1997 Volkswagen Golf

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Power train3
2. Equipment1
3. Latches/locks/linkages1
4. Structure1
5. Visibility1

Latest complaints

• Aug 10, 2009NY208,800 mi
  Visibility
  I was driving at night bringing a friend home and as I was approaching an off ramp, I felt something burning on my legs. I looked down to try to see what it was and when I looked up, my windshield was completely covered in fog. thankfully there was a shoulder on the exit, so I pulled over…

  I was driving at night bringing a friend home and as I was approaching an off ramp, I felt something burning on my legs. I looked down to try to see what it was and when I looked up, my windshield was completely covered in fog. thankfully there was a shoulder on the exit, so I pulled over and shut the car off and did some investigating. there was a small stream of coolant coming down from behind my dash, and onto the floor. if there had been traffic I don't know what I would have done but, I had to call another friend and come get us at 12:30am on the side of the highway. I did some investigating online and searched for recalls, and I found that the mark 2 jettas and golfs had a heater core recall. I did some further investigating and found out that the mark 2 heatercores and the mark 3 heatercores have the same part number - so why IS there not a recall for the mark 3'S? there are many people online and on a forum called vwvortex.com where there IS at least 40+ reported issues in that small community alone. (http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1593587&page=9). *Tr

• Aug 30, 2005NC81,000 mi
  Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner

  Air conditioning IS leaking condensation into the car, fogging up front window and compromising visibility. Floorboard IS soaked with water, clouding windows. *nm

• Mar 10, 2005CA80,000 mi
  Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift

  Transmission will not shift when needed into higher gears, and sometimes falls out of the proper gear and into a lower gear when it's not supposed to, causing engine to rev way too high while on the freeway. car does not run properly as a result, and I can't really drive it until it's fixed. I tried to have volkswagon fix the known problem, but they refused. *ak

• Mar 9, 2005CA
  Power train › Automatic transmission

  Transmission failed while shifting. Driver pulled over, and noticed that transmission light flashed on and off. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, and mechanic determined that transmission needed to be replaced due to the housing shaft. *ak

• Jun 23, 2004NJ
  Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and attachments

  While inspecting the vehicle consumer noticed four doors' molding separated from vehicle. Consumer glued molding on twice, but problem recurred. Dealership and manufacturer were contacted.*ak

• Apr 22, 2004CT
  Power train › Automatic transmission

  Automatic transmission, when the engine IS "cold" the transmission does not shift in to gear properly. it usually gets stuck between gears, if you step on the gas at the time between gears the car will buck violently as it shifts. even though it has happend many times I will list the date it happened last. *ak

• Jan 6, 2004IN30,000 mi
  Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch

  Automatic door lock intermittently malfunctioned in cold temperatures. door knob popped up, but the door failed to open automatically or manually. As a result, consumer was trapped in or locked out of the vehicle. the cause of the failure had not been determined. *ak

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 10241340Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standard VW 502 00/505 00/505 01 and VW 504 00/507 00
• 10241266Squeaks, Rattles, Noise, Repair Materials
• 10241265Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
• 10241177Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
• 10239789To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open in the grid line. The check must be performed with the engine running and heated rear window switched on. Switch OFF the ignition and visually locate the damage. Proceed with checking any other lines as necessary. Once the damaged line is identified, repair utilizing the Repair kit by Permatex ITEM 09117.
• 10239592Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
• 10239591Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
• 10239590Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
• 10237427Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
• 10235138Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
• 10213836Airbag Issues.
• 10193577Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)
• 10174476Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.
• 10159016Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standards
• 10159014Alternative method for radio code retrieval.
• 10159010The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.
• 10158533Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses. TB updated to include model year 2019 applicability.
• 10157828Updated to include model year 2014 thru 2018 applicability.
• 10157383VAS 6154 Replacement Part Setup Guide
• 10157302Updated to include model year 2014 thru 2018 applicability.
• 10155644This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.
• 10150856Engine replacement tip
• 1013334417 17 01 July 5, 2017 2012855 Supersedes Technical Bulletin 17-16-02 (V171602) dated April 29, 2016 due to updated oil standards lists to current specifications. Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standards
• 10128105This document contains the VW Elsa Newsletter that contains a general overview of wiring diagrams updates, technical bulletins, pending service solutions, tech tips, campaigns, updates, and suggestions.
• 10128104This document contains the VW Elsa Newsletter that contains a general overview of wiring diagrams updates, ElsaPro infomedia icons grayed out, workshop equipment tool storage application, technical bulletins, pending service solutions, tech tips, campaigns, updates, and suggestions.
• 10128055This communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest inbound and outbound ProFi requests.
• 10127969Data Link connector pin assignment chart that is applicable to all models. Update model year applicability.
• 10126785Update model year applicability to include 2017.
• 10125850Golf Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections: A checklist to insure a customer receives a wonderful delivery of a vehicle that looks, feels, and meets the expectations of a new vehicle that he/she has purchased
• 10125765Golf Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections: A checklist to insure a customer receives a wonderful delivery of a vehicle that looks, feels, and meets the expectations of a new vehicle that he/she has purchased
• 10125661Update to existing tip for fuel quality checking.
• 10124348Technical Bulletin (Squeaks, Rattles, Noise, Repair Materials): This doucment contains a list of components and applications developed to repair concerns of squeaks, rattles, noise and trim fit conditions.
• 10124287Technical Bulletin (Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation): Exterior light assemblies (headlights, taillights, fog lights, turn signals) are vented and may collect moisture on their inner surfaces, depending on humidity and other climatic changes. This document discusses necessary to diagnosis, and potential remedy of the issue.
• 10122956Tech Tips (Heated Rear Window, One or More Lines Inoperative): To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open in the grid line. The check must be performed with the engine running and heated rear window switched on. Switch OFF the ignition and visually locate the damage.
• 10122255Golf/GTI Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections:
• 10122240Tech Tips (Heated Rear Window, One or More Lines Inoperative): To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open in the grid line. This document informs of how to diagnose the issue and tips on servicing the issue
• 10121257Technical Bulletin: Condensation and or water droplets becomming visible on inside of exterior light lenses issue is discussed in this document
• 10120329Technical Bulletin (Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standard): This document informs of a sample list of products generally available in the North American market that meet the Volkswagen Oil Quality Standard
• 10120169Technical Bulletin (Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation): This document informs of the Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses. The document also informs how to service the issue.
• 10026848Volkswagen: exhaust heat shield, replacement guidelines. Heat shields are to be inspected after completion o any type of repair to the underbody (exhaust system transmission, etc.), and if damaged, replaced.

Every Volkswagen Golf model year

Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.