2011 Volkswagen Golf Fuel system Problems

The High-pressure Fuel pump failed during a routine drive at approximately 1500 RPMs. This caused an immediate loss of power while in traffic. Manage to limp the car to the nearest gas station in which the car finally died and would not start. Had to call for a tow truck. This immediate loss of power could have cause myself and my daughter to get into an accident. Luckily, we were not on a major highway doing 65+ MPH, which could have been a lot worse. The vehicle flashed a MIL light or flashing glow plug light at the time of the incident. The car did not show any signs of possible failure beforehand. This same issue has been recalled by Fiat-Chrysler on their Heavy-Duty Ram pickup trucks with 6.7L Cummins due to catastrophic failure of the CP4 fuel pump.

NHTSA ID

11546719

Incident

Aug 21, 2023

Driving on interstate at 70 mph with cruise control on when car suddenly slowed and warning lights began flashing. I slowed to 60 mph and within a minute the engine shut off and was almost rear ended by a semi truck before I could get to the shoulder of the highway. Engine would not restart and I was stranded on the highway. Had to have the vehicle towed by AAA back to my home. Used my Ross-Tech VCDS scanning tool to troubleshoot and found codes: P0087 (fuel rail system pressure too low), P020 (cylinders 1-4 injection timing), P1004-P1007 (torque difference cylinders 1-4). Examined fuel filter and fuel metering valve and found metal chips and particles in both places. Based on this evidence, the high pressure fuel pump has likely failed. My safety was put at risk when the failure occurred due to the sudden loss of power and subsequent near collision with a truck. Additionally I was in danger of being hit by other vehicles as I sat on the shoulder of the highway waiting for a tow truck. My vehicle is available for inspection by the local VW dealership, but will have to be towed at my expense to be examined.

NHTSA ID

11445727

Incident

Dec 23, 2021

2011 GOLF TDI 2DOOR. STARTED THROWING AND ERROR CODE OF P2BA6. TOOK IT FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY STATED THAT ISSUE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL AND WAS FIXED ALREADY. I CONTACTED VW DIRECTLY TO SEE HOW TO GO ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THEY STATED THE CAR WAS FIXED IN 2011 AND EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAVE 44K MILES ON THE CAR THEY WILL STILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IN CONCLUSION THE PART THAT HAD ALREADY GONE BAD AND RECALLED HAS BEEN FIXED ONCE THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THE NEW PART SINCE IT HAS BEEN REPLACED. CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THE RECALLED PART HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11325657

Incident

May 23, 2020

Mileage

44,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS HAD A WEIRD SHUTTERING IN ANY GEAR WHEN COASTING AT A REGULAR SPEED. I TOOK IT TO ONE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT YOU BASICALLY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHIFT. TWO WEEKS LATER I NOTICED A SOFT MUFFLED HUSH SOUND THAT REMINDED ME OF A ROCK IN A TIRE. WHEN LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE CAR WE NOTICED DARK LIQUID COATING THE BOTTOM COVER. WE TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND AFTER HOISTING IT UP THEY CALLED US AND SAID THAT THE FLYWHEEL HAD SPRUNG LOOSE DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE AND A SPRING SPRUNG INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING A HOLE AND RUPTURING IT. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS SAME PART HAD BEEN REPLACED BACK IN 2014 BUT WE WERE UNAWARE . OUR THOUGHT IS THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND WHOMEVER REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME DID NOT DO IT PROPERLY BECAUSE NO ONE AND NOTHING SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND TORQUE THE BOLTS AT THE PROPER PRESSURE. HOWEVER I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OVERALL MECHANICS OF THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH COMBINATION. THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY AND HAS CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.

