Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 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.
Showing 1–25 of 27 · page 1 of 2
The car just started on fire while I was driving and nearly killed me and my boyfriend lucky someone was honking and flagging down and when we tried stopping the car wouldn't brake and we had to jump out when it was still rolling. We were bout to get on the high way lucky someone stopped us be we did so.
THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WITHOUT IT, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY, IF AT ALL, IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO EVEN HELP WITH THE OVER $1,000.00 REPAIR COST. (THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS.)
MY SON WAS PARKING HIS CAR AT A STATE PARK AND DRIVING LESS THAN 2 MILES A HOUR WHEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SEVERAL PEOPLE HEARD THE LOUD SOUND AND RAN OVER TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS HURT. HIS GIRLFRIEND'S ARM BECAME RED, WITH A RASH AND SWOLLEN. THE SEAT AND HEADLINER ARE NOW DAMAGED, AND IT WOULD COST MORE TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS, SEAT AND HEADLINER THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THE INSURANCE CO WILL NOT COVER THE COST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. NOW, HE WILL NEED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 107 REPORTED COMPLAINTS REGARDING AIRBAGS FOR 2001-2003 VW GOLF AND JETTA. IF MY SON HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD OR HIGHWAY, THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT, IF THAT HASN'T ALREADY OCCURRED.
I HAD THE HATCH OPEN ON MY GOLF AND STARTED TO SMELL AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM THE CARGO LIGHT AND WHEN I OPENED THE TAILLIGHT ACCESS PANEL THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE THAT I IMMEDIATLEY PUT OUT. THANKFULLY I CAUGHT IT IN TIME AND DIDN'T CLOSE THE HATCH AND WALK AWAY. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN SEND UPON REQUEST.
DITTO ON THE "NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10252376". MY 2003 BASE MODEL GOLF'S AIRBAGS WERE TURNED OFF (AIRBAG LIGHT ON), AND THE ISSUE WAS ONE OF THE 3 SENSORS IN THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT LATCH STOPPED WORKING. IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS AGO (I BOUGHT IT NEW), AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YEAR THAT WAS, BUT I DID CONTACT VW ON THIS, AND BELIEVE I ALSO SENT AN E-MAIL TO BOTH NHTSA & IIHS ON THIS. THIS IS AN INEXCUSABLE DESIGN (GM IS HAVING A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH ITS IGNITION SWITCH & AIRBAGS BEING TURNED OFF). THE SEATBELT LATCH WAS REPLACED, AND HAS BEEN WORKING FINE FOR YEARS NOW. IT CURRENTLY HAS 167,000+ MILES ON IT. IT DOES HAVE SOME POSITIVES. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN REPLACED, AND DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES UNTIL 90,000. THE CLUTCH HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED, AND STILL WORKS GOOD (EVEN WITH A TON OF STOP-N-GO TRAFFIC). THERE SHOULD BE A LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT ALL OF THE AIRBAGS ARE ALWAYS ON, NO MATTER WHAT, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, WHETHER OR NOT THE IGNITION IS ON, THE SEATBELTS ARE LATCH, ETC. ALSO, THERE SHOULD BE A LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT ALL REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS MUST BE BRIGHT ORANGE, NOT RED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A BRIGHT ORANGE LIGHT STANDS OUT AS A TURN SIGNAL, WHEREAS A BLINKING RED LIGHT COULD BE THE DRIVER TAPPING ON THE BRAKES. NOT EASY TO TELL WHEN YOU CAN ONLY SEE ONE CORNER OF A VEHICLE. *TR
DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT, HIT POTHOLE THAT BADLY DENTED RIGHT FRONT RIM, CAUSED PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, FILLING CAR WITH SMOKE AND CUTTING OFF IGNITION. CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA TO ADVISE THEM OF INCIDENT. WILL CONTACT INSURANCE, LOCAL VW DEALER AND COLLISION SHOP FOR ANALYSIS THIS WEEK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE, AS WELL AS THE TURN SIGNALS. THE CONTACT PERFORMED REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT DETECTED THE IGNITION CONNECTOR HOUSING HAD OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED THE PLASTIC TO MELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 09/27/11*LJ UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,400.
ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE, REQUIRING WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT. PLASTIC IMPELLER DEGRADED AND FAILED. USE OF PLASTIC FOR IMPELLER IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE WATER PUMP OTHERWISE MADE OF ALUMINUM, AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY VW UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
2003 VW GOLF GL-I BOUGHT NEW & AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF IT. AND JUST OVER 80,000 MILES, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO DRIVE IT AROUND FOR OVER A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE ANY OF THE VW DEALERSHIPS WOULD SCHEDULE ME AN APPOINTMENT TO SPEND A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO CONNECT THEIR HAND-HELD DIAGNOSTIC TOOL TO FIND OUT WHAT THE EXACT CAUSE OF TURNING ON THIS LIGHT WAS. (I WENT TO 3 SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS IN 3 DIFFERENT CITIES.) IT TURNED OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE SEATBELT LATCH SENSOR. EVEN THOUGH THE SEATBELT LIGHT TURNED OFF INDICATING IT WAS LATCHED, THE SAME LATCH ALSO DETERMINES INDEPENDENTLY ON WHETHER OR NOT TO ENABLE THE AIRBAGS. I JUST HAD THIS PART REPLACED TODAY-12/20/08-AT A COST OF OVER $430. I FOUND OUT THAT WHEN THE LATCH "THINKS" THE SEATBELT IS NOT CONNECTED, THAT IT DISABLES ALL OF THE 6 AIRBAGS, MAKING THE CAR THAT I THOUGHT I HAD AT LEAST MOST OF THE AIRBAGS STILL FUNCTIONING, COMPLETELY AIRBAG-LESS. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE, BY VW'S MANUFACTURE DESIGN TO TURN OFF ALL AIRBAGS BASED ON A SEATBELT LATCH, NOT A MALFUNCTIONING AIRBAG. IF THE LATCH IS GIVING VALID FEED BACK TO TURN OFF THE SEATBELT LIGHT, THEN THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE A SEPARATE CONTACT IN THIS LATCH FOR THE AIRBAGS THAT DISABLES ALL OF THE AIRBAGS. SAFETY PARTS LIKE AIRBAGS SHOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE EXTENDED MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY LIKE THE SEATBELTS THEMSELVES & THE EMISSION EQUIPMENT LIKE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH IS AROUND 150000 MILES, ISN'T IT? THIS IS AN EXTREMELY POOR & DANGEROUS DESIGN, TO TURN OFF ALL AIRBAGS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM. BY THE TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON TO WHEN OWNERS CAN GET IT SERVICED, THE OWNERS UNKNOWINGLY ARE DRIVING IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT HAD ITS WORKING AIRBAGS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF BECAUSE OF A SEATBELT LATCH SWITCH THAT WAS WORKING WELL ENOUGH TO TELL THE SEATBELT LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD TO TURN OFF. THIS ALONE SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO KEEP ALL OF THE WORKING AIRBAGS FUNCTIONING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. THE GLOW PLUG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE WIRING CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN ORDERED THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 118,000. UPDATED 1/6/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE WIRING BUNDLES THAT PASS FROM THE BODY INTO THE REAR HATCH FOR THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT, WINDSHIELD WIPER AND ELECTRICAL LOCKS. THE WIRES BEND WHENEVER THE HATCH IS OPENED OR CLOSED. THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HATCH, CAUSED THE WIRING TO CRACK AND EVENTUALLY LED TO A SHORT OF A FUSE. UPDATED 01/14/09.*JB
1) I TURNED ON MY HEATED SEATS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LAST SPRING. 2) ONCE THE SEAT WAS ON FOR LESS THAN 30 SECONDS I FELT A SHARP PAIN IN MY BUTTOCKS AND FELT THE SEAT. THE SEAT WAS VERY HOT AND I TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEAT. THE HEATED SEAT GOT SO HOT IT MELTED A PIECE IN THE SEAT. THE CAR SMELLED LIKE THERE WAS A FIRE IN IT, LIKE WIRES BURNING. I PULLED OVER TO MAKE SURE THE CAR WASN'T ON FIRE. 3) THE HEATED SEAT HAD BEEN RECALLED BY VW AND WAS FIXED IN 2005. THIS WAS THE "FIXED" PART THAT BURNT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THE RECALL WAS FIXED BEFORE. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE SHOP THEY SAID THAT THE SEAT LITERALLY FLAMED UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS IT WASN'T SAFE. THEY STATED THAT I STILL NEEDED TO PAY 25% OF THE LABOR AND PARTS BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND THE "FIXED" PART WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. VW PAID FOR 65% AND THE DEALERSHIP PAID 10%. *TR
MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TDI WAS TAKEN TO APLLEWAY VOLKSWAGEN IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON FOR A 40K SERVICE AND A CHECK FOR LOSS OF POWER. THE LOSS OF POWER WAS TRACED TO A PLUGGED INTAKE SYSTEM, CAUSED BY THE EGR VALVE SENDING EXHAUST BACK THOUGH THE INTAKE. THE CAR'S WARRANTY WAS STILL VALID AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. *TR
VEHICLES CAR ALARM CONTINUES TO GO OFF ONCE THE ALARM HAS BEEN SET. TRIED TO DEACTIVATE THE HORN, ALARM SYSTEM, AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE UNLOCKED, BUT IT CONTINUES TO GO OFF FOR NO REASON. *JB
RECENTLY I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS SAYING ON AFTER I TURNED OFF MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF AND THEY CONTINUED TO STAY ON. I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT GOING OUT, THEN THE LEFT FRONT LIGHT WENT OUT AND I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON. WE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS BUT THE RIGHT FRONT STILL WOULD NOT WORK. I THEN HAD THE PROBLEM OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FOR FEAR OF DRAINING THE BATTERY OR HAVING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. I CONTINUE TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE CAR HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH NO COLLISION. THIS HAPPENED WHERE A SIDE STREET MEETS A MAIN STREET. HE WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND WAS SUFFERING FROM FREQUENT HEADACHES AND HEARING LOSS IN LEFT EAR. HE HAS TO SEE A SPECIALIST FOR THE HEARING LOSS. THE REAR PASSENGER'S HAND WAS PINCHED BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND AIRBAG. THIS CAUSED SWELLING IN HIS HAND. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. NO CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK
CONSUMER STATED WHEN TOUCHING THE CURB WITH THE TIRES DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY.*AK PE04081.*PO...AK
DRIVERS SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT, BURNING A HOE IN SEAT AND DRIVERS TROUSERS.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER CAUGHT ON FIRE BURNING CONSUMER'S LEG. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. DRIVER'S SEAT OVERHEATED. CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND EXITED BEFORE THE SEAT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.*AK CONSUMER ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY. *TC
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE WAS BENT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *LA
CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT GEARS. *AK
WHILE PROCEEDING FROM A LIGHT AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT ABOUT 25 MPH CONSUMER HIT A BUMP, AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL VEER OFF TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *AK
I HIT A MEDIUM SIZE POTHOLE IN THE ROAD AND MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS INFLATED. DEALER SAYS THE MODULE SAYS THE CAR WAS IN DANGER OF TIPPING OVER AND THERE WAS NO MALFUNCTION. MY REAR TIRE WAS DAMAGED AS THERE IS A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL BUT THERE WAS NO UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT. *JB
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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