Total Complaints
20 filings
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF · model year
20 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986VOLKSWAGENGOLF carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 GOLF is fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump with 4 filings, followed by structure:body:door (2) and visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 1986 GOLF, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
20 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 2/8/02, AND HAVE HAD THE CAR CONTINUOUSLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE THAT PURCHASE. THE FIRST PROBLEM, THE CAR STOPPED WHILE EXECUTING A RIGHT TURN, OCCURRED TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. SINCE THAT WAS A SUNDAY, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO WAIT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE DEALER THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY. WHEN I DID TALK WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR "AS IS" THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, OR TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SINCE THAT OCCURRENCE, I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, HAVE HAD IT TOWED TWICE, AND HAD IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. I HAVE KEPT MOST OF THE RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS MADE, ALTHOUGH I DO ADMIT TO HAVING MISPLACED A FEW. I'VE HAD TO PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE THREE STARTERS, HAVE THE FUEL INJECTORS REPAIRED, HAVE A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS, PURCHASE NEW SPARK PLUG WIRES, THERMOSTAT AND A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. ALL OF THESE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED/REPLACED BY A REPAIR SHOP W
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 2/8/02, AND HAVE HAD THE CAR CONTINUOUSLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE THAT PURCHASE. THE FIRST PROBLEM, THE CAR STOPPED WHILE EXECUTING A RIGHT TURN, OCCURRED TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. SINCE THAT WAS A SUNDAY, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO WAIT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE DEALER THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY. WHEN I DID TALK WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR "AS IS" THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, OR TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SINCE THAT OCCURRENCE, I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, HAVE HAD IT TOWED TWICE, AND HAD IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. I HAVE KEPT MOST OF THE RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS MADE, ALTHOUGH I DO ADMIT TO HAVING MISPLACED A FEW. I'VE HAD TO PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE THREE STARTERS, HAVE THE FUEL INJECTORS REPAIRED, HAVE A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS, PURCHASE NEW SPARK PLUG WIRES, THERMOSTAT AND A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. ALL OF THESE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED/REPLACED BY A REPAIR SHOP W
WHILE DRIVING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER FAST MOVING TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 80 ON SUNDAY, NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER FAST MOVING TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 80 ON SUNDAY, NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
WHILE SITTING WITH VEHICLE RUNNING FUEL PUMP OPERATED ERRATICALLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED FUEL FILTER. CONSUMER STATED IF SITTING TOO LONG AT A LIGHT VEHICLE WILL STALL AND SHUT OFF. *AK
WHILE SITTING WITH VEHICLE RUNNING FUEL PUMP OPERATED ERRATICALLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED FUEL FILTER. CONSUMER STATED IF SITTING TOO LONG AT A LIGHT VEHICLE WILL STALL AND SHUT OFF. *AK
RECALL COMPONENTS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN FUEL PUMP 87V053, FUEL TANK 86V149, FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY 86V029 AND HEATER CORE 92V050. NLM
RECALL COMPONENTS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN FUEL PUMP 87V053, FUEL TANK 86V149, FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY 86V029 AND HEATER CORE 92V050. NLM
RECALL COMPONENTS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN FUEL PUMP 87V053, FUEL TANK 86V149, FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY 86V029 AND HEATER CORE 92V050. NLM
THIS CAR FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO THE CONDITION OF ALL FOUR DOORS. THE TWO BACK DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. ALL FOUR DOORS ARE STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. ALL BUT ONE DOOR LOCK KNOB HAS LOST (BROKEN OFF) THE PLASTIC KNOB. OTHER VW GOLF OWNERS (USED AND NEW CARS) HAVE COMPLAINED TO ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE WAS EVER A PARTS RECALL AND / OR HOW I MIGHT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR MORE INFORMATION? THANK YOU!
VEHICLE'S CLUTCH DISC EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DISC FELL APART SEVERAL TIMES. MJS
TRANSMISSION LEAKED AT HOLE, COMPLETELY DESTROYING TRANSMISSION. MJS
GAS TANK LEAKS AS IT NEARS THE 10 GALLON POINT AND IT APPEARS TO COME FROM ON TOP OF THE TANK ASSEMBLY NEAR THE POINT WHERE THE FILLER TUBE AND TANK WERE MOLDED TOGETHER DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL. *AK
HEATER CORE BROKE, CAUSING LEAKAGE ONTO CONSUMER/INJURIES.
WATER ENTERING VEHICLE CAUSING VEHICLE'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR TO FAIL.
WATER ENTERS SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HOUSING AREA. IN WINTER, WATER WOULD FREEZE & SEAT BELTS DO NOT RELEASE. ALSO FAILS TO RETRACT BACKWARDS. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. *AK
DOOR HANDLE DEFECTIVE.
ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *AK
ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. (ORIGINAL DOCUMENT ON 482158). *SKD
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
Inadvertent Door Opening
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
LGES High Voltage Battery Failures
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.