NHTSA ID

11217698

Incident

Jun 3, 2019

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. THIS RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DURING DRIVING. ATTEMPTS TO RE-START THE CAR WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. NOTE: NO FAULT LIGHTS CAME ON. A NEAR MISS COLLISION OCCURRED, BUT LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT. CAR WAS PUSHED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND LEFT FOR A FEW HOURS. AFTER A FEW HOURS, THE CAR DID RE-START WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. ON RE-STARTING, A PLUME OF GREY SMOKED CAME FROM THE TAIL PIPE THIS FAULT IS THE SECOND TIME OF OCCURRENCE AFTER THE MANUFACTURER (VW) SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED A FAULT 202 ERROR THE LAST TIME A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED. I FEEL THE CAR'S FUEL SYSTEM IS A NON-SAFE DESIGN AS A SERIOUS COLLISION NEARLY OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID

10819020

Incident

Dec 7, 2015

Mileage

36,234 mi

THE 2011 VW GOLF TDI SHUT OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED.

NHTSA ID

10790432

Incident

Nov 12, 2015

Mileage

68,500 mi

MY GOLF TDI SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. LUCKILY EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON MY DASH LIT UP ABOUT 30 SECONDS PRIOR TO COMPLETE FAILURE ALLOWING ME TO BEGIN TO MERGE FROM THE LEFT HAND LANE AND COAST WITH MY HAZARDS ON TO THE RIGHT LANE. FROM INITIAL SYMPTOM TO COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS LESS THAN 1 MINUTE. SEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE, ONE THAT RESULTS IN UPWARDS OF AN $8000 REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10781439

Incident

Oct 9, 2015

Mileage

93,000 mi

WHILE EXITING THE OFF RAMP OF THE HIGHWAY AT 1100 AT NIGHT THE CAR DIED AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WAS LOCKING UP THEIR BRAKES AND SWERVING TO AVOID A COLLISION. AFTER AN EXPENSIVE TOW AND FINALLY GETTING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD EXPLODED IN THE TANK SENDING METAL INTO THE WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM. I AM TOLD THE REPAIR BILL WILL COST AROUND $6500 TO FIX. THIS CAR HAS 54000 MILES AND I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW STATING MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY A MONTH PRIOR HOWEVER VW WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THEY DID A FUEL SAMPLE TEST AND THE FUEL DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH LUBRICATION IN IT WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED VW HAS HAD MORE THAN 3500 REPORTED CASES OF THESE FUEL PUMP FAILURES AND REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THE BOSCH PRODUCTS THEY USE. I ALSO TALKED WITH THE SERVICE STATION WHERE I PURCHASED THE FUEL TO LET THEM KNOW THE PUMP FAILURE IS BEING BLAMED ON LACK OF LUBRICATION IN THEIR FUEL AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD ONE OTHER COMPLAINT OF FUEL ISSUES REPORTED. ON A SIDE NOT I FILLED MY DODGE DIESEL TRUCK WITH THE SAME PUMP AND FUEL AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. TO ME THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT VW IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND IF THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THESE FUEL PUMPS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE A KNOWN BAD PART THAT IS NOT GETTING REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10750213

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

54,000 mi

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ON MY 2011 GOLF TDI. MY FAMILY AND WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. VW COVERS UP TO 120,000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAS 122K MILES. THIS CAR IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND ALMOST LOST MY JOB DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. HPFP IS A FAULTY PUMP AND VW DENIES TO COVER THIS EXPENSE. I DO NOT HAVE $8000 TO COVER THIS EXPENSE, AND I WILL KEEP ON CONTACTING VW TO FIX IT. OTHER CARS WITH HIGHER MILEAGE HAVE BEEN COVERED, BUT NOT MINE. I AM ON OF THOUSANDS WITH THIS TDI HPFP PROBLEM. I ALWAYS USE CHEVRON DIESEL, SO THERE IS NO WAY IT CAN BE "CONTAMINATED" IT IS VW FAULTY PIECE. I HOPE SOMEONE READS THIS AND HELPS ME OUT, THANKS.

