2019 Volkswagen Golf r problems

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The Volkswagen Golf (Mk7) is a C-segment car manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen. It is the seventh generation in the Golf series and the successor to the Golf Mk6. It was introduced in Berlin on 4 September 2012, before a public launch at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Sales in Europe began with the model in November 2012.

Marketed in three-door and five-door hatchback, van, and estate forms, the Golf Mk7 shares the MQB platform with the third generation Audi A3, SEAT León and Škoda Octavia.

In November 2016, Volkswagen presented a facelift of the Golf Mk7. It was replaced in December 2019 by the Golf Mk8, which is built on the MQB Evo platform. Production of the e-Golf and the Golf Variant ended in mid-2020.

2019 Volkswagen Golf r

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Common 2019 Volkswagen Golf r problems

The Volkswagen Golf R 2019 is a high-performance hatchback that offers a thrilling driving experience. However, like any vehicle, it can have certain issues that owners have reported. Here are some common problems with the 2019 Volkswagen Golf R, based on complaints from owners:

  1. DSG Automatic Gearbox Problems: Some early 2019 Golf R models may have issues with the DSG automatic gearbox. These problems can include jerky or rough gear changes, and in some cases, temperamental behavior. It's essential to check that the gearbox changes smoothly and there are no signs of these issues when test driving the car.
  2. Timing Chain Issues: Petrol engines in the Golf R have been known to have problems with the timing chain, which can snap prematurely and cause significant engine damage. Regular servicing and maintenance can help prevent this issue, and a full service history is critical.
  3. High Oil Consumption: Some Golf R models can suffer from high oil consumption, which can lead to engine damage if the oil level gets too low. Regularly checking the oil level and maintaining it between services is crucial to prevent any engine damage.
  4. Electrical Niggles: Faults with the navigation and entertainment system, as well as other electrical issues, have been reported on some 2019 Golf R models. It's essential to check that all the electrics work as they should, including the interior and exterior lights, warning lights, and other electrical accessories.
  5. Thermostat Housing Issues: The thermostat housing is a known issue in the Golf R, with build-up on the intake valves and a PCV system that can clog. These issues typically occur within the first 120,000 miles, and replacing the intake manifold is the usual solution.
  6. Haldex and DSG Fluids: Regularly changing the Haldex and DSG fluids is essential to maintain the Golf R's performance and reliability.
  7. Factory Rims: Some of the factory rims, especially the 19-inch rims, can be fragile, particularly on poor roads.
  8. Door Electrical Harness Failure: A few owners have reported issues with the door electrical harness, which can cause the engine control module to falsely alert for an open door while driving. This issue is typically covered under warranty.
  9. Minor Niggles: Some owners have reported minor issues such as blown fuses, hlove box hinge detaching, and right side mirror needing replacing due to a non-functioning blind spot light.

In summary, while the Volkswagen Golf R 2019 is a high-performance hatchback that offers an exhilarating driving experience, it's essential to be aware of these common problems and check for them when buying a used Golf R. Regular servicing and maintenance can help prevent many of these issues, and a full service history is critical.

2019 Volkswagen Golf r engine

What is the common issue with Golf R?

Carbon buildup: The Volkswagen Golf R is known to experience carbon buildup in the intake valves, which can lead to engine misfires and reduced performance. Water pump failure: Some Volkswagen Golf R owners have reported water pump failure, which can cause overheating and engine damage.

How long will a Golf R engine last?

How long do Volkswagen Golf engines last? A well cared for Golf engine can last as long as a decade, but the average engine that's encountered heavy use and potential wear and tear through its lifespan should last at least 5 years before it develops the need for a little TLC.

Is the Golf R DSG reliable?

Are DSG gearboxes reliable? DSG gearboxes have proven themselves to be very reliable both in six, and seven-speed variants.

Is the Golf R good on fuel?

And so, it seems, do miles when you're driving a car that has a lot going for it. As you'll have read above, the Golf R's performance and fuel economy have struck an impressive balance, averaging more than 35mpg to this point, while offering the potential to thoroughly excite on back roads.

2019 Volkswagen Golf r car problems categorized by type of issue

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

  • Forward collision avoidance problems
  • Unknown or other problems
  • Wheels problems
  • Electrical system problems
  • Electronic stability control (esc) problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2019 Volkswagen Golf r vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2019 Volkswagen Golf r complaints

The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2019 Volkswagen Golf r.

