2018 Volkswagen E-golf problems

General information about Volkswagen-E-golf
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list
Recalls list
Negative car reviews
Positive car reviews

The Volkswagen Golf is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) produced by the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across eight generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – including as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada (Mk1 and Mk5), and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico (Mk1).

The original Golf Mk1 was a front-engined, front-wheel drive replacement for the air-cooled, rear-engined, rear-wheel drive Volkswagen Beetle. Historically, the Golf is Volkswagen's best-selling model and is among the world's top three best-selling models, with more than 35 million units sold as of 2019.

Initially, most Golfs were 3-door hatchbacks. Other variants include a 5-door hatchback, estate (Variant, from 1993), convertible (Cabriolet and Cabrio, 1979–2002, Cabriolet, 2011–present), and a Golf-based saloon, called the Jetta, Vento (from 1992) or Bora (from 1999). The Golf covers economy to high-performance market segments.

The Golf has won awards, including the World Car of the Year in 2009, with the Mk6 and in 2013 with the Mk7. Along with the Renault Clio and the Vauxhall Astra, the Golf is one of only three cars to have won European Car of the Year twice, in 1992 and 2013. The Golf has made the annual Car and Driver 10Best list multiple times. The Mk7 won the Motor Trend Car of the Year award in 2015, and the Mk1 GTI also won the award in 1985. The Mk4 won for the best-selling car in Europe in 2001.

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Common 2018 Volkswagen E-golf problems

Based on complaints from owners of the Volkswagen e-Golf 2018, here are some common problems reported:

Battery Health and Range: Some owners have experienced issues with battery health and range, which are crucial for an electric vehicle's performance and usability. Maintaining the battery's health is essential for optimal performance and longevity.
Charging Equipment Problems: Reports have highlighted difficulties with the onboard charging system, including slow charging or charging failure. This can be inconvenient and impact the vehicle's usability, especially for daily charging needs.
Infotainment System Malfunctions: Owners have reported glitches with the e-Golf's infotainment system, such as freezing or failure to boot up. A malfunctioning infotainment system can affect the overall driving experience and convenience.
Brake System Concerns: Some complaints have mentioned problems with the brake system, including noise and less responsive braking. Brake issues are critical for safety and require prompt attention to ensure the vehicle's safe operation.
Front Assist Problems: The collision avoidance technology in the e-Golf has been reported to detect objects that don't exist, leading to sudden braking and potentially endangering occupants. This safety concern needs to be addressed promptly to prevent accidents.
Electrical System Issues: Electrical problems, such as unexpected shutdowns of the electric drive motor due to electrical surges, have been reported. These issues can impact the vehicle's reliability and safety, requiring thorough diagnostics and repairs.
Recall Concerns: The e-Golf has been subject to recalls related to various issues, including programming errors affecting vehicle lights, door child lock disengagement, and front-wheel bearing housing problems. It's crucial for owners to ensure that any necessary recall work has been completed for safety reasons.

These reported problems highlight the importance of regular maintenance, adherence to manufacturer guidelines, and prompt attention to any issues that arise to ensure the longevity and reliability of the Volkswagen e-Golf 2018 model.

How reliable is the VW e-Golf?

Reliability Survey, the e-Golf managed an impressive third-place finish out of 14 cars in the electric car category. As a brand, Volkswagen came 22nd out of 32 manufacturers featured.

Why did Volkswagen stop making the e-Golf?

At the time, VW also confirmed that it wasn't looking into coming out with a new version of the e-Golf with the Mk 8 Golf, as the brand was looking to expand on its ID lineup of EVs. While VW was quick to discontinue the e-Golf to switch its focus to ID-badged EVs, the model could be making a comeback in the future.

Is the e-Golf worth it?

Overall verdict on the Volkswagen e-Golf. "The Volkswagen e-Golf is the ideal introduction to electric cars. It feels just like a more refined version of the (already ultra-refined) Volkswagen Golf. It doesn't shout about its electric credentials, but it's superb to drive and comes well kitted out for the money.

How long does an e-Golf last?

Volkswagen e-Golf Economy and Emissions

A real-life range of 150 miles rather than 100 miles makes an electric car so much more useable, especially if your driving takes in occasional motorway journeys. You can charge the e-Golf from a standard household three-pin socket, but a full charge takes 17 hours.

How reliable is Volkswagen e-Golf?

The Volkswagen e-Golf has generally proven to be a reliable electric vehicle, especially in the later model years. With improvements made over time, Volkswagen has addressed earlier issues, leading to a more dependable and well-rounded vehicle. However, vwproblems.com only ranks the e-Golf as 6th out of 28.

Is the e-Golf worth it?

Why did Volkswagen stop making the e-Golf?

How long does an e-Golf last?

Volkswagen e-Golf Economy and Emissions

2018 Volkswagen E-golf car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volkswagen E-golf problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Unknown or other problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2018 Volkswagen E-golf vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2018 Volkswagen E-golf complaints

The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2018 Volkswagen E-golf.