NHTSA ID

10734069

Incident

Jun 11, 2015

Mileage

122,800 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10691939

Incident

Mar 3, 2015

MY 2011 GOLF DIESEL WITH 31,000 MILES DIED IN RUSH HOUR ON A MAJOR STREET. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. A WEEK LATER, I GOT THE CAR BACK. THEY FOUND METALLIC DEBRIS IN THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP BORE AND WERE ADVISED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM, A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF PARTS. THEY TESTED THE DIESEL, WHICH WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY COVERED THIS APPROXIMATE $8000 COST. NOW, I HAVE A MAJOR DECISION ON KEEPING THE CAR OR BUYING ANOTHER ONE. MY SERVICE REP SAID THAT MY WARRANTY WAS FOR 1 YEAR FROM THE DATE I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK. THIS DOES NOT SEEM FAIR, IT SHOULD BE FOR ANOTHER 5 YEARS, FALLING UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, THESE ARE ALL NEW PARTS. WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE VW WAS SUPPOSE TO BE SUCH A RELIABLE CAR AND WOULD HATE TO GET RID OF IT, CAUSE IT IS AN EXCELLENT CAR BUT I AM NOT SURE IF IT WORTH THE RISK OF THIS MAYBE HAPPENING AGAIN AND HAVING TO DISH OUT $8000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660976

Incident

Nov 4, 2014

Mileage

31,142 mi

WHEN DRIVING CAR AND ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE SIMPLY STOPPED. THE DASH-BOARD LIGHTS WERE ON, BUT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ATTEMPTS TO RE-START THE CAR WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY SUCCESSFUL. IN TWO OF THE THREE CASES, THE ENGINE DID RE-START. HOWEVER, THE E-STARTS OCCURRED OVER 4 HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. IN ONE OF THE THREE CASES, THE CAR COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED. IN THIS LAST CASE, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND AS OF TODAY (10 NOVEMBER), THE DEALER HAS NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN ONE OF THE CASES. AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED, ANOTHER CAR NEARLY REAR-ENDED MY DISABLED CAR. THE OTHER CAR SKIDDED AND SERVED OUT OF THE WAY OF MY DISABLED CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653927

Incident

Aug 7, 2014

Mileage

28,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER IT WAS CHECKED OUT MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE CONTAMINATED WITH METAL SHAVINGS. MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE COULD STALL AND NOT RESTART AT ANY TIME IF REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND RECEIVED THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT NONETHELESS THAT VOLKSWAGEN WOULD REPAIR THE FUEL SYSTEM AT NO COST. VW DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MISFUELED, LEADING TO THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN FUELED WITH ANYTHING BUT DIESEL FUEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650724

Incident

Oct 14, 2014

Mileage

58,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED GLOW PLUG LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AND CAR LOST POWER AND WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP AND DIESEL HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD BOTH DONE BAD, POSSIBLY A CASCADING FAILURE. REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE DESPITE BEING OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. EIGHT MONTHS LATER AND 18,000 MILES LATER AT APPROX 79,000 MILES, SIMILAR SYMPTOMS AND FAILURE AS DETERMINED BY THE SAME DEALER. THIS WAS AGAIN REPAIRED BY VW UNDER "GOODWILL WARRANTY" . THERE MUST BE SOME SORT SYSTEMIC OR DESIGN FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMPS ON THESE CARS. THERE ARE PAGES OF COMPLAINTS HERE AND ON VARIOUS TDI WEB FORUMS DOCUMENTING INSTANCES OF FUEL PUMP FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10644531

Incident

Jan 29, 2014

Mileage

61,000 mi

AS AN ADDENDUM TO MY PREVIOUS EMAIL COMPLAINT #. THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE IS 62000 NOT 101000 (KM) ALSO I WAS DRIVING AT 110KM WHICH I BELIEVE IS 68 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS CONFUSED GIVING YOU 65 MILES BUT TOTAL VEHICLE MILEAGE IN KM. I HOPE THIS IS CLEAR AND MANY THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632105

Incident

Sep 4, 2014

Mileage

62,000 mi

HELLO-FIRSTLY I AM CANADIAN WITH A VEHICLE PURCHASED "BRAND NEW" FROM ERIE PA. ON THURS SEPT 4/14 AT 6:30PM TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK MY VEHICLE LOST MAJORITY OF POWER (DROPPED TO BARELY MOVING) AND THEN COMPLETE POWER APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE FROM WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED-THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING RAPIDLY-THE CAR WAS STRUGGLING-BUCKLING-KICKING BACK AT THE ATTEMPTS TO MOVE. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN A BUSY STRETCH OF HIGHWAY AND WAS NARROWLY MISSED BY SEVERAL CARS AND A TRANSPORT TRUCK. I WAS DEAD IN THE WATER AND COULD NOT EXIT MY VEHICLE. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AS THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH MY CAR AND I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE TO STANDARDS OUTLINED BY VW. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP AND I DID NOT RECEIVE A FULL QUOTE FOR THE SCOPE OF WORK NEEDING TO BE DONE FOR TWO BUSINESS DAYS. I WAS TOLD THERE ARE METAL SHARDS IN MY HPFP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM - INJECTORS - PUMP AND ALL THE PARTS FROM FRONT TO BACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST IS $7500+TAX (CND). I HAVE NOW BEEN IN A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR 7 DAYS AND THE PARTS ARE EXPECTED TODAY (SEPT 10/14)? I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WILL TAKE 22 HRS. I HAVE ASKED FOR ALL THE PARTS BACK. AFTER READING MANY BLOG POSTS ABOUT HPFP FAILURES ON LINE IN BOTH THE US AND CND I AM PERPLEXED WHY A TOTAL RECALL HAS NOT BEEN PLACED ON VW. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED AND APPARENT TO VW FOR YEARS. I CALLED VWOA BUT THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE "THE CAR" AND NEITHER DOES VW CND. I HAVE DRIVEN VW TDI'S SINCE '01 AND KNOW DIESEL FUEL-THIS WAS NOT MISFUELED. VW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. I AM DEVASTATED AS I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR-I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR-I CAN NOT SELL THIS CAR WITHOUT REPAIRING IT. I FEEL VWOA AND CANADA AND GERMANY ARE ALL LIABLE FOR NEGLIGENCE REGARDING SAFETY. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ON THURS SEPT 4/14. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632101

Incident

Sep 4, 2014

Mileage

100,989 mi

ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 5 ABOUT 8:30PM, WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH, MY CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND COAST UNTIL I COULD GET TO A SIDE ROAD AND THEN PUSHED IT INTO A PARKING LOT. I LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAW THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS DAMAGED. I ALSO NOTICED FUEL SITTING ON TOP OF SURFACES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I ASKED MY SON TO VERIFY IF HE SMELLED FUEL WHICH HE DID AS I HAVE LITTLE SENSE OF SMELL. AFTER SEEING THE DAMAGED SERPENTINE BELT, I DID NOT ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. AT THE DEALER, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ATTEMPTED TO TRY TO START THE VEHICLE AND MOVE IT AND SAID IT WOULDN'T START, POSSIBLY CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE SINCE THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SHREDDED. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT THEIR LEADING THEORY IS THAT DIESEL FUEL LEAKED FROM FUEL FILTER GASKET ONTO THE SERPENTINE BELT. THEN THE SHREDDED SERPENTINE BELT TOOK OUT THE TIMING BELT AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO ROTATE OUT OF TIME CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE. CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED PER MANUFACTURER SCHEDULE BY THIS DEALER, AND THIS FAILURE OCCURRED 6K MILES AFTER MOST RECENT SERVICE. DEALER WAS UNSURE WHY THE DIESEL FUEL LEAKED, BUT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER SEEMED VIABLE PROBLEM POINTS. AFTER GETTING ENGINE PARTS REPLACED AT GREAT EXPENSE AND GETTING THE ENGINE RUNNING ON AUG 30, 2014, DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T DETECT A FUEL LEAK AND SAID SERPENTINE BELT CONDITION SHOWED NO CONDITION TO INDICATE FAILURE BUT FAILED ANYWAY CAUSING THE CAVALCADE OF ENGINE DAMAGE. MANY PARTS WERE REPLACED OR REMOVED AND REINSTALLED DURING THE REPAIR, SO IT IS QUESTIONABLE THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630265

Incident

Aug 5, 2014

Mileage

78,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 75 MPH IN THE FAST LANE OF AN INTERSTATE FREEWAY MY 2011 VW GOLF TDI SHUT OFF. WITHOUT WARNING, THE GLOW PLUG LAMP BEGAN FLASHING AND CHECK ENGINE NOTE CAME ON THE DASH. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND BEGAN RUNNING VERY ROUGH. WHILE NEGOTIATING TRAFFIC IN AN ATTEMPT TO PULL OVER (QUITE DANGEROUS WITHOUT POWER AND TRACTOR TRAILERS NOW PASSING MY SLOWING CAR) THE CAR SHUT OFF TAKING THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING WITH IT. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE WIDE SHOULDER IN THAT AREA BUT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER STORY HAD THIS HAPPENED IN AN AREA WITH NO SHOULDER OR SAFE PULL OFF. MY CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AT SERVICE INTERVALS AND FUELED FROM NAME BRAND, HIGH VOLUME FILLING STATIONS. VWS OWN TESTS OF MY CAR INDICATED NO FAULT OF MY OWN AND NOTHING AMISS IN THE FUEL BUT RATHER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF A HIGH PRESSURE PUMP WHICH DISPLACED METAL INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS SORT OF FAILURE IS COMMON ENOUGH (NOTED IN A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH) AND FLAT OUT DANGEROUS WHEN IT OCCURS AT SPEED SINCE THE CAR GAVE NO INDICATIONS THAT IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF AT SPEED (AND FAIL TO RESTART WITHOUT BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER). WORSE YET, VW IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE TDI DIESELS BUT HAS STOPPED SHORT OF ISSUING A RECALL TO INSTALL NEW PARTS THAT WILL NOT FAIL SO SOON AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY (CAR HAS ONLY 38,000 MILES) HOWEVER THEY REPLACED THE PARTS WITH THE SAME FAILURE PRONE PARTS. WEB ANECDOTES FROM OTHERS WITH SIMILAR FAILURES HAVE NOTED THAT IT HAPPENS IN HOTTER AREAS (90-100 DEGREE TEMPS). THIS WAS MY EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LONG DRIVE IN 100 DEGREE TEMPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10619140

Incident

Jul 20, 2014

Mileage

38,000 mi

2011 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TDI, STARTED SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. I JUST MADE IT TO THE RIGHT LANE WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED COMPLETELY, LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A FAULTY FUEL PUMP, LEAVING RESIDUES OF METAL IN THE ENGINE. CAR IS LITTLE OVER 40,000MILES, 5,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. VW HOWEVER AGREED TO FIX THE ISSUE FOR FREE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A $10,000 REPAIR. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE PEOPLE, THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL ISSUES LIKE THIS, RELATED TO DIESEL GOLF. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, BUT THE ENGINE SHUTTING ON A HIGHWAY WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY COMMON ISSUE, SUCH THAT VW WILL FIX IT FOR FREE INSTEAD OF CHARGING CUSTOMERS. I AM NOW WORRIED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN ANOTHER 40,000 MILES. I AM PURCHASING EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT VW SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE ALL FAULTY PUMPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607975

Incident

Jul 2, 2014

Mileage

41,000 mi

STALLED WHILE TRAVELING FULL SPEED ON THE FREEWAY IN THE DESERT, GLOW PLUG LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WAS ALMOST HIT BY SEVERAL TRUCKS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COAST TO THE NEAREST OFF RAMP 1/4 MI AWAY, AT THE END OF THE OFF RAMP VEHICLE STALLED, AGAIN ALMOST HIT BY SEVERAL MORE VEHICLES. WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR OFF MIDDLE OF THE OFFRAMP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALER STATES HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE, KNOWN ISSUE WITH MY MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF VEHICLE. STALLING ON FREEWAY IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THIS PART AS IT WASN'T DESIGNED PROPERLY FOR US DIESEL SPECS (WAS DESIGNED FOR EUROPE.) VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE OF MISFUELING, I HAVE ONLY USED DIESEL FROM BRAND NAME STATIONS, YOUR CURRENT INVESTIGATION BLAMING THIS ON MISFUELING IS INCORRECT, IT IS CLEARLY A PART DEFECT. THE LATEST REDESIGNED PART FOR THE 2013 MODEL YEAR HAS HAD FAILURES AS WELL (THIRD REDESIGN OF PART.) *TR

