ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 27, 2024
Back up camera not working due to infotainment system not working. Dealer is aware, says they are waiting for a software update.
- NHTSA ID
- 11579671
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2024
2023 Volkswagen Golf
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Mar 27, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview
Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Volkswagen Golf, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and engine categories. 46 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2022 | 1 | 1 |
| Dec 2022 | 2 | 3 |
| May 2023 | 1 | 4 |
| Aug 2023 | 1 | 5 |
| Sep 2023 | 1 | 6 |
| Oct 2023 | 2 | 8 |
| Dec 2023 | 1 | 9 |
| Feb 2024 | 1 | 10 |
| Mar 2024 | 1 | 11 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical633.3%
- Driver assistance527.8%
- Engine211.1%
- Powertrain (other)15.6%
- Brakes15.6%
- Visibility15.6%
- Fuel system15.6%
- Exterior lighting15.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 5, 2024
While driving, Front Safety System Light came on. Additionally, Drive System light came on and car would not go over 25-30 mph.
- NHTSA ID
- 11569945
- Incident
- Jan 12, 2024
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 10, 2023
Infotainment system fails to start/load. Infotainment screen provides multiple error messages such and “component protection active” and/ or “you can activate this function at dealer” and subsequently becomes inoperable, including multiple safety related features: Back up/ rear view camera freezes image or does not turn on at all. Autonomous emergency braking (front assist) fail light comes on. Park distance control fail light comes on. Have been to the VW dealer on two different occasions for these issues specifically and the systems and problems not resolved. They reset/ updated the infotainment system at 1st visit. System failed again/ unresolved. Took back to dealer and they called VW corporate for help. Picked up from 2nd visit and systems promptly failed again. Online search suggests common, unresolved problem. Thank you for aiding consumers in resolving these safety issues
- NHTSA ID
- 11559395
- Incident
- Oct 18, 2023
Filed Oct 27, 2023
The infotainment of the car with the navigation gave wrong directions and almost drove me into a canyon rather than the street. I took it to the dealership and left it there for two days and the problem was still there.
- NHTSA ID
- 11552167
- Incident
- Oct 17, 2023
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 3, 2023
Having consistent issues with safety features and infotainment system that locks up with errors. Since new my VW Gti has been experiencing drivers' assistants' issues. At times the backup camera does not work. At times the the whole infotainment system will have various different errors that prevent any of the safety features to be turned on. The errors don't easily go away unless turning off the car and trying to restart it all.
- NHTSA ID
- 11547917
- Incident
- Sep 14, 2023
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 5, 2023
The vehicle has a manual transmission and is equipped with a hill start assist feature. This holds the brake on a hill so the clutch and gear may be engaged and keep the car from rolling back. The feature in this vehicle does not release the brake when the vehicle starts moving forward and holds it for a set amount of time based on hill gradient. This had led to stalling of the vehicle, as the clutch and gear engagement process is completed before the brakes are released. This can be dangerous in traffic situations, especially in intersections.
- NHTSA ID
- 11542557
- Incident
- Aug 2, 2023
Brakes
Filed Aug 25, 2023
All 2022 & 2023 Volkswagen GTI & R models with manual transmissions are impacted by this safety issue. When making a stop on any amount of road grade/hill, the vehicle brakes fully engage and will not disengage when removing your foot from the brake pedal, or by engaging or disengaging the clutch, or by applying throttle. Upon releasing the brake pedal, there is a programmed waiting period of 2-3 seconds where the brakes remain fully engaged, and the vehicle is unable to move regardless of the driver input. Once the waiting period expires, the vehicle begins an uncontrolled roll-back and the driver is able to engage or release the clutch and apply throttle for forward movement. During this waiting period, after the brake pedal is released, any vehicle input will cause a stall. During this waiting period the vehicle brake lights have turned off so drivers behind you believe you have begun forward movement, and they are likely to rearend your vehicle. If you re-apply the brake pedal, the waiting period resets, and you must go through the 2-3 second waiting period again. This feature creates a danger of entering or crossing traffic because the driver cannot 'time' when they will have the ability to move the vehicle, it also creates a danger of stalling the vehicle on a hill or while entering traffic. While in traffic on an uphill gradient, the feature continually engages the brakes and creates waiting periods; this is the case even on an uphill gradient while on an interstate causing continual extended stops. The feature cannot be turned off by the driver. VW Dealerships are unable to turn off the feature. Aftermarket tuning companies are unable to disable this feature. Please cross check your records as this is not an isolated safety complaint regarding these vehicles. Previous model years had an option to turn on a hill-assist feature that held the vehicle from a roll back. The 2022-2023 model year feature creates a roll back and prevents driver inputs.
- NHTSA ID
- 11540744
- Incident
- Aug 25, 2023
Driver assistanceElectricalVisibility
Filed May 26, 2023
The problem is Component Protection, When the car goes into Component Protection you lose A/C and defrost, crash protection, It has been see by a Volkswagen dealer.
- NHTSA ID
- 11523930
- Incident
- Nov 19, 2022
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
TT 91 24 01
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Addressing Cybersecurity or Vehicle Hack concerns
Circular 34N4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:SWITCHES/KNOBS/BUTTONS
In certain vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, the shift knob could become detached during use. If this happens, the shift knob can be replaced immediately and this issue does not affect the drivability of the vehicle. The gears can continue to be selected as normal.
Dealer 34N4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:SWITCHES/KNOBS/BUTTONS
In certain vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, the shift knob could become detached during use. If this happens, the shift knob can be replaced immediately and this issue does not affect the drivability of the vehicle. The gears can continue to be selected as normal.
V171905201285566
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
VW Engine oil quality standards
V271901201189425
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
Battery Testing and Charging Using Midtronics VAS6161 and or GRX3000VAS Charger. Update Tool terminology
V0018092053065_4
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023Viewing | 11 | 0 | 0 | 27.5 |
| 2022 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 30.0 |
| 2021 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 62 | 6 | 3 | 54.6 |
| 2018 | 29 | 6 | 1 | 60.8 |
| 2017 | 115 | 5 | 1 | 56.5 |
| 2016 | 85 | 9 | 1 | 52.6 |
| 2015 | 130 | 12 | 1 | 60.9 |
| 2014 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 56.2 |
| 2013 | 43 | 5 | 3 | 58.0 |
| 2012 | 48 | 6 | 5 | 64.9 |
| 2011 | 110 | 6 | 5 | 58.9 |
| 2010 | 69 | 4 | 4 | 55.0 |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 45.3 |
| 2005 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 44.6 |
| 2004 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 51.9 |
| 2003 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 66.2 |
| 2002 | 73 | 7 | 3 | 61.4 |
| 2001 | 116 | 9 | 3 | 59.0 |
| 2000 | 88 | 8 | 3 | 57.2 |
| 1999 | 64 | 7 | 1 | 52.9 |
| 1998 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 32.4 |
| 1997 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 34.5 |
| 1996 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 51.0 |
| 1995 | 43 | 5 | 2 | 57.7 |
| 1994 | 41 | 5 | 0 | 52.3 |
| 1993 | 7 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1990 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 65.7 |
| 1989 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 59.0 |
| 1988 | 9 | 6 | 1 | — |
| 1987 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 1986 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 62.9 |
| 1985 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 64.9 |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.