2020-03-04

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2020-02-26
Number Of Injuries: 2
VIN: WVWKR7AU2JW
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Summary: THE CHROME TRIM PIECE AROUND THE SHIFTER OF MY 2018 VW EGOLF IS VERY SHARP. IT ORIGINALLY CUT MY DAUGHTER BUT WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IN THE CAR HAD DONE SO. THEN IT HAPPENED TO ME AS I WAS REACHING FOR MY PHONE IN THE "CUBBY" NEXT TO THE TRIM.

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2018 Volkswagen E-golf recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2018 Volkswagen E-golf.

2018-11-14

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Components: SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf and Golf R vehicles, and Audi A3 Sedan and RS3 vehicles. The rear seat frame head restraint guide sleeves may be incorrectly welded to the seat frame.
Consequence: If the guide sleeves are incorrectly welded, in the event of a crash, the rear seat head restraints may have reduced stability, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners, and dealers will inspect the guide sleeves for incorrect welds, replacing the rear seat frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72H8 (VW) and 72H9(Audi).

Negative 2018 Volkswagen E-golf car reviews

Kyler Thiel 2025-04-12

I purchased (leased) this car brand new and drove it for three years, putting approximately 36,000 miles on it. The car has many pros, including its amazing appearance, smooth driving experience, and excellent functionality. It possesses all the benefits of the Golf, such as exceptional handling, comfortable seating in both the front and back, a great view of the road, and a surprising amount of space for both passengers and cargo. You don't realize how well-balanced this car is until you compare it to almost any other car. The electric charging feature saved me a significant amount of money. Additionally, the car was very reliable. However, there were some cons. The range was a little over 80 miles in the summer and under 60 miles in the winter, even with the heater frequently turned off. As this was my only car, the limited range was a significant, lifestyle-altering issue. Fortunately, fast chargers began popping up in Portland during my ownership, which made life a bit easier. The charging cord melted, and it took several days to replace it under warranty. It was also frustrating to have to take the car for maintenance every 10K miles and get charged dealership fees for a simple electric check. About two years in, I attempted to sell the car, but the leasing agreement made the process extremely difficult, and I eventually gave up. VW Credit was a pain from beginning to end. At the end of the lease, they charged me a $350 fee for returning the vehicle, which felt like they had me by the neck from the time I signed the agreement. They were going to take advantage of me and didn't care if I would be a returning customer. If you meet the following conditions, I highly recommend this car: it is the second car in your household, you avoid VW Credit, you install a Level 2 Charger at your home, and you live in an area that is friendly towards electric vehicles. If you meet these conditions, I think you will LOVE this car!
Isac Hauck 2025-03-12

Despite encountering some issues with my car, I am confident that it will be resolved soon. After experiencing an electronic error, I had to have it towed to a dealer 3 miles away. Although the only person who could work on it quit, I remained optimistic and took it to a dealer in Denver. However, they were unable to diagnose the issue and sent it to Oxnard. While I am still waiting for updates on my car's status, I am confident that it will be resolved soon. I have come across similar complaints on forums, but I trust that my car will be fixed and I will be able to sell it.
Brook Gulgowski 2025-02-27

Congratulations on your new car! Although it may not have the best gas mileage for Los Angeles, it handles beautifully and can easily go over potholes and bumps. I understand your concerns about the distance and charging, but I'm sure with regular charging you'll be able to make it to work and back. Thank you for sharing your experience and I hope you continue to enjoy your car!
Kennith Champlin 2025-01-28

I really enjoyed driving the e-Golf! It exceeded my expectations with its handling and acceleration, making it a cute and agile option for both city roads and highways. Plus, the prospect of only paying $1.4 for my 45-mile daily commute is very promising. However, I wouldn't recommend this model year to others due to a few pain points. Firstly, the CarNet service, which allows you to lock/unlock the car, activate A/C, and manage charging schedules, has never been able to communicate with my car. This renders the service completely useless. Secondly, the delay charging feature, which is essential for utilizing the low electric rate in California, often fails to work. This has resulted in me waking up to an uncharged battery and having to drive with ECO+ mode, which turns off the AC/Heater and can be quite uncomfortable. Despite these issues, I still think the e-Golf is a great car.
Samir Donnelly 2024-11-25

I work 9 miles from home and have to charge my car every night. Unfortunately, due to the bumper to bumper traffic, the 107 mile fully charged battery drops down to 87 within 10 minutes and then down to 55 before I get home. It takes 22 hours to fully charge, so I have to charge it every night for 12 hours and hope that it is fully charged. Although I was told by sales to “realistically” expect 100 miles per charge, not the 126 advertised, I still enjoy driving it. However, I have experienced some issues with the delay function. I put it on for the first time and in the morning, my car was still at 55. Overall, I am still happy with my purchase despite these minor setbacks.

