2015 Volkswagen Golf Owner Complaints

15V483000 (VW Recall Code 69L2) was issued for 2014 Volkswagen Golf's indicating a "clock spring" affecting a cable that powers the air bag. This is indicated also by the airbag emergency light coming on. I believe a similar, if not the same, issue is occurring in my 2015 VW Golf. Furthermore, the issue has affected all mechanical buttons on the steering wheel. I had taken my vehicle to a VW mechanic that indicated a recall had been issued for this problem. However, upon my own further investigation, I found 2014 was the cut off year for the recall. The issue appeared during the winter last year. I did contact my nearest VW dealership to instigate as to if this issue could be repaired under the aforementioned recall for the 2014. I was informed they could not. As this is an issue in pervious models and is a safety concern, I am issuing this letter in hopes this safety issue could be repaired at the expense of Volkswagen.

NHTSA ID

11750947

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

Rear strut completely broke

NHTSA ID

11744671

Incident

Feb 3, 2026

The right rear coil spring on my 2015 Volkswagen Golf fractured suddenly while the vehicle was completely stationary in a parking lot. There was no collision, pothole impact, curb strike, road hazard, or other external event that could reasonably explain the failure. The incident was captured on dash cam video. The failed component is the right rear suspension coil spring. I will retain the broken component and make it available for inspection upon request, although the vehicle must be repaired immediately because it is my primary means of transportation. Volkswagen has previously acknowledged potential manufacturing and material defects involving rear axle coil springs in technical service bulletin/campaign 42J5, which states that certain rear axle coil springs may not have met factory specifications due to defective materials or production process issues. This failure created a significant safety concern because a fractured coil spring can shift position, puncture a tire, damage suspension or brake components, or cause instability and loss of vehicle control if the failure occurs while driving at speed. In this case, the spring failed while the car was parked and stationary, but the same spontaneous failure could have occurred during highway driving. The defect has been confirmed by both an independent repair shop and a Volkswagen specialist, and I have written repair estimates documenting the broken spring. The vehicle and component have not been inspected by Volkswagen because the dealership required approximately $200 solely for diagnostic inspection despite the visible and documented mechanical failure. There were no warning lights, dashboard messages, noises, drivability symptoms, or other indications of impending failure prior to the incident. The spring failed without warning. I contacted Volkswagen/dealership personnel seeking goodwill assistance due to the known spring defect issue and the unusual circumstances of the failure, but was denied.

NHTSA ID

11739492

Incident

Apr 25, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped the curb while driving, but he was able to regain control. The driver turned off the vehicle and restarted it. Recently, while reversing out of a parking spot and placing the vehicle into drive, there was sudden acceleration, and he crashed into a fence in front of the dumpsters. The brake pedal was applied, but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact's neighbor was jumping up and down in front of my vehicle, waving his arms; the driver was able to stop approximately six feet in front of his neighbor. The vehicle was turned off. While reversing, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a parked Jeep, causing damage to the driver's side front and rear doors. There was no police report filed, air bag deployment, fire, or injuries. Additionally, the EPC has been turning on. The engine was chugging. The vehicle was restarted, and the light cleared. On one occasion, the EPC light stayed on, and cylinder number 5 had stopped firing. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. Additionally, the contact wanted to send the complaint copy to the insurance company and manufacturer to obtain the EDR to provide to the police and insurance company for his claim approval. The failure mileage was approximately 114,500.

NHTSA ID

11708381

Incident

Dec 20, 2025

Mileage

114,500 mi

Sirs: I am reporting TWO issues: One: My car should have been included in the recall campaign for rear coil spring fracture that other 2015 Golfs have experienced. I had to pay to replace fractured rear coil springs myself, last year. Two: Volkswagen has made it impossible for me to get ANY recall performed, including the suction fuel pump recall. After I filed a 1 star review for the utter failure of the Ithaca NY VW dealer to repair my brakes in late October 2021, the service manager retaliated. He called and assailed me with four letter language. Afterward, I made an appointment with another local VW dealer AT RANDOM, and one I had never done business with. Before I could identify myself or my VIN number this second dealer proceded to accuse me of being a deadbeat who does not pay his bills. He said if I came to his shop, I would pay in advance for any servicing. I would have to agree to surrender my car for an indeterminate time, and pay to strip it of all aftermarket parts at my expense, before even proceeding with diagnosis. It was apparent to me that the service manager had badmouthed me to ALL the local dealerships. I am in effect, blacklisted. I complained to Volkswagen corporation about this treatment in writing. I sent them proof of payment. They refused to help me. There is so much hostility coming from VW dealers, that I don't feel I can trust them to do safety recalls. I don't deserve this. I've always been polite and paid my bills immediately. The Ithaca dealer was paid for their diagnosis, even though they lied to me about the problem and never fixed the brakes. I want VW to provide the parts and servicing information for the suction pump recall. I will find an independent mechanic to do the repairs.

NHTSA ID

11707246

Incident

Oct 25, 2021

The chrome plastic trim coating on the START/STOP button and also the steering wheel have peeled and are razor sharp. I cut myself badly on both pieces on my right fore fingertip and middle ring finger. I try to avoid placing my hand accross the horn of the steering wheel since this happened, but the trim there is very dangerously sharp. There is a recall on the same trim on 2017 cars (Service Action 34L9), but the VW dealer told me there was not on my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11669266

Incident

Jun 21, 2025

I brought my 2015 Volkswagen (with only 50,000 miles) to Island Volkswagen in NY for a fuel system recall repair. Before this, the car had no fuel smell, no leaks, and was driving normally. Immediately after the recall work, I began smelling fuel. The dealership told me the fuel line is leaking and needs to be replaced. I never had this issue before, and it’s clearly related to the repair they performed. I’m now being told I must pay $550 out of pocket for something I believe was caused by their handling of the fuel system during the recall. This is a serious safety concern. If I drive this car and something goes wrong, it could result in a fire. I believe this issue deserves review, especially if other drivers experience similar problems after this recall.

NHTSA ID

11653103

Incident

Apr 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the fuel gauge level dropped quickly, and there was an abnormal fuel odor before the vehicle shutoff in the middle of the roadway. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact exited the vehicle and push the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact stated that while checking underneath the vehicle, the contact became aware of a fuel leak. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The independent mechanic confirmed the fuel leak and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance with the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

NHTSA ID

11626162

Incident

Nov 18, 2024

Mileage

111,000 mi

When I turn on the ignition it says on the screen Starting system fault please service the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11621842

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

I was driving to my grandparents house and once i got to the house there was gasoline dripping from the back of car, from the area of the tank. "61821 SE VERIFICO UNIDAD CON LIQUEO DE GASOLINA , SE VERIFICO Y SE ENCONTRO CHARCOL CANISTER LLENO DE GASOLINA , SE HIZO TEST PLAN Y SE ENCONTRO VALVULA INTERNA DEL TANQUE DE LA GASOLINA TRANCADA Y ESTO OCASIONANDO LIQUEO DE GASOLINA , SE REMOVIO Y SE INSTALO TANQUE DE GASOLINA NUEVO Y CANISTER DE LOS GASES NUEVO Y VALVULA N80 NUEVA Y SE LIMPIARON TODAS LAS LINES DEL SISTEMA , SE HIZO TEST Y NO PRESENTO LIQUEO DE GASOLINA" - Mecanic

NHTSA ID

11609559

Incident

Jun 18, 2021

Vehicle had recall for "leaking fuel fire risk" Strong smell of fuel inside car. Manufacturer recall #20UF NHTSA recall 24V110 There has not been a fix yet available. Dealer (Team Volkswagen Merrillville IN) replaced the Jet fuel pump. Problem continued, VW engineering said bring the car back and replace the entire fuel tank. Completed. Problem returned 2 weeks later (XXX). While driving home from work noticed extremely strong fuel odor in car. Pulled off in a store parking lot, someone ran up and told me my car was leaking fuel. Gas was literally pouring out, I lost 1/4 tank of fuel on way home. The fuel was leaking under hood, under fuel tank area and under the rear passenger seat. I had the car towed to the dealer. Volkswagen does not have an actual fix for the problem. I should be given a replacement car due to Volkswagen being unable to correct this serious safety issue. What should I do, I am afraid to take the car back. I have videos and several pictures but unable to upload onto this website. Call [XXX] Crown Point Indiana INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11604416

Incident

Jul 25, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Golf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, there was fuel leaking from the vehicle, making it impossible to fill the fuel tank. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 73,780. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11600861

Incident

Jul 10, 2024

Mileage

73,780 mi

The hood release doesn’t work and cannot access anything in the engine bay. No oil changes until the hood can be opened. Clear recall due to the danger of not being able to open. The handle inside the car broke by attempting to open the hood.

NHTSA ID

11599200

Incident

Jun 30, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Golf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that a second notice would be mailed when parts became available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11585517

Incident

Apr 26, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the stick shift was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed rear axle and coil springs. The contact was informed that the rear axle and coil springs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11577150

Incident

Mar 6, 2024

Mileage

50,000 mi

Thermostat/water pump housing leaking coolant at 20,000 miles. No damage to vehicle that caused this, seems to be a common issue with VW Golfs. The repair is out of pocket and the dealership which sold me the car only a year ago is quoting $1600.

NHTSA ID

11577119

Incident

Nov 13, 2023

Leaking sunroof !!!!!!!

NHTSA ID

11575002

Incident

Feb 15, 2024

There is a crack and leak in my sunroof. I have not done anything to my car that would result in the crack. Based on Reddit searches, this is a frequent problem for VW owners. Autobody shops do not want to touch my sunroof or fix it because they do not have success fixing sunroofs.

NHTSA ID

11573889

Incident

Nov 11, 2022

I smelled a strong odor coming from the heater that turned out to be burnt plastic and wiring associated with the auxiliary heater. This is an obvious fire/ smoke hazard that could have been deadly if other nearby components caught fire.

NHTSA ID

11556818

Incident

Nov 25, 2023

Thermostat housing and water pump are leaking coolant. It is available for inspection. It can cause my engine to overheat and/or fail while being used. It has been confirmed by a dealership. It has not been inspected by the police, manufacturer, or insurance company. There have been occasional reports of low coolant, and the coolant drains significantly faster than expected especially in cold weather (e.g. needing to fill coolant every 7 days). It was first repaired in 2019, and has since failed again.

NHTSA ID

11549044

Incident

Mar 5, 2019

While normally driving on the street, I noticed that the car started to overheat and could hear the radiator working to keep the heat level normal. I stopped and did not notice any leaks and added coolant to the car after I left it cool for about 3 hours. The problem went away but i still took it to the dealership and i was told it might be the head gasket of the engine or thermostat/waterpump, a $4000 repair. Was advised to just sell the car. VW should address this issue as it has been a long issue now

NHTSA ID

11541025

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

One night I started hearing a crunching noise while I was turning my wheel at low speeds. I backed out of a parking spot and started to turn the wheel to hear the full extent of the noise. The next morning, I got up and went out, backed up the car, turned the wheel to the same noise coming from the steering wheel. About an hour later, I drove home and turned into my parking spot, when the noise got worse and then stopped. At the end of the noise, two error codes arose: Airbag and transmission error. The steering wheel controls, such as volume and song control do not work, as well as other functions on the wheel, such as the dash control and cruise control buttons. I quickly googled the symptoms around the make, model and year and saw mass amounts of Volkswagen vehicles around 2015 that experienced the same issues, and the issue of a faulty clock-spring being the culprit. With this in mind, I reached out to a Volkswagen dealership to relay my concerns and the conversation ended with an appointment booked and a consensus that the issue was a faulty clock-spring, as many have had this issue. This issue seems to be widespread throughout many years and models of the Volkswagen line, however, my car follows a wide group of cars by one year in manufacture date, yet it lacks a recall part, despite the believed widespread affected group of cars. My appointment with the Volkswagen dealership went as expected- they found that my clock spring was indeed the issue. The service advisor admitted that the "clock-springs are bound to break." However, my car is 6,000 miles out of warranty to be able to cover the cost of this repair at the moment of typing this. And with further confirmation, the clock spring part is not a recalled part, thus deeming the uncovered service, despite the admittance to a faulty and common issue. I drove a significant distance to reach my dealership with the fear of my stearing wheel locking up while I am driving on the freeway. It has yet to lock.

NHTSA ID

11537537

Incident

Aug 3, 2023

Driving on thruway at 65 when the left rear coil spring broke. There was a loud bang and pieces of the spring exited out onto the highway where several vehicles ran over them before they bounced off the road.

NHTSA ID

11532637

Incident

Jul 16, 2023

Air bag error appeared on dashboard. Horn is not functioning as well. May be due to a faulty switch in the steering.

NHTSA ID

11529909

Incident

Jun 29, 2023

I was putting gas and it started shooting out gas from the tank fuel. I had filled up 2 gallons and the entire two gallons ended up on the floor of the gas station. I took the car to an old Volkswagen specialist and he suggested I get an evap system smoke test to determine what the problem is. I did the test and it came back as a faulty evap canister. That the evap vent valve is stuck closed and purge is allowing fuel into the canister. So I bought an oem canister and replaced the old one. For one day the car drove fine with no issue putting gas or any leaks. The next day I noticed the smell of gas and saw that it was leaking gas from behind the rear wheel. I took it to a local mechanic and the car leaked the remaining 60 miles of gas on the floor. Also the new canister is filled with gas again.

NHTSA ID

11526988

Incident

Jun 12, 2023