Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Volkswagen Golf submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
2001 VW GOLF WITH 192285 MI EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO SYSTEMS THAT ARE MOUNTED ON THE REAR HATCH BACK DOOR, (THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, REAR DEFROSTERS, AND WIPER). UPON INSPECTION OF THE WIRING HARNESS FOUND THE WIRING CHAFFED AND OR BROKEN AT POINT WHERE THE HARNESS PASSES THROUGH THE HARNESS SHIELD. (WHERE THE HARNESS PASSES FROM THE CAR BODY TO THE LIFT GATE) *TR
I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT REQUIRESD ME TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. I HAVE NOT CONFIDENCE THAT THE DEALERS IN MY AREA WILL PERFORM THE REPAIR WITHOUT DAMAGING THE CAR IN OTHER NON COVERED AREAS. THEREFORE, I WILL NOT BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. SAFETY RECALL N4 VOLKSWAGEN. *AK
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I BUMPED THE SHIFTER WHILE REACHING FOR MY SODA. THE SHIFTER WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT COME OUT UNTIL I FORCED IT BACK INTO DRIVE. I PULLED OVER INTO A GAS STATION. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRIED TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE, BUT THE SHIFTER WOULDN'T BUDGE. I FINALLY GOT IT TO GO INTO PARK AFTER A TOW TRUCK DRIVER SUGGESTED THAT I TURN THE IGNITION TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS WHILE PUMPING THE BREAK AND PULLING ON THE SHIFTER. IT FINALLY RELEASED AND I DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. THE MALFUNCTION WAS IN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SO I HAD TO GET IT REPLACED. I WAS CHARGED $40 FOR THE PART ITSELF AND $230 FOR THE WORK. I FEEL THAT SINCE THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1998-2002 VW BEETLE AND THE 1999-2001 VW JETTA THAT THERE SHOULD BE ONE ON THE 2001 VW GOLF AS WELL. *NM
I OWN A 2001 VW GOLF. SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED ONCE PER YEAR. THUS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FOUR TIMES IN FOUR YEARS. THE FAULTY SWITCH HAS CAUSED MY EPC LIGHT TO COME ON WHILE I AM DRIVING, AND TO STALL THE VEHICLE AND PREVENT IT FROM SHIFTING GEARS. VW ISSUED A RECALL FOR FAULTY BRAKE SWITCHES IN THE 1999-2002 JETTA AND 1998-2002 BEETLES, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY A COMPARABLE FIX HAS NOT BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO 2000-2002 GOLF OWNERS. THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT. A SEARCH OF ANY VW CHAT BOARD WILL REVEAL NUMEROUS OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. VW SHOULD RECALL THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES ON THE OLDER GOLFS AS IT HAS DONE WITH OTHER MODELS, OR IT MAY POSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE MANY GOLF OWNERS OUT THERE (WHO ARE NOT LIKELY TO PURCHASE ANY TYPE OF VW AGAIN). THERE ARE NO SIGNS TO INDICATE THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WILL FAIL BEFORE IT FAILS. EACH TIME IT FAILS, THE CAR MUST BE BROUGHT TO A DEALER OR SERVICE SHOP FOR SWITCH REPLACEMENT. I HAVE RECORDS OF MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENTS OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS I HAVE OWNED MY GOLF, AND CAN SEND YOU COPIES IF YOU NEED THEM. THANK YOU. *JB
DT: THE CALLER SAID BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS FAULTY. HE HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE CALLER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE JETTA, BUT NOT ON THE GOLF.*AK
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN WAS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH. THE BRAKES WERE NOT COMING ON WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED. THERE WAS A LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD THAT RED GLOWING PLUG WARNING. THIS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN, AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT HELP THE CONSUMER WITH THE PROBLEM. THIS STARTED ON 9-22-2005. THE CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKE LIGHT OR CRUISE CONTROL. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED , AND THEY STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE.*AK
I HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TDI. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED CAUSING NO BRAKE LIGHTS TO BE LIT WHILE BRAKING. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THE CAR COULD EASILY BE REAR-ENDED. THE ODD THING IS THAT VW HAS RECALLED THEIR OTHER MODELS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT, BUT NOT THE GOLF. MY GOLF EVEN USES THE IDENTICAL PART TO THE ONE THAT WAS RECALLED. IF OTHER MODELS ARE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS PART DEFECT, WHY WASN'T THE GOLF RECALLED?*JB
DT: BRAKE PADS IN THE REAR WORE OUT. HAD CHANGED BRAKE PADS AT LEAST 3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR. SEAMS ON THE DISCS WORE OFF. SINCE OCTOBER UNTIL NOW THE INSIDE OF THE DISCS WORE OUT AT LEAST 1/8 OF INCH.*AK
VW GOLF 2001 UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK OR NEUTRAL WITH IGNITION "ON". POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. FORTUNATELY THIS TIME CAR WAS NOT IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (AND AUTOMATIC SHIFT LOCK SWITCH) IN THIS CAR WITH ONLY 30588 MILES. REPLACED AT DEALER. I HAVE THE FAILED SWITCH AND (AS AN ENGINEER) CAN SEE MANY FLAWS IN THE DESIGN, LEADING TO ARCS AND CONTACT STICKING OR NON-OPERATION. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, SOME OVER 6 TIMES. APPLICABLE OVER A RANGE OF VW MODELS AND YEARS. CANADA HAD A RECALL FOR SOME VW MODELS. VW SHOULD REPLACE THE SWITCHES WITH A BETTER DESIGN UNDER A LIFETIME WARRANTY AS A DANGEROUS DEFECT. MY WIFE OR ONE OF THE MANY OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET OFF A TRAIN TRACK WHEN THE THING LOCKED.
