repaired · 2021 Q1
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2013 Volkswagen GolfProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 43 owner complaints about the 2013 Volkswagen Golf, most often about the engine. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-148 the manufacturer reports only 56% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 10, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Volkswagen Golf has problems
43 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
14Engine1 crash/fire/injury
11Fuel/propulsion system
9Air bags
7Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
5Service brakes2 crash/fire/injury
5Steering
4Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
3Fuel system, diesel
3Vehicle speed control
55 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 14 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 11 | 0 |
| Air bags | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 2 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel system, diesel | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 |
| 5 other systems | 5 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2013 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.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Unknown or other
Risk. If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Driver side: inflator module
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…
repaired · 2018 Q2
Driver side: inflator module
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…
Show 1 more recall
repaired · 2017 Q2
Air bags: frontal
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…
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
2013 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
2013 Volkswagen Golf safety ratings
2013 Volkswagen Golf 2 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Volkswagen Golf, and the recalls they led to.
- Clockspring failureNo recall
- Air Bag Clockspring FailureLed to recall 15V-483
- Air Bag Clockspring FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Golf owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
i was driving down the freeway on the way to work at 75 mph when all of a sudden my EPC went off in my 2013 volkswagon gti my entire car shut down (manual transmission) i lost all steering ability while on the freeway going 75 mph i couldn't get over to the shoulder due to loss of brakes due to…
Car shut off while driving on the freeway at a high rate of speed. EPS and Check Engine light came on. Luckily was able to pull over without hurting anyone. Local repair shop said it is the timing chain system.
Misfiring after cold starts. After driving the car in freezing temperatures, problem sometimes happens when the car is allowed to sit and water in the intercooler melts. It may start fine, but then starts misfiring when pulling into traffic and creates dangerous merges. Misfire goes away in the…
Own a 2013 Golf?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.