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2011 Volkswagen GolfProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 110 owner complaints about the 2011 Volkswagen Golf, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-148 the manufacturer reports only 56% of affected cars repaired.

2011 Volkswagen Golf
38
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.6× the Golf median · #5 of 27 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Lowest repair rate 56%Owner complaints1109 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage41kFuel/propulsion system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 26, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2011 Volkswagen Golf has problems

110 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
Fuel/propulsion system300
Power train210
Fuel system, diesel190
Electrical system182
Engine154
Air bags122
Engine and engine cooling110
Vehicle speed control41
Fuel system, gasoline40
7 other systems132

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

6 recalls

2011 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.

65%repaired · 2021 Q1

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 19V-862 · Dec 4, 2019 · 226 vehicles · 147 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

78%repaired · 2020 Q1

Unknown or other

Recall 18V-329 · May 16, 2018 · 252 vehicles · 196 repaired

Risk. If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

56%repaired · 2019 Q4

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 18V-148 · Mar 6, 2018 · 363,713 vehicles · 204,423 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

59%repaired · 2018 Q2

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 16V-078 · Feb 10, 2016 · 659,493 vehicles · 385,916 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
76%repaired · 2017 Q2

Air bags: frontal

Recall 15V-483 · Aug 4, 2015 · 415,825 vehicles · 317,595 repaired

Risk. A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Fuel system, diesel

Recall 11V-490 · Oct 3, 2011 · 168,275 vehicles

Risk. DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE.

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.

Mileage at failure

When do fuel/propulsion system problems start?

41kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 27 fuel/propulsion system complaints. 93% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
8under 30k miles25under 100k miles2100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2011 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

2011 Volkswagen Golf safety ratings

2011 Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 4 stars (12.1% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2011 Volkswagen Golf, and the recalls they led to.

  1. High-Pressure Fuel Pump FailureEA11003 · closed Mar 27, 2015
    No recall
  2. Clockspring failureEA18003 · closed Nov 6, 2026
    No recall
  3. Diesel Fuel Injector Line LeakagePE11023 · closed Dec 2, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-490
  4. Air Bag Clockspring FailurePE15010 · closed Sep 28, 2015
    Led to recall 15V-483
  5. Air Bag Clockspring FailureRQ17009 · closed May 4, 2018
    No recall
In owners' words

What Golf owners report

Recent fuel/propulsion system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The High-pressure Fuel pump failed during a routine drive at approximately 1500 RPMs. This caused an immediate loss of power while in traffic. Manage to limp the car to the nearest gas station in which the car finally died and would not start. Had to call for a tow truck. This immediate loss of…
Complaint 11546719 · Sep 26, 2023
Driving on interstate at 70 mph with cruise control on when car suddenly slowed and warning lights began flashing. I slowed to 60 mph and within a minute the engine shut off and was almost rear ended by a semi truck before I could get to the shoulder of the highway. Engine would not restart and I…
Complaint 11445727 · Dec 31, 2021
TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS HAD A WEIRD SHUTTERING IN ANY GEAR WHEN COASTING AT A REGULAR SPEED. I TOOK IT TO ONE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT YOU BASICALLY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHIFT. TWO WEEKS LATER I NOTICED A SOFT MUFFLED HUSH SOUND THAT REMINDED ME OF A ROCK IN A TIRE. WHEN…
Complaint 11217698 · Jun 4, 2019 · 67,000 miles

Own a 2011 Golf?

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