Total Complaints
8 filings
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF · model year
8 NHTSA complaints, and 2 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
New Car Assessment Program
The 2020VOLKSWAGENGOLF carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2020 GOLF is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by electronic stability control (esc) (1) and engine (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2020 GOLF, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
Total Complaints
8 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The t
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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 vehi
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that there was a leak in the evaporative emissions system after scanning the vehicle and retrieving DTC: P0456. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
Mileage: 17,000
While driving with the cruise control set to 55 mph, the car began an uncommanded acceleration. When I looked down on the dashboard display I noticed that the cruise control target speed was set to 95 mph. I switched of the cruise control and resumed manual control of the speed. When I switch the cruise control back on I observed the target speed rapidly increase from the intended 55 mph to 95 mph accompanied by moderate vehicle acceleration. I again switched off the cruise control and resumed manual control of the speed. Sometime later during the drive a cruise control error message appeared on the dashboard. Subsequently the problem was identified as a faulty cruise control switch (part number 5G0-959-442-AE-ICX). The switch was replaced and the fault has not reoccurred over a few hundred miles of driving. While this malfunction can be overridden using the normal cruise control disconnect procedures, uncommanded acceleration poses a safety risk to driver and other motorists
The sunroof exploded while driving without warning and with no impact. The sliding cloth cover was closed at the time, so thankfully little to no glass entered the car, but it was very loud and, had the cover been open, would have filled the car with glass. The sunroof has since been fixed through my insurance, but it took 8-9 months to get completely fixed, and the local VW dealership refused to work on it and had no recommendations.
I turn my vehicle on and immediately and presented with a message on the dashboard display: "SOS Emergency Call Function Not Available: See Dealer." indicating that the emergency call function of the vehicle is not working and inaccessible. The problem was reproduced/observed by my Volkswagen dealer and was inspected/confirmed to be defective. There was no indication before this warning message that there was an issue with the emergency call function in the vehicle. Without this safety feature, I am unable to make an emergency call if I/my family are in an accident putting us and others in danger. The original issue was reported to my Volkswagen dealer in September, 2023 and I was told the part is "on backorder" with no promised date when it would become available. The part involved is number J949 - Emergency Call and Communication Unit.
I PURCHASED A VW GOLF 2020 ON AUGUST 18TH, WHAT HAPPENED TO ME A WEEK LATER NOT ONLY DISAPPOINTED ME BUT ALSO SACRED ME. I DROVE THE CAR ON THE STREET AT THE SPEED ABOUT 25MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED! I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PEDAL, IT DIDN'T RESPOND AT ALL. IT SHOWED "DRIVE MANNUALLY' AND THEN SEVERAL LIGHTS WERE ON, EPC, ENGINEER CHECKING LIGHT ETC, LIGHTS WERE OFF A FEW SECONDS LATER. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME AND NOT ON THE FREEWAY! AT THAT MOMENT, THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL, I LET IT MOVE FORWARD THEN PULLED UP. A MINUTE LATER, I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS BACK TO THE NORMAL. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. I TOLD WHAT HAPPENED AND ALSO I FELT IT LACK OF POWER, SOMETIME IT RESPOND SLOWLY. HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, I WAS TOLD NOTHING WRONG WAS BEEN DETECT AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH IT, SINCE THE COMPUTER DIDN'T TELL THERE WERE ANY ISSUES. ALSO I WAS TOLD TAT A MECHANIC TEST DRIVE ABOUT TEN MILES
I PURCHASED A VW GOLF 2020 ON AUGUST 18TH, WHAT HAPPENED TO ME A WEEK LATER NOT ONLY DISAPPOINTED ME BUT ALSO SACRED ME. I DROVE THE CAR ON THE STREET AT THE SPEED ABOUT 25MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED! I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PEDAL, IT DIDN'T RESPOND AT ALL. IT SHOWED "DRIVE MANNUALLY' AND THEN SEVERAL LIGHTS WERE ON, EPC, ENGINEER CHECKING LIGHT ETC, LIGHTS WERE OFF A FEW SECONDS LATER. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME AND NOT ON THE FREEWAY! AT THAT MOMENT, THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL, I LET IT MOVE FORWARD THEN PULLED UP. A MINUTE LATER, I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS BACK TO THE NORMAL. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. I TOLD WHAT HAPPENED AND ALSO I FELT IT LACK OF POWER, SOMETIME IT RESPOND SLOWLY. HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, I WAS TOLD NOTHING WRONG WAS BEEN DETECT AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH IT, SINCE THE COMPUTER DIDN'T TELL THERE WERE ANY ISSUES. ALSO I WAS TOLD TAT A MECHANIC TEST DRIVE ABOUT TEN MILES
I PURCHASED A VW GOLF 2020 ON AUGUST 18TH, WHAT HAPPENED TO ME A WEEK LATER NOT ONLY DISAPPOINTED ME BUT ALSO SACRED ME. I DROVE THE CAR ON THE STREET AT THE SPEED ABOUT 25MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED! I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PEDAL, IT DIDN'T RESPOND AT ALL. IT SHOWED "DRIVE MANNUALLY' AND THEN SEVERAL LIGHTS WERE ON, EPC, ENGINEER CHECKING LIGHT ETC, LIGHTS WERE OFF A FEW SECONDS LATER. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME AND NOT ON THE FREEWAY! AT THAT MOMENT, THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL, I LET IT MOVE FORWARD THEN PULLED UP. A MINUTE LATER, I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS BACK TO THE NORMAL. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. I TOLD WHAT HAPPENED AND ALSO I FELT IT LACK OF POWER, SOMETIME IT RESPOND SLOWLY. HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, I WAS TOLD NOTHING WRONG WAS BEEN DETECT AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH IT, SINCE THE COMPUTER DIDN'T TELL THERE WERE ANY ISSUES. ALSO I WAS TOLD TAT A MECHANIC TEST DRIVE ABOUT TEN MILES
THIS VEHICLE HAS PROXIMITY ALERT AUTOMATIC BRAKING. I EMERGENCY STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHEN THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO, NO HAZARD IN FRONT OF ME. I AM WORKING WITH THE DEALER AND VW TO TRY AND GET THIS DANGEROUS FEATURE PERMANENTLY DISABLED. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK BECAUSE IT EMERGENCY STOPPED THE CAR FOR NO REASON.
Mileage: 180
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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2020 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.