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH NO INDICATION OF STOPPING, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT HE WOULD BE REAR ENDED DUE TO THE FAILURE. *AK THE VEHICLE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DETERMINED FROM THE TROUBLE CODES THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED ALONG WITH THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, OXYGEN SENSOR, ECT AND PURGE VALVE. *NM
HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES AROUND 38000 MILES. FRONT BRAKES WERE FINE BUT HAD TO HAVE THE REAR REBUILD. WAS TOLD THAT THE PADS WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND HAD TO BE RE-SHIMMED. I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT VW SHOULD COVER.*AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILURE, PREMATURE REAR BRAKE PAD FAILURE, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION, WATER PUMP FAILURE, THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE.*AK
I HAVE A 2001 VW GOLF. I HAD TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES REPLACED AT AROUND 36,000 MILES. BUT THE FRONT BRAKES LOOK LIKE THEY'RE BRAND NEW. I FEEL THAT VW HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND WON'T ADMIT IT. I DON'T FEEL TO SAFE KNOWING THAT THE CAR IS ONLY STOPPING ON THE REAR BRAKES. *LA
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE IN "PARK" IN TWO OCCASIONS (CAR ACCELERATED AND JUMPED FORWARD WHILE BEING ON "PARK" AND WHILE DRIVER WAS BRAKING) . JAN 2002 LIMITED DAMAGES// JUNE 2002 SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED AND CONSUMERS VEHICLE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR BECAUSE BRAKES FELLED TO STOP PROPERLY. CONSUMER FEELS THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE RECALL 02 V 031 000 FOR THE ABS SYSTEM. CONSUMERS VEHICLE ID# WAS NOT INCLUDED.PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
1ST INCIDENT IN 6/2001. ABS LIGHTS ON. SENT TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING. INDICATED THERE WAS NO INTERNAL MALFUNCTIONING. CHECKED THE SYSTEM AND CLEARED THE FAULT. BLED THE ABS SYSTEM. DURING 1ST SERVICE, ALSO COMMUNICATED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP FOUND BAD SPIRAL SPRING. CAR SENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR 2ND TIME ON 6/15/01. ABS LIGHTS ON AGAIN. DEALERSHIP INDICATED NO COMMUNICATION IN DATA BUS CIRCUIT SPORADIC. FAULT IN ENGINE. IMMOBILIZER AND GATEWAY NO COMMUNICATION WITH ABS. CHECKED DATA LINK RESISTER VALUE IN ENGINE ECU WITH BREAK OUT BOX. ORDERED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER & REPLACED CLUSTER. CLEARED FAULTS. 3RD INCIDENT ON 6/20/01. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON AND OFF. DEALERSHIP FOUND POOR GROUND AT GROUND CONNECTION # 65. INCIDENT # 4. CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 10/2/01. BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES UPON STARTUP. RED ORDER PLACED. ABS CONTROL UNIT ORDERED FROM GERMANY. WITHOUT CAR FOR 2-WEEKS. INSTALLED NEW ABS CONTROL UNIT. BLED BRAKES, CODE ECM, CLEARED FAULTS, GOT & CODED IMMOBILIER; SET READINESS CODE. 5TH INCIDENT. CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 4/6 AFTER ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON FOR 15 MINUTES DURING EMISSIONS INSPECTION. SHUT ENGINE AND RESTARTED CAR. ABS LIGHT ON FOR A FEW MINUTES.*AK
THE ENGINE DIED 3 TIMES AND IT WAS FIXED. THEN THE CRUISE WASN'T WORKING AND IT WAS FIXED. ALSO PERIODICALLY THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS WHILE DRIVING, DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG FOUND. ON 12/31/2001 AFTER STARTING CAR ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, I ASKED THEM TO RECHECK IT MAYBE THE DASHBOARD IS DEFECTIVE(SHORT CIRCUIT).
CONSUMER STATES THE REAR BRAKES WERE NOISY.*YH
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .