RoadVitals

1996 Volkswagen Golf Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
36
Latest Jul 7, 2010
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.
6
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 18, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 36 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Volkswagen Golf. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 36 · page 1 of 2

ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jul 7, 2010
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED WHEN SUDDENLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE SMOKE SUBSIDED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10341796
Incident
Jun 30, 2010
Mileage
110,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 20, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL # 98V160000, WHICH REFERS TO THE HOOD LATCH, APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER.

NHTSA ID
10162989
Incident
Jul 20, 2006
Mileage
165,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 16, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE'S HOOD FLEW UP WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE WINDSHIELD GLASS WAS SHATTERED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID
10092439
Incident
Sep 16, 2004
Mileage
96,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 7, 2002
1 injury reported

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THEN, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE SHUT OFF ENGINE AND OPENED HOOD. BATTERY HAD EXPLODED. BATTERY WAS FACTORY REPLACEMENT PART INSTALLED BY DEALER. *AK THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. CONSUMER WAS BURNED FROM THE BATTERY ACID. *YH

NHTSA ID
8011305
Incident
Jun 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Jun 1, 2001

OIL IS LEAKING FROM CONNECTOR SENSOR AND THIS IS GETTING DOWN INTO ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
889514
Incident
May 29, 2001
ElectricalInterior & seatsSteering
Filed May 3, 2001

DOOR LOCK CYLINDER- SEPARATED FROM INNER ASSEMBLY , #2. WHILE IN HYWAY TRAFFIC, RADIO FAILED, FOLLOWED BY ,IN APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, ENGINE CUTTING OFF ( FUEL/WATER GUAGE FUNCTIONED), COASTED TO ROADSIDE. ATTEMPTED TO START ENGINE, ACTED AS IF BATTERY DEAD. AFTER 1 HOUR WAIT, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART ENGINE, STARTER TURNED SLOWLY BUT DID NOT START ENGINE. HOWEVER, STANDARD ALARM SYSTEM SOUNDED. I TURNED OF ALARM BY INSERTING KEY IN DOOR (STANDARD PROCEDURE). TOW TRUCK GAVE BOOST AT BATTERY. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED . THE BATTERY LOW POWER THING, OCCURRED ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR, IN VW DEALER'S CUSTOMER PICK UP AREA, AFTER DEALER HAD REPLACED A HEADLIGHT FUSE/ ALIGNED HEADLIGHTS/WHEELS. WHEN ALARM WENT OFF AND STARTER DID NOT TURN OVER ENGINE, SERVICE MANAGER IMMEDIATELY ARRIVED W/BOOSTER UNIT AND STARTED CAR. HE SAID BATTERY PROBABLY GOT LOW FROM TECHNICIAN HOLDING DOWN BRAKE PEDAL FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME? DUH? I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING MORE ABOUT PROBLEM AT THE TIME(DENIAL). PROBLEM H. *AK

NHTSA ID
744910
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
ElectricalSteering
Filed Apr 25, 2001

AFTER CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN STARTED IT BACK ON CAR ALARM CAME ON AND STAYED ON.CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER HOOD TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEN, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOK, AND REALIZED THAT WIRING SYSTEM BURNED OUT NOTHING THAT WAS MOTORIZED WAS WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER WAS WILLING TO FIX PROBLEM AT OWNERS COST.*AK

NHTSA ID
886797
Incident
Apr 22, 2001
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Mar 23, 2001
Fire reported

DROVE INTO PARKING LOT. HEARD A NOISE & VEHICLE STOPPED. SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT FLAMES. GAVE INDICATION OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, CAUSING FIRE. PRIOR TO PROBLEM ,HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON/ DOOR LOCKS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT HONORING EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS SOLD.*AK

NHTSA ID
884033
Incident
Feb 25, 2001
Body & structureDriver assistance
Filed Mar 21, 2001

WITH LESS THAN A YEAR OF PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAK INSIDE ON FLOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. TWICE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. CAR WAS TAKEN IN DUE TO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT NOT TURNING OFF, AND WAS WRONGLY DIAGNOSED AND THEREFORE WRONG PART WAS FIXED. WHEN COMPLAINT WAS MADE THAT THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO LIGHT UP, THE CAR WAS ONCE AGAIN TAKEN IN AND THROTTLE BODY WAS TO BE CHANGED. VEHICLE NOW MAKES A LOUD NOICE WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE AN ENGINE BLOCK.

