch pedal and pump some pressure back into the system and drive home. I can only imagine how scary and unsafe this would have been if I had been stopped on a highway.

NHTSA ID

11618461

Incident

Sep 26, 2024

My wife's Golf Sportwagen has a sort of whop whop noise evident at about 30 -35 MPH that gets a bit more pronounced at 60 MPH. The brakes seem fine. No pulling or pulsations in the brake pedal. They work well. The pads are not worn out and the discs have smooth, shiny surfaces. The car steers straight and feels normal. The tires are original with ~20,000 miles on them. I expect this could be a tire problem. I took the car to Ken Ganley Volkswagen Bedford, Ohio on August 23, 2023 to have this evaluated and to have a coolant leak repaired. The dealer did not write up the noise issue. When I picked the car up, they told me they test drove the car and the noise was tire related. The repair order stated they took the car on a 5 mile test drive. They lied. They returned the car with exactly the same mileage on the odometer as it had when I brought the car in for repair. I called the service manager and his response was "We do the best we can". Nothing more. There is a noise in the drive train, possibly tires, that Volkswagen hasn't yet evaluated even though the car is still covered under it's new car warranty. I don't know if this is going to turn out to be a safety issue or not. I called VW but the rep only wanted to know what our phone numbers are even though I told her multiple times that they are the same as the day we purchased the car. Then they wanted to know if they had financed the car even though I paid cash. The lies I was told and lack of evaluation by their dealer didn't seem to matter much. Before I just started explaining the situation, the rep, Tiffany had told me to call back later because she didn't want to record the problem.

NHTSA ID

11552676

Incident

Aug 23, 2023

Chromed metallic trim on center console above shifter and beneath center cubby opening has cracked and lifted creating a small, very sharp raised raw edge that deeply lacerated my right hand while reaching into of cubby to retrieve item while behind the wheel. Normal use, no overt damage to explain de-lamination of trim in this location.

NHTSA ID

11484887

Incident

Sep 16, 2022

The U-shaped on the passenger door jamb the the door latch attaches to came loose preventing the door from closing completely. Ganley VW tightened up the fasteners without writing up a service order so it would be reported to VW. They did not use a torgue wrench. I asked them to use thread locker to help prevent this from recurring. They refused and stated VW does not permit them to use thread locker. It took 8 days to get an appointment to repair this.

NHTSA ID

11440759

Incident

Nov 8, 2021

The vehicle went forward in Reverse and backward in Drive, multiple times in one day, observed by driver and passenger. Another vehicle was struck; no one was injured (fortunately). Dealer said they could not recreate the problem and nothing was wrong.

NHTSA ID

11429496

Incident

Jun 8, 2021

When coasting with foot off the accelerator at normal road speeds starting at greater than ~30 mph, the vehicle will bleed speed normally until around 25 mph. At that point the transmission will suddenly grab and rapidly decelerate the vehicle down to approximately 15 mph. After reaching around 15 mph the transmission disconnects and the car coasts normally again. This has happened consistently since the car was delivered and after taking the car to two separate dealers for investigation was assured that it's part of the normal operation of the transmission. I believe the rapid deceleration when unexpected can be a safety hazard as cars following behind will not see any brake lights to warn them that my vehicle is slowing.

NHTSA ID

11418540

Incident

May 25, 2021

This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) – No battery diagnosis - Inconclusive test result.

Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement

Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.

Lubricating engine components before reassembly.

Inquiries

Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards