Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Oct 7, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 117 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 Volkswagen Golf submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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.
Owner reports naming body or structure
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Body & structure
Filed Oct 7, 2026
The panoramic sunroof frame on my 2017 Volkswagen Golf has suffered a complete structural failure, exhibiting clear stress fractures and vertical cracking in the polycarbonate surround material. This factory defect allows severe rainwater ingress into the headliner, directly exposing the side-curtain airbag modules and surrounding electrical wiring to water damage, creating an immediate restraint system and safety hazard for occupants.
NHTSA ID
11769715
Incident
Sep 13, 2026
Body & structure
Filed Jun 18, 2024
driving down the highway at 70mph and what sounded like a gunshot inside the car. glass started falling on us driving down the road. the sunroof glass exploded. got pulled over and looked and the glass is literally blown outward not inward like something falling on it. the hole it bulged up and the glass from the hole was missing.
NHTSA ID
11595149
Incident
Jun 16, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Apr 10, 2023
2017 VW GTI, incredibly common issue of the sunroof surround cracking and allowing water to leak into the electrical components and headliner of the vehicle. VW does not care to admit fault on this even though there are hundreds of documented cases about this issue. Less than a year out of warranty and now dealing with potential mold issues or worse, an electrical shortage problem that could cause a fire. Not sure how this can be seen in hundreds of cases from VW owners and they haven’t done anything about it. Major issue.
NHTSA ID
11516400
Incident
Mar 3, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Sep 16, 2022
Driver's door latch failed and often will not latch the door closed. Door just bounces off the door frame lightly. Occasionally I've missed that this has happened and started driving with the door unlatched.
NHTSA ID
11484804
Incident
Sep 1, 2022
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jul 27, 2021
Front and rear radio speakers are not sealed properly leading to rain leaking into the floor and body of the car. This has been reported significantly and frequently online. VW will fix my car for approximately $4500.
NHTSA ID
11426639
Incident
Sep 16, 2020
Body & structure
Filed Dec 8, 2019
SUNROOF SHADE WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED. REPAIRED TWICE BY DEALERSHIP. 12/7/19 DRIVING ON ROAD (NO TRAFFIC OR VEHICLES NEARBY), SUDDENLY LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND, SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHATTERED, BLEW OUT BASKETBALL SIZE HOLE IN SUNROOF GLASS BEFORE COMPLETELY SHATTERING ENTIRE SUNROOF GLASS. VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON RURAL PAVED ROAD, NO OTHER VEHICLES ON ROADWAY. SUNSCREEN PREVENTED GLASS FROM ENTERING DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA ID
11287740
Incident
Dec 7, 2019
Mileage
29,900 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 6, 2018
THE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF AS TICKING/CLICKING/CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE B-PILLAR WHEN THE BODY OF THE CAR FLEXES, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROAD (EVEN AT PARKING LOT SPEED). AFTER THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO ADDRESS IT BY REPLACING INTERIOR PANELS AND APPLYING FOAM, THEY WERE ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE ISSUE IS RELATED TO A WELD JOINT, AND 'PERFORMED ADJUSTMENT TO PILLAR SEAM' (AS LISTED ON THE SERVICE RECORD). THIS FAILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, SO AFTER A VISIT FROM A VW REPRESENTATIVE THEY TRIED 'PEENIG OVER' THE SEAM, BUT THE NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. MY CONCERN IS THAT ANY ISSUE RELATED TO A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT OF THE CAR, SUCH AS THE B-PILLAR TO ROOF/DOOR FRAME JOINT, POTENTIALLY COMPROMISES THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND SAFETY OF THE CAR.
NHTSA ID
11067286
Incident
Sep 27, 2017
Mileage
1,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 5, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported
ON 10/17/17 AT 6:30 PM, I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IN SLOW TRAFFIC IN TOWN WHEN A MAN DRIVING IN BACK OF ME WAS LOOKING DOWN SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND DISTRACTED (WAS ON HIS PHONE ALTHOUGH HE SAID HE FELL ASLEEP) WHEN HE HIT THE BACK (REAR-ENDED) MY CAR. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. MY HEAD AND BODY THRUSTED FORWARD AND BACK AND MY HEAD HIT THE LOWER PART OF THE HEAD REST HARD BECAUSE THE HEAD REST AND SEAT ARE TOO TALL (I'M SHORT) AND THE HEADREST DOESN'T FIT MY HEAD. I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, AND SIGNIFICANT PAIN. THIS IS THE 2ND ACCIDENT WHICH WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE 1ST ACCIDENT ON 6/21/17 WHICH I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO YOU, VW OF AMERICA, AND DIRITO BROTHERS IN WALNUT CREEK. I SUFFERED A 2ND CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH. BOTH TIMES, THE OTHER PARTY WAS AT FAULT AND BOTH PARTIES ADMITTED THEY WERE AT FAULT AND I DID NOTHING WRONG BOTH TIMES. I REQUESTED THAT VW RECALL THESE HEADRESTS AND SEATS AND REPLACE THEM WITH HEADRESTS AND SEATS THAT ARE ADJUSTABLE AND FIT PROPERLY FOR SHORT PEOPLE. MY REQUEST WAS DENIED DESPITE THIS BEING A SAFETY CONCERN WHICH CAUSED MY VEHICLE DAMAGE AND MY BODY WAS INJURED. I, AM, AGAIN, RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING A RECALL SO MY HEADREST AND SEAT WILL FIT PROPERLY AND I WILL BE AT REDUCED RISK FOR INJURY WHEN THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. BOTH TIMES, I FILED CLAIMS WITH MY STATE FARM INSURANCE CO. I RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT BOTH TIMES.
NHTSA ID
11043590
Incident
Oct 17, 2017
Mileage
21,000 mi
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own