NHTSA ID
742822
Incident
Mar 19, 2001
Suspension
Filed Dec 3, 2000

DRIVING AT APPROX. 30MPH, BALL JOINT OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO FALL OFF. CAR CAME TO A SCREETCHING HALT!. *AK

NHTSA ID
737234
Incident
Oct 13, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Nov 28, 2000

THE LEFT DOOR HAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING. IT NEEDS TO BE WELDED. DEALER SAID THAT VOLVO ISN'T RESPONSIBLE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPENED WITH OTHER VOLVOS. ARE THERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE? VOLVO IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND THE DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. PLEASE HELP! *AK

NHTSA ID
737017
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 31, 2000

2 SIDEWALL FAILURES OUT OF 6 TIRES (DOT NUMBER: MKHCFJWR19 TIRESIZE: 195/60R14)

NHTSA ID
735504
Incident
Oct 19, 2000
EngineInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Jun 7, 2000

THE SERPENTINE BELT CRACKED. YH

NHTSA ID
552533
Incident
Nov 9, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 7, 1999

CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AND DEALERS DID NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
850266
Incident
Oct 7, 1999
Engine
Filed May 21, 1999

THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SAID HE CANNOT KEEP TENSIONERS IN STOCK, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 40% OF 1996 AND LATER MODELS OF GOLFS COMING IN TO HAVE THE TENSIONERS REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE HOLDING ASSEMBLY. THE COST OF THIS WAS QUOTED IN THE $300.00 RANGE. THE DEALER IS VERY SURPRISED THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN CALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
706709
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 24, 1999

EXTENTED WARENTEE NOT ACCEPTED,HAD TO PAY PARTS AND LABOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
705954
Incident
Mar 5, 1998
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 21, 1999

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY, FAILED OXYGEN SENSOR TWICE. DOOR LOCK LITERALLY FELL OUT OF DOOR AND LEFT HOLE, WAS REPLACED. STEREO DISPLAY FADED OVER LIFE OF CAR (3.5YRS) UNTIL NOW UNREADABLE. CANNOT BE FIXED MUST BE REPLACED. CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. *AK

NHTSA ID
704713
Incident
Apr 23, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Jan 10, 1999

THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE COMPLETELY FELL APART. IT WAS BEING USED FOR AN INFANT CAR SEAT CARRIER. WHEN I WENT TO UNBUCKLE THE BELT, TTHE ENTIRE BUCKLE FELL APART AND COMPLETELY CAME OFF THE STRAP. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED BY DEALERSHIP AT NO CHARGE. I AM INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HOW WILL IT WITH STAND AN ACCIDENT? I REALLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE USING THE SEAT BELTS WITHOUT MORE INFORMATION. THE DEALER STATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE BELT. PLEAS HELP

NHTSA ID
702089
Incident
Jan 6, 1999
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Dec 31, 1998

DOOR LOCK HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID
543382
Incident
Dec 26, 1994
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 30, 1998

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
781613
Incident
Nov 29, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 5, 1998

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILURE DURING WET WEATHER CONDITIONS ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
542446
Incident
Oct 8, 1998
Electrical
Filed Sep 29, 1998

ELECTRICAL FAILURE RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF EVERY LIGHT IN THE CAR MORE THAN A FEW TIMES.

NHTSA ID
541430
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Suspension+1 more
Filed Jun 29, 1998

SUN ROOF MAKES NOISE SINCE OWNERSHIP.

NHTSA ID
536948
Incident
Dec 16, 1996
BrakesEngine
Filed Apr 11, 1998

COOLING FAN FAILED. ALSO REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA ID
534181
Incident
Mar 5, 1998
BrakesEngine
Filed Apr 6, 1998

COOLING FAN FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
533862
Incident
Mar 4, 1997

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.

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