2023-09-20

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-09-02
  • VIN: WVWWA7AU3KW
  • Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
  • Summary: Design defect - impossible to disable active cruise control, and use regular/traditional cruise control. If adaptive cruise control sensor becomes dirty, it does not work, and there’s no option to use regular cruise control. This is a design flaw which VW rectified with new (2021+) models. VW should offer a software update to correct this defect, to allow a driver to toggle between ACC and traditional cruise control.
2023-07-20

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-07-20
  • VIN: WVWWA7AU0KW
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: The issue was the key fob was not detected. I put my bag in the front seat of the car and shut the door, I then put my 19month old son in her car seat and shut the door. When I shut the rear car door the hazard lights flashed as if the car had locked. I went to the driver door and tried to open the car door and it wouldn’t open. Despite the key being in the car (with batteries I never had any notices about a low battery) my son was now locked in the car. Luckily the fire department responded quickly, the key worked fine upon recovery but it took front start to end 30mins for my son to get out of the car. If we had been in a hot parking lot or somewhere else in the country this could’ve been potentially dangerous for any child.
2022-07-11

WHEELS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-07-08
  • VIN: WVWWA7AU2KW
  • Components: WHEELS
  • Summary: During annual state inspection on 7/8/22, tech found that the right rear wheel (19" VW Pretoria Gloss Black Alloy Wheels) was bent on both the inside and outside. Unsafe to drive. Wheel had to be replaced. Do not recall hitting any pothole or road hazard that might have caused this damage to the wheel. Apparently, other owners of this model car have also experienced bent rims. This may be a manufacturing defect or a design flaw, in that the wheels cannot withstand the forces transmitted from stock low profile tires (235/35ZR-19).
2021-05-08

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-05-07
  • VIN: WVWVA7AUXKW
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE VEHICLE'S FUSE SYSTEM. THE GOLF R CAME WITH NO SPARE TIRE BUT AN AIR PUMP, WHICH NEEDS TO BE POWERED BY THE 12V DC POWER OF THE VEHICLE. BUT WHEN I USE THIS ORIGINAL AIR PUMP, THE FUSE OF THE 12V DC POWER BURNS OUT. THIS HAPPENED FOR SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I HAD THE CAR IN OCTOBER, 2019. THE DEALER CAN ONLY GIVE ME NEW FUSE TO REPLACE THE BROKEN ONE. MANY GOLF R'S OWNERS MET THIS SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I THINK THERE IS SOME ISSUES WITH THEIR FUSE SYSTEM DESIGN.
2020-09-29

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2020-09-25
  • VIN: WVWVA7AU1KW
  • Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: FOUR TIMES OVER THE LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH STRAIGHT DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, I EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT OF THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING, AND ONE OF THOSE FOUR TIMES, 4 DAYS AGO, I ADDITIONALLY EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT OF THE FRONT ASSIST EMERGENCY BRAKING WHICH CAUSED ME ALARM, AS THE SPEED DROPPED DRAMATICALLY FROM 35 MPH TO 20 MPH, AND I HAD TO BE SURE NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME TO CAUSE A REAR-END COLLISION. IN NONE OF THESE SITUATIONS WERE THERE ANY HAZARDS ON THE ROAD TO AVOID: CARS, PEDESTRIANS, OBJECTS. IN ALL OF THESE SITUATIONS, CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT 35 MPH. THE SENSOR IS NOT DIRTY. THE ERROR IS NOT CONSISTENT IN THE TIMING OF WHEN IT HAPPENS. WHEN THE FRONT ASSIST EMERGENCY BRAKING ENGAGED, THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING DID NOT APPEAR UNTIL ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER, WHEN THE ROAD WAS ALSO CLEAR AND MY SPEED WAS 35 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FROM AUGUST 2020 THAT DESCRIBES MY SITUATION ALMOST EXACTLY: HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2020/VW-FRONT-ASSIST-CLASS-ACTION-LAWSUIT-BRAKING.SHTML I HAVE NOT TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AS OF YET, BUT BASED UPON SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, I DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO DO MORE THAN PROFESSIONALLY SHRUG.

2019 Volkswagen Golf r recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 2019 Volkswagen Golf r.

2022-10-31
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
  • Summary: 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 tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
  • Consequence: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi’s customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
2021-05-05
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
  • Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
  • Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.

Negative 2019 Volkswagen Golf r car reviews

  1. Dennis Hammes 2024-11-23

    The standard seats were uncomfortable, especially considering the 40k price tag.