NHTSA ID

10597995

Incident

Jun 7, 2014

Mileage

91,000 mi

LAST WEEK, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN IN MY GOLF TDI THE WAY IT HAD A YEAR AGO WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THE POSSIBILITY IT WAS A FUEL PUMP ISSUE AGAIN AFTER THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE THING BRAND NEW LAST SUMMER WAS CLOSE TO ZERO. HOWEVER, I RECEIVED A CALL THAT AFTERNOON SAYING ONCE AGAIN THE FUEL PUMP WAS HAVING PROBLEMS DUE TO "DIRTY DIESEL." LAST SUMMER AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED I WAS TOLD ONLY TO GO TO SHELL AND CHEVRON. I HAVE ONLY GONE TO THE SAME CHEVRON STATION THIS ENTIRE TIME AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER MECHANIC THAT DIRTY DIESEL IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM IN THE PACIFIC NW AND THAT IT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA THAT I ONLY WENT TO ONE GAS STATION AND THAT I SHOULD TRY OTHERS. I WAS ALSO TOLD, I "BARELY" DROVE THE THING AS IT ONLY HAD 5000 MILES ADDED ON IT SINCE LAST SUMMER. HE SAID DIESEL CAN GROW BACTERIA AND THAT HE WOULD PUT ADDITIVES IN MY CURRENT TANK AND THEN MY NEXT TANK I SHOULD ADD ANOTHER BOTTLE OF ADDITIVES. HOW THIS SOLVES THE PROBLEM LONG TERM I HAVE NO IDEA. SO APPARENTLY I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL PUMP THAT A) CAN NOT HANDLE THE DIESEL QUALITY IN THE ENTIRE PACIFIC NW REGION I LIVE IN AND B) MUST DRIVE AT A CERTAIN PACE/RATE TO KEEP THE FUEL PUMP CLEAN. I AM GOING TO TRY AND SELL THE VEHICLE AS SOON AS I CAN FIND A REPLACEMENT AS THIS SEEMS LIKE AN INHERENT FLAW IN THE CAR THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY SINCE THEY CONTINUE TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME FAULTY FUEL PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577802

Incident

Mar 29, 2014

Mileage

26,350 mi

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES WERE LEAKING LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUEL. FUEL LEAKED ON TO ALTERNATOR, CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY AND REQUIRED TOWING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549440

Incident

Oct 12, 2012

Mileage

48,993 mi

MY VEHICLE IS A TDI DIESEL VERSION OF THE VW 2011 GOLF. DURING MY COMMUTE HOME I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE LEFT LANE OF SOUTHBOUND HIGHWAY 101 IN CA WHEN A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED (GLOW PLUG) AND I LOST SIGNIFICANT SPEED AND POWER. I MADE MY WAY TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL IN "LIMP MODE" FOR ANOTHER MILE OR SO BEFORE THE CAR DIED. I CALLED THE NEAREST VW DEALER AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THAT DEALER. INITIAL FEEDBACK FROM THE DEALER IS THAT IT IS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) FAILURE. ROOT CAUSE AND REPAIR HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED AS OF TODAY, MONDAY JULY 22, 2013. *TR

NHTSA ID

10526247

Incident

Jul 19, 2013

Mileage

75,000 mi

ENGINE LIGHT COMING AND GOING, LURCHING INTERMITTENTLY UPON ACCELERATION. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER 3 TIMES SINCE MARCH 2013 AFTER IT STARTED HAPPENING IN FEB 2013. TODAY RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE DEALER CLAIMING THERE IS SEDIMENT THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM DUE TO DIRTY DIESEL WHICH THE FILTERS CAN NOT CATCH. HE STATED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. TOLD ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE AGENT TO GET HIM INVOLVED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS UNDER A 7 YEAR WARRANTY AND THIS APPARENTLY HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER TDI HPFPS AND IS NOT DUE TO THE ISSUE OF THE QUALITY OF DIESEL FUEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10521142

Incident

Feb 13, 2013

Mileage

19,000 mi

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT, LOSS OF POWER, ENGINE STALL. DEALER SAID FUEL PUMP FAILED, CONTAMINATED COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM. ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

NHTSA ID

10512456

Incident

May 16, 2013

Mileage

30,800 mi