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2001 Volkswagen GolfProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 116 owner complaints about the 2001 Volkswagen Golf, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

2001 Volkswagen Golf
36
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.8× the Golf median · #3 of 27 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints11612 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage80kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 21, 2021. Updated daily. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2001 Volkswagen Golf has problems

116 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags325
Engine and engine cooling230
Exterior lighting150
Electrical system152
Visibility131
Service brakes, hydraulic92
Vehicle speed control72
Power train70
Latches/locks/linkages40
10 other systems190

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2001 Volkswagen Golf recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Hazard flashing warning lights: switch

Recall 04V-584 · Dec 16, 2004 · 410,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Control arm: upper arm

Recall 00V-280 · Sep 20, 2000 · 4,218 vehicles

Risk. THE CONTROL ARM COULD GRADUALLY LOOSEN AND ULTIMATELY SEPARATE FROM ITS BRACKET IN NORMAL DRIVING WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volkswagen.

Best & worst years

2001 vs. every other Golf year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Golf median. How we score

'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2001 Volkswagen Golf safety ratings

2001 Volkswagen Golf 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2001 Volkswagen Golf, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ENGINE STALLINGDP05004 · closed Dec 8, 2005
    No recall
  2. TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILUREPE04073 · closed Dec 16, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-584
  3. INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTPE04081 · closed Apr 1, 2005
    No recall
In owners' words

What Golf owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF FORT MYERS (14060 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, FORT MYERS, FL…
Complaint 11413225 · Apr 21, 2021 · 109,223 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED LOW POWER, ROUGH IDLING, AND HESITATION. THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATORS REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE…
Complaint 10246854 · Oct 27, 2008 · 90,000 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS, INCLUDING THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAGS, DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60-65 MPH AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO SUDDEN IMPACT OR CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
Complaint 10211348 · Dec 10, 2007 · 119,100 miles

Own a 2001 Golf?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.