2005 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 2005 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
- Airbags624.0%
- Fuel system520.0%
- Engine312.0%
- Exterior lighting28.0%
- Electrical28.0%
- Transmission28.0%
- Suspension14.0%
- Interior & seats14.0%
- Body & structure14.0%
- Brakes14.0%
- Seat belts14.0%
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I MOVE MY PASSENGER SEAT BACK AND FOR NO REASON THE AIRBAG CAME ON, IT WOULD NOT RESET.
TAKATA RECALL - I WAS IN ACCIDENT ON 5/24/16 AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS ALL DAMAGED BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE CAUSING ME TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IT WAS RUNNING FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN DIED ON ME AND WOULD RESTART THEN DIED AGAIN BEFORE I COULD MOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY. NOW WHEN I START IT, IT DIES IMMEDIATELY.
WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE FUEL LIFT PUMP DIED AND THE CAR STALLED ON THE EXIT RAMP AT 55 MPH. I LOST CONTROL OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING BUT WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE RAMP TO THE STOP LIGHT AT THE END OF THE RAMP. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IT WAS RUNNING FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN DIED ON ME AND WOULD RESTART THEN DIED AGAIN BEFORE I COULD MOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY. NOW WHEN I START IT, IT DIES IMMEDIATELY.
TURBOCHARGER ON 2005 VW GOLF FAILED TWICE (5000 MI AND 95000 MI). FIRST BLADE FAILED (COVERED BY WARRANTY), SECOND SHAFT BROKE IN HALF ($1,800 OUT OF POCKET). I BOUGHT CAR BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RELAAIBLE AND SUPPOSED REPUTATION OF THE DIESEL ENGINE. I DON'T THINK TWO FAILURES OF $1,800ITEM IN 2.5 YRS IS ACCEPTABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TURN SIGNAL CLICKER CONTINUES CLICKING AFTER THE SIGNAL HAS BEEN DE-ACTIVATED. THIS DEFECT LEADS TO PEOPLE NOT USING THE SIGNAL AS THEY DO NOT WANT TO RISK LISTENING TO THE ANNOYING CLICKING THAT SOMETIMES GOES ON FOR HOURS. *TR
VOLKSWAGEN 2005 GOLF: BOTH FRONT EXTERIOR LIGHTS, DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME WENT OUT. THE FUSE WAS GOOD AND THE LIGHT BULBS WERE OUT. APPARENTLY, THE WIRING HAD A MALFUNCTION WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE INTERIOR LIGHT ON THE CLIMATE CONTROLS TO GO OFF. THE FUSE WAS GOOD AS WELL. ANOTHER MALFUNCTION FROM THEVW COMPANY. LASTLY, DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING TO WORK 25 MPH. I DID NOT TOUCH THE WINDOW NOR TRIED TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT, IT WENT DONE COMPLETELY AND IT IS INSIDE THE DOOR...IT WON'T GO UP NOR DOWN. IT IS NOT BROKEN EITHER. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH NO WINDOW IN THE WINTER. SNOW, HAIL. RAIN CAN HAPPEN WHILE THE WINDOW WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. IT'S VERY UNPLEASANT TO HAVE WIND AND COLD OF 3 DEGREES BELOW ZERO HIT YOUR FACE AND GO IN THE CAR TO THE OTHER PASSENGERS. THE HAIL, RAIN OR SNOW CAN THAT CAN GET IN THE CAR CAN CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE INSIDE THE CAR. *TR
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
THE TURN SIGNAL CLICKER CONTINUES CLICKING AFTER THE SIGNAL HAS BEEN DE-ACTIVATED. THIS DEFECT LEADS TO PEOPLE NOT USING THE SIGNAL AS THEY DO NOT WANT TO RISK LISTENING TO THE ANNOYING CLICKING THAT SOMETIMES GOES ON FOR HOURS. *TR
SUNROOF DRAINS CLOG CAUSING BACKUP OF WATER TO SETTLE ON FLOORS RUINING CARPET, CAUSING MOLD. WATER GETS INTO DOOR FRAMES CAUSING BUCKLING OF DOORS DURING WINTER MONTHS. WATER DAMAGE ALSO CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL WIRING SHORT WHICH CAUSED AN AIRBAG FAILURE AS WELL AS RUINED TWO BATTERIES. I HAVE NOT USED OR OPENED THE SUNROOF SINCE FOR FEAR OF MORE PROBLEMS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE COST TO REPLACE THE CARPETING AGAIN WOULD BE CHARGED TO ME IF THE CAR HAD ANOTHER WATER PROBLEM AGAIN DUE TO THE CLOGGED DRAINS. *TR
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
MY VEHICLE HAS 55,000 MILES AND THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL IS FAILING AND IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT OTHER VEHICLES OUT OF WARRANTY MAY NOT BE COVERED. IF THIS WERE TO COMPLETELY FAIL THE CLUTCH COULD LOCK UP AT ANY TIME. AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING SIGNS OF PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL (DMF) CLUTCH WILL NEED REPLACEMENT WITHIN ONE MONTH.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR WAS DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY, APPROX 60 MPH WHEN A CLUNK WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND SOUND OF METAL FALLING ON THE ROAD. CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED SHAKING AND PULLING STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RAISED UP AND EXAMINED IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING HAS BROKEN AND COUPLE OF COILS HAVE FALLEN OFF. CAR IN QUESTION IS 2005 VW GOLF, 55000 MILES. VW OF AMERICA WAS CONTACTED AND THEY HAVE DENIED ANY HELP CLAIMING VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IS NOT THIS A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
VOLKSWAGEN 2005 GOLF: BOTH FRONT EXTERIOR LIGHTS, DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME WENT OUT. THE FUSE WAS GOOD AND THE LIGHT BULBS WERE OUT. APPARENTLY, THE WIRING HAD A MALFUNCTION WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE INTERIOR LIGHT ON THE CLIMATE CONTROLS TO GO OFF. THE FUSE WAS GOOD AS WELL. ANOTHER MALFUNCTION FROM THEVW COMPANY. LASTLY, DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING TO WORK 25 MPH. I DID NOT TOUCH THE WINDOW NOR TRIED TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT, IT WENT DONE COMPLETELY AND IT IS INSIDE THE DOOR...IT WON'T GO UP NOR DOWN. IT IS NOT BROKEN EITHER. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH NO WINDOW IN THE WINTER. SNOW, HAIL. RAIN CAN HAPPEN WHILE THE WINDOW WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. IT'S VERY UNPLEASANT TO HAVE WIND AND COLD OF 3 DEGREES BELOW ZERO HIT YOUR FACE AND GO IN THE CAR TO THE OTHER PASSENGERS. THE HAIL, RAIN OR SNOW CAN THAT CAN GET IN THE CAR CAN CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE INSIDE THE CAR. *TR
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
SUNROOF DRAINS CLOG CAUSING BACKUP OF WATER TO SETTLE ON FLOORS RUINING CARPET, CAUSING MOLD. WATER GETS INTO DOOR FRAMES CAUSING BUCKLING OF DOORS DURING WINTER MONTHS. WATER DAMAGE ALSO CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL WIRING SHORT WHICH CAUSED AN AIRBAG FAILURE AS WELL AS RUINED TWO BATTERIES. I HAVE NOT USED OR OPENED THE SUNROOF SINCE FOR FEAR OF MORE PROBLEMS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE COST TO REPLACE THE CARPETING AGAIN WOULD BE CHARGED TO ME IF THE CAR HAD ANOTHER WATER PROBLEM AGAIN DUE TO THE CLOGGED DRAINS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Brake Booster Vacuum Line Fell off making me run a red light I could not stop the car in time. After getting the car stopped about 100 feet past the light I found that the Brake Booster Vacuum Line fell off its made of hard plastic that has become brittle it cracked at both ends. There was no warning lights even after it fell off. The part number of the hose is 130-612-041 I just wanted to let someone know before people start getting hurt...
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
I GOT IN THE CAR THIS MORNING TO HEAD TO WORK, I REACHED BACK TO PULL THE SEAT BELT FORWARD AND AROUND MY LAP. NEXT THING I KNEW THE BELT WAS FULLY EXTENDED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT AT ALL. I HAD NO TENSION LEFT IN THE SEAT BELT AND IT HUNG OVER ME COMPLETELY EXTENDED. NOW I AM DRIVING WITH THIS COMPLETELY LOOSE SEAT BELT AROUND ME, AND NO PROTECTION IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT.
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 .