  2. Logan Weber 2024-10-15

    As a long-time GTI/GLI driver, I have always appreciated the value for money that these cars offer, especially the GTI. However, when I first heard about the Golf R a couple of years ago, I couldn't help but dream of owning one. Recently, that dream became a reality and I was excited to get behind the wheel. Unfortunately, after an hour or two of driving, I found myself feeling disappointed. While the Golf R has its strengths, it's important for GTI owners to understand that there are some downsides to upgrading. For one, the handling of the GTI is unmatched and the fuel efficiency is hard to beat. With the Golf R, you can feel the extra weight in the back where the AWD mechanisms are working, which can make it feel like you're hauling a trailer. Additionally, the fuel efficiency is not as impressive as the GTI's, which can be frustrating. That being said, the Golf R does have some advantages, such as improved tracking and a great navigation system. However, it's important to note that there are some differences between the two cars, such as the need to bring your own spare tire with the Golf R and the front end cruise control accident assist that may take some getting used to. Overall, while the Golf R is a great car, it's important to consider all factors before making the switch from the GTI.In concept, it's a great car. However, after about 30 minutes in, I found myself wanting to go back to my old GTI (fortunately my wish was granted). I want to clarify that this is not a knock on the car, but rather a warning to GTI drivers who are considering this as a GTI upgrade. The Golf R is a different car with different strengths and weaknesses, some of which I couldn't accept.

  3. Allen Murazik 2024-10-08

    After 2,000 miles, I have to say that I'm not a fan of this car. Unfortunately, everything rattles, from the back seat to the front passenger seat, and even the middle armrest. There's even something rattling in the ceiling and behind the back armrest. The front driver side window also rattles, which can be quite annoying. Additionally, I've noticed that every time I try to enter something on Google maps using the keyboard, a nonsensical message about the keyboard pops up, preventing me from using it for a few seconds. If the passenger uses the touchscreen while I'm driving, the screen freezes and displays a message about safety, which can be distracting. While it's not particularly fast or quick, it does have some good features on paper.

Positive 2019 Volkswagen Golf r car reviews

  1. Damian Bogan 2025-01-01

    Before I purchased the R, I was considering a newer GTI. However, after test driving the R, I was blown away by its performance. The little 2L 4 cylinder engine never fails to put a smile on my face every time I give it gas, and the awesome AWD complements it perfectly when taking harsh corners. In my opinion, the Golf R is better than the GTI in every way, except for the price. The R has exceeded my expectations in every aspect, from performance to comfort and technology. One of my favourite things about the R is its style. It is not all sporty and flashy like the red accents on the GTI. Instead, it is more reserved and blends well with the crowd, until you get on it, of course. Overall, I highly recommend the Golf R over the GTI if you have a little extra in your spending range.

  2. Derick Heaney 2024-10-07

    You've got yourself a winner with this car! The chassis is excellent, the steering provides great feedback, and the induction noise is just perfect. The sleek Mk7 aesthetics are a real treat for the eyes. The interior quality is miles better than the top-trim Mk8 Golf R, and the entire package offers a driving experience that is truly unique to the Mk7, especially with the dual-clutch transmission. This car is perfect if you're looking for something that can make you smile and laugh like an idiot in all conditions while providing an engaging driving experience and practical construction.

  3. Cale Bailey 2024-09-25

    This car is solid, quick, handles great and is really fun to drive. I'm 65 years old and it makes me smile every day!

  4. Jerry Connelly 2024-09-19

    This vehicle has 5 doors that not only make it practical but also enhance its performance and engineering components. I can assure you that it's not just a GTI, it's a flying box! 😀

  5. Kayden Schneider 2024-09-03

    The car is expensive, but definitely worth the investment. It's the only car I've ever bought new, aside from a slightly used 15 Challenger Scat Pack with 3K on it, formerly owned by Shaquille O'Neal. I've been driving the Dodge since July 2016 as my daily driver, but I still own older vehicles like an Expedition, Legacy, and an Infiniti G37. None of them make me feel the way the R does. Both the Dodge and the Golf R are fast, with 485 HP, but driving the Dodge feels like a workout at the gym. I've hit 174mph in it with 2 friends coming from A.C., but when I drive them back to back, I prefer the luxury and refinement of the R. I drive the Golf like I stole it, racing everybody who lines up at the light here in Philly. I've never lost once, maybe I just haven't met the right opponent yet, but with the AWD, no RWD V8 is getting past me if it's wet. I've put 3.5k on it in 3 months, highway and city daily, and haven't met anybody going faster than me yet. I don't want to run into problems with the 72k 6-year warranty, but once I get the APR tune, I know a non-resonated downpipe and REMUS or AWE exhaust will be soon to follow. The car just instills confidence to go fast without a worry or doubt that it'll end up BAD. Maybe I should've waited for a slightly used 18 before paying the new 19 price, but at the end of the day, it's worth it for now. Will I feel that way in a couple of years? Time will tell...

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Other years of Volkswagen Golf r

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Golf r 2022
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Golf r 2023
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Golf r 2012
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Golf r 2013
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Golf r 2016
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