Positive 2018 Volkswagen E-golf car reviews

Walton Witting 2025-04-13

I purchased this car about a year and a half ago and I have absolutely fallen in love with it. It handles incredibly well around corners and the acceleration is impressively fast, giving me tons of confidence when making turns on busy roads. Using this car for all of our local trips has saved us thousands of dollars. I can honestly say that driving any gas-powered car is now a disappointment. However, there are a few points to keep in mind. Firstly, this car is a commuter car and is not designed for long journeys. We use it to commute to work every day, run errands, and for weekend fun around town. Think of it like a pair of comfortable everyday shoes: you can wear the same pair every day, they are comfortable, they do their job, they are stylish, but you might not want to wear them for everything. Let them be your everyday shoes that you love, but don't get mad when you realize they don't work for running marathons or climbing mountains. Secondly, you have to get used to the EV lifestyle. You need to get used to plugging in your car pretty much every night (depending on your commute) to make sure you have enough charge to go wherever you need to go. However, planning ahead can save you tons of pain. Know what you're doing the next day so you can map out how far you're going. What is the distance to and from? Does your destination have a charger? Should you throw your charger in the trunk to plug in? Did you plug in the distance into Google maps before heading out? Are there any fast chargers near my destination in case I need a little more juice? Little things like that have saved me a lot of trouble. And stopping for a quick charge really isn't a huge nuisance if you factor in all that time you don't spend at the gas pump anymore. I would say that 90% of my trips I don't even need to think about charging, I can go and come back without even thinking; I can go about 130-150km on a full charge.However, planning ahead can make all the difference when it comes to taking advantage of charging stations and going a little further. By doing a few minutes of research the day before, you can save yourself hours. It's important to appreciate the car for what it is: an affordable EV. While the range may not be as good as the Teslas or newer EV models coming out, this car was a fraction of the price of any other EV. At the time of purchase, it was about 60% cheaper than a used Tesla. It's also important to have access to a gas-powered car. By getting a more affordable EV, you are sacrificing range and the convenience of being able to fill up a gas tank and continue on. If you want to do a road trip, consider trading with someone who has a gas car or make sure one of your family's cars is gas-powered. Car maintenance is next to none, with only a few things to keep an eye on such as your tires, windshield wiper fluid, wipers, air filter, and brakes. All of which are easily done by yourself. This car saves you time and money in more ways than most people realize.There are routine inspections that you can do with a VW dealership every 10,000km. Although it costs $200-300, it is still a fraction compared to the maintenance costs of any gas car (oil changes, brakes, belts, tubes, clips, fluids, anything else that breaks down, etc). The regenerative braking system is amazing. Once you get used to what VW calls 'B Mode', which is the strongest version of this car's regenerative braking modes, you won't be able to go back. This car can stop/slow down much quicker than most cars which is not only safer, but makes driving a whole new experience. The second you take your foot off the accelerator, the car starts slowing down quite rapidly. I've actually driven a Tesla before and I like the e-golf version better, I find it less aggressive and more smooth. This has saved me from accidents and also just becomes a new, natural, smoother way to drive. No more head bobs from pressing the brake too soft or heavy. The fact that it absorbs the energy and puts it back into the battery is just a bonus. Overall, I love this car.
Laverne Koch 2025-03-29

The car drives great and has good handling. It's a gas saver and perfect for driving around town. The only issue I've noticed is a clicking noise during braking, but I'm not sure if that's normal or not.
Weldon Lang 2025-03-08

I was looking for a second car for electric commuting to supplement my old Subaru. After extensive research, I found that the e-Golf was the best option for my twisty Highway 17 commute, and it turned out to be the right decision. The design is solid, the ride is quiet and comfortable, and the handling is good. Although, the front tires may spin if the accelerator is hit hard. The range is generally 80 miles, even with mostly highway driving using the A/C. I usually charge it at home on a standard outlet and recover the 60 miles used in about 15 hours. The updated infotainment system on the 2016 models is really nice and does CarPlay. However, I was disappointed to realize that the base SE has no steering wheel button to activate Siri, and it also lacks cruise control.
Marshall Lindgren 2025-01-16

The eGolf by VW was designed to be almost identical to the gas version of the car. It's not one of those cheap feeling, light vehicles that drive like a shopping cart, as some e-Cars do. With greater acceleration than the GTI from 0 to 30 mph, it gives you a great sense of driving confidence when you pull out of an intersection to oncoming traffic. The handling is superb, and the entertainment system and driver controls are nicely configured. In warm weather, I get over 100 miles on a charge while going less than highway speeds. Although in cold weather with lots of highways, this can drop considerably to say 70 miles per charge, it still works great for me since my commute is less than 50 miles per day. I've heard that the 2018 model will add about 30% to the range, which is good news. However, I find that most of my driving is well within the range of this car. Even though VW will need to compete with other electrics that promise 200+ miles, I still think that the eGolf is just a really fun car to drive and has given me no problems in 2 years. I'm even thinking of buying it when the lease ends next year!
Bo Ziemann 2025-01-02

When using the heater, it will drain the battery and reduce the range to around 60 miles. To improve my mileage, I turn off the heater and use regeneration stage 1 when I'm not accelerating in traffic. The only other high voltage battery usage is for the AC. If I need more time on the battery while driving around town, I slow down. That's why this car gives more miles in the city than on the highway. Currently, my only issue is the battery capacity, but I plan to buy a car with better battery capacity soon.