CSR

Volkswagen · NHTSA safety record

2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

59

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen have filed 59 safety complaints with NHTSA between August 2017 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 18 of them (31%). The typical failure was reported at 47,000 miles, the median across the 27 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

24V110000 · February 14, 2024

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 261,257 vehicles across all model years covered

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

19V679000 · September 25, 2019

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
The risk
If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 113 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

18V464000 · July 11, 2018

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Sportwagen vehicles. The build of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle shift lever is not in "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
The risk
Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37L5.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 33,168 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)

RQ23007

Closed recall query · opened December 12, 2023 · closed July 1, 2024 · led to recall 24V110

the gasoline fuel system

On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle. This recall covered certain model year (MY) 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 passenger car vehicles. The recall remedy repair replaced SJP Version 1.0 with an improved version, Version 1.1. The SJP is designed to purge fuel from the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system. VW’s recall filing stated the SJP may have been damaged during assembly, which could potentially allow fuel to flow directly into the EVAP system. Over time, the fuel could accumulate in, and cause a leak from, the charcoal canister filter element. ODI received consumer complaints of SJP failure leading to a fuel leak, refueling spit back, refueling shutoff, and/or fuel odor in vehicles previously repaired under recall 16V-647. Additional complaints alleging SJP failure leading to the previously stated outcomes were received in vehicles outside the scope of recall 16V-647, including MY 2016-2020 VW Golf and Audi A3 vehicles. VW issued recall 24V-110 on February 14, 2024, to address issues with SJPs Versions 1.0 and 1.1. The recall remedy replaces the SJP Version 1.0 or 1.1 with an improved version, Version 2.0. Recall 24V-110 covers certain MY 2015-2020 VW Golf (including Golf GTI), 2015-2020 Audi A3, and 2019-2020 VW Jetta GLI vehicles, including vehicle previously repaired under 16V-647. Vehicle owners were notified of this recall in April 2024 and VW’s projected date for owner notification of recall remedy availability is August 2024. In view of the recall being conducted by VW, ODI is closing this Recall Query (RQ). The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 59.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18 31%
AIR BAGS 14 24%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12 20%
POWER TRAIN 6 10%
ENGINE 5 8%
STEERING 5 8%
STRUCTURE 5 8%
SUSPENSION 5 8%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 5%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 2%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 11.

2017 2019 2026
2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

2 injured · crash · towed · 30,100 miles

THIS IS A 2015 TDI GOLF THAT SAT ON THE DEALER CAR LOT FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. WE BOUGHT IT SPRING 2018. MINIMAL MAINTENANCE DONE ON VEHICLE WHEN CAR WAS PURCHASED. IN FACT, WE BOUGHT THREE. TIRES HAD FLAT SPOTS, AND HAD TO ALL BE REPLACED. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR DEVELOPED SOFT BRAKES. MINE AS WELL, AND NOT STOPPING WELL. HER CAR FAILED TO STOP, RESULTING IN A CRASH...THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT THAT THE BRAKE FLUSH AND FLUID ARE REPLACED EARLIER THAN THE "RECOMMENDED" 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE. BEFORE OTHERS ARE INJURED. PLEASE

NHTSA complaint 11152664. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured · 9,500 miles

JUST IN FRONT OF THE SHIFTER AND BEHIND THE CENTER STORAGE CONSOLE, METALLIC TRIM ON PLASTIC PEELED UP LEAVING A RAZOR SHARP EDGE. I DID NOT SEE THIS DEFECT. AS I PULLED MY KEYS OUT OF THE CONSOLE, THE SMALLEST FINGER ON MY RIGHT HAND WAS BADLY SLICED, CAUSING QUITE A LOT OF BLEEDING. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT THE TIME, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE SURPRISE, PAIN, AMOUNT OF BLOOD AND THE DISTRACTION CAUSED BY THOSE THINGS. FORTUNATELY, I HAD JUST PARKED AT MY HOME AND WAS ABLE TO RUN INSIDE AND STANCH THE BLOOD FLOW.

NHTSA complaint 11129543. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured · 61,000 miles

THE BRUSHED ALUMINUM TRIM AROUND THE GEARSHIFT SELECTOR PEELS UP LEAVING A RAZOR SHARP EDGE , THIS HAS CUT MY HAND ON MORE THAN ON OCCASION AS I REACHED INTO THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT BELOW THE INFOTAINMENT CENTER. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON CITY STREETS. THE GEARSHIFT TRIM WAS REPLACED @35,000 MILES

NHTSA complaint 11320915. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE

1 injured · 60,040 miles

GEARSHIFT SURROUND HAS FOIL PLATING OVER PLASTIC. PLATING FLAKES OFF AT ENTRY POINT TO STORAGE CUBBY CAUSING RAZOR CUTS IN HAND AND FINGERS. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHETHER DRIVING OR STATIONARY. *TR

NHTSA complaint 11330850. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured

The shifter grip has a plastic or Chrome pice that is delaminating and a extremely sharp edge is parroting up and has sliced open my Wife’s finger more than 5 times we have a bandaid over it know the dealership states it is a known issue But VW will not take responsibility for it

NHTSA complaint 11746100. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Rear spring broke just like VW Campaign Code: 42J2 / 42J3 / 42J5, but I am being told my VIN isn't covered.

NHTSA complaint 11745652. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

97,900 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the camshaft module and variable valve timing (VVT) gears needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,900.

NHTSA complaint 11700267. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PTC auxiliary heater core connection point failure . It was reported that the wrong type of metal was used for the main electrical connection point for this part causing significant over heating further leading to melting and burning plastic. This then introduces potentially dangerous fumes into the vehicle cabin via the HVAC system. If unaddressed this would likely cause fire damage. The problem has been reproduced by multiple vehicle owners and happens during cold conditions as it supplies heat to the cabin prior to the engine hitting optimal operating temperatures. No warning messages or codes are thrown as a result of this issue. It is a hazard and could cause harm to operators of the

NHTSA complaint 11699778, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PTC auxiliary heater core failure causing near fire event. The failure causes the main power input to melt causing a burning plastic smell and smoke. The problem has been reproduced by multiple vehicle owners and happens during cold conditions as it supplies heat to the cabin prior to the engine hitting optimal operating temperatures. No warning messages or codes are thrown as a result of this issue. It is a hazard and could cause harm to operators of the vehicles affected.

NHTSA complaint 11692499. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
While operating my 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, the ignition key becomes stuck in the steering column and does not release as designed. This appears related to known steering column defects and recalls (NHTSA Campaign 18V464000 / 19V615000). My dealer states my VIN is not covered, but this is a known issue for my model year. This creates a safety hazard as it may prevent the vehicle from being shut off or parked securely.

NHTSA complaint 11679903. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 9 5
2018 12 5
2017 38 4
2016 51 3

Other 2015 Volkswagen models

Every Volkswagen on this site — 152 vehicles, 256 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst