1986 Volkswagen 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 1986 Volkswagen 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
- Fuel system426.7%
- Body & structure320.0%
- Visibility320.0%
- Driver assistance16.7%
- Powertrain (other)16.7%
- Seat belts16.7%
- Transmission16.7%
- Electrical16.7%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE SITTING WITH VEHICLE RUNNING FUEL PUMP OPERATED ERRATICALLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED FUEL FILTER. CONSUMER STATED IF SITTING TOO LONG AT A LIGHT VEHICLE WILL STALL AND SHUT OFF. *AK
RECALL COMPONENTS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN FUEL PUMP 87V053, FUEL TANK 86V149, FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY 86V029 AND HEATER CORE 92V050. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS CAR FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO THE CONDITION OF ALL FOUR DOORS. THE TWO BACK DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. ALL FOUR DOORS ARE STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. ALL BUT ONE DOOR LOCK KNOB HAS LOST (BROKEN OFF) THE PLASTIC KNOB. OTHER VW GOLF OWNERS (USED AND NEW CARS) HAVE COMPLAINED TO ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE WAS EVER A PARTS RECALL AND / OR HOW I MIGHT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR MORE INFORMATION? THANK YOU!
WATER ENTERING VEHICLE CAUSING VEHICLE'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR TO FAIL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER FAST MOVING TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 80 ON SUNDAY, NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
RECALL COMPONENTS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN FUEL PUMP 87V053, FUEL TANK 86V149, FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY 86V029 AND HEATER CORE 92V050. NLM
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
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. (ORIGINAL DOCUMENT ON 482158). *SKD
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
VEHICLE'S CLUTCH DISC EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DISC FELL APART SEVERAL TIMES. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WATER ENTERS SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HOUSING AREA. IN WINTER, WATER WOULD FREEZE & SEAT BELTS DO NOT RELEASE. ALSO FAILS TO RETRACT BACKWARDS. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE'S CLUTCH DISC EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DISC FELL APART SEVERAL TIMES. MJS
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 2/8/02, AND HAVE HAD THE CAR CONTINUOUSLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE THAT PURCHASE. THE FIRST PROBLEM, THE CAR STOPPED WHILE EXECUTING A RIGHT TURN, OCCURRED TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. SINCE THAT WAS A SUNDAY, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO WAIT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE DEALER THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY. WHEN I DID TALK WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR "AS IS" THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, OR TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SINCE THAT OCCURRENCE, I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, HAVE HAD IT TOWED TWICE, AND HAD IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. I HAVE KEPT MOST OF THE RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS MADE, ALTHOUGH I DO ADMIT TO HAVING MISPLACED A FEW. I'VE HAD TO PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE THREE STARTERS, HAVE THE FUEL INJECTORS REPAIRED, HAVE A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS, PURCHASE NEW SPARK PLUG WIRES, THERMOSTAT AND A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. ALL OF THESE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED/REPLACED BY A REPAIR SHOP WHICH CHARGED LABOR FEES TOTALLING MORE THAN $600.00.*AK
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 .