RoadVitals

1994 Volkswagen Golf

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
41
Latest Oct 15, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest Aug 17, 1998
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
5

Overview

Our database contains 41 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Volkswagen Golf, most frequently naming the interior & seats, electrical and brakes categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 26 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
98V195000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Aug 17, 1998
153,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK. THE LINE COULD BE DAMAGED BY CHAFING AGAINST THE FUEL TANK.
The risk: REPEATED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LEAKING BRAKE LINE CAUSING DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT INCREASING THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
98V160000

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Jul 16, 1998
238,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH CAN LOOSEN OVER TIME. THE LATCH WOULD MOVE CAUSING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.
The risk: UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD COULD OCCUR OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov
95V178000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Sep 20, 1995
34,000 units potentially affected
The defect: IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.
The risk: A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 41
Electrical
Filed Oct 15, 2003
Fire reported

SECONDS AFTER PULLING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE CABIN FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR VENT. THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. *AK THE SMOKE HAD COME FROM THE DRIVER SIDE VENTS. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10038328
Incident
Aug 21, 2003
Mileage
72,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 6, 2002

REAR SEATBELTS WILL NOT PULL OUT OF RETRACTOR. DEALER HAS REPLACED RETRACTORS THREE TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SEATBELTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BACK SEAT HAVE BEEN (FAULTY) REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES IN 1995 WHEN CAR WAS BRAND NEW. (RECORD FROM DEALER HAVE BEEN ARCHIVED) CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY AN VW REP THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE 1995 VW GOLF'S, AND FEELS SHE SHOULN'T HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. *SCC

NHTSA ID
8015585
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Aug 6, 2002

THE CAR STALLS OUT OF NO WHERE WHILE I'M DRIVING. I RECENTLY CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER W/ THE TUNE-UP BUT IT STILL DOES THAT. CAN IT POSSIBLY BE THE FUEL FILTER? I HEARD ABOUT THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP. HOW ABOUT IT? DOES 1994 GOLF HAVE ONE? PLEASE, LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU!*AK

NHTSA ID
765247
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF AND THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM WOULD NOT ACTIVATE, DEALER STATED THAT THE HARNESS AND THE WIRES FROM THE DASHBOARD TO THE FUSEBOX ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE TAIL-LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY MELTED AND THE CAR NEEDED TO BE RE-WIRED. *TT

NHTSA ID
564235
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jan 31, 2001

THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY A TOWING SERVICE WITH EMERCENCY BRAKES ACTIVATED. TOW COMPANY CLAIMS VEHICLE WAS TOWED WITH REAR WHEELS LIFTED ON WHEEL DOLLY. WHAT TYPE OF SAFETY VIOLATION WOULD THIS BE CONSIDERED IF IF MY DAUGHTER WERE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. WOULD THEIR BE ENOUGH HEAT TO TO WARP AND DESROY REAR ROTORS AND DESTROY BRAKE PADSWITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED. TOW COMPANY DENIES ANY WRONG DOING OR CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. WAS THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION?*AK

NHTSA ID
740258
Incident
Jan 28, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 10, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY TO AVOID A DEER, AND DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARD. DRIVER HIT STEERING COLUMN, BUT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES, THE SEAT BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
877894
Incident
Oct 23, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 13, 2000

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER SNAPPED WHEN TRYING TO UNLOCK VEHICLE IN A DARK PARKING LOT, ALL LOCKING AND UNLOCKING MUST BE DONE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE, THE BROKEN LOCK CYLINDER IS EASILY REMOVED AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A BRAKE IN WHEN UNATTENDED. *MJS

NHTSA ID
785105
Incident
Dec 10, 2000
BrakesElectrical
Filed May 12, 2000
Fire reported

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED (THANK GOD) WHEN THE BRAKES FELT FUNNY. PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT, AND LOTS OF SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF IT. WHEN WE JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR, WE SAW FLAMES SHOOTING OUT THROUGH THE HUBCAPS. THE POLICE CAME RIGHT AWAY AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. SUBSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A VW DEALER (WHO DID A COMPLETE CHECK UP ON THIS VEHICLE IN SEPT. 1999). THEY SAID THE CALIPER FROZE AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NEVER BEEN USED SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR (AUG. 1999). THIS MORNING THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID HE WAS REPLACING THE CALIPER ON THE OTHER SIDE, TOO, FOR SAFETY REASONS!!!

NHTSA ID
722588
Incident
May 5, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SM 33-2019

EQUIPMENT

The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.

SM 44-2017 EN

EQUIPMENT

This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.

VHW-17-11

EQUIPMENT

VAS 6154 Replacement Part Setup Guide

1-2017 Update

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest inbound and outbound ProFi requests.

V691601 2010479

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Update model year applicability to include 2017.

Airbag

AIR BAGS

Airbag Issues.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volkswagen Golf by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024000—
2023110027.5
2022810030.0
2021710—
2020621—
2019626354.6
2018296160.8
20171155156.5
2016859152.6
201513012160.9
2014115356.2
2013435358.0
2012486564.9
20111106558.9
2010694455.0
2009301—
2008100—
2007200—
2006123045.3
2005194044.6
2004286051.9
2003276266.2
2002737361.4
20011169359.0
2000888357.2
1999647152.9
1998181032.4
1997230034.5
1996361151.0
1995435257.7
1994Viewing415052.3
1993750—
1992620—
1991832—
1990105365.7
1989174159.0
1988961—
1987442—
1986135362.9
1985106164.9

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.