2013 Volkswagen Golf problems
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 2013 Volkswagen Golf problems
The Volkswagen Golf 2013 is known for several common problems that have been reported by its owners. These issues range from mechanical faults to electrical glitches, affecting the overall driving experience and safety of the vehicle.
- Premature Failure of Rear Wheel Bearing Housings: Some Volkswagen Golf 2013 owners have reported premature failure of rear wheel bearing housings, which may be due to incorrect manufacturing. This issue can lead to a noisy or rough ride, and may require replacement of the affected parts.
- Passenger Airbag May Not Deploy as Intended: There have been reports of the passenger airbag not deploying as intended in the Volkswagen Golf 2013. This safety concern is likely caused by a fault in the airbag system, which can put occupants at risk in the event of a collision.
- Front Brake Discs May Not Be Correct Thickness: The front brake discs in the Volkswagen Golf 2013 may not be of the correct thickness, which can affect the vehicle's braking performance and safety. This issue is likely caused by a manufacturing or assembly error, and may require replacement of the affected parts.
- Insecure Head Restraint: Some Volkswagen Golf 2013 owners have reported insecure head restraints, which can affect the safety of the vehicle's occupants in the event of a collision. This issue is likely caused by a fault in the head restraint's design or assembly, and may require replacement of the affected parts.
- Faulty Crash Sensors: Volkswagen issued a recall for the 2021 to 2023 Golf models due to faulty crash sensors for the airbag and restraint system fitted to some vehicles' front doors. This safety concern affected 124 cars, which had their sensors replaced.
- Infotainment System Glitches: The touchscreen infotainment system in the Volkswagen Golf 2021 to 2023 models has been reported to be slow to respond or fail to respond at all. This issue is likely caused by a software glitch, which can be fixed with a software update.
- Faulty Water Pump: Some Volkswagen Golf 2013 owners have reported issues with the water pump, which can lead to the car going into "limp-home" mode. This issue is likely caused by a fault in the water pump's design or assembly, and may require replacement of the affected parts.
- Catalytic Converter Pre-Heating Noise: There have been reports of a noise caused by the catalytic converter pre-heating, which is achieved with an increased idle speed and altered ignition timing. This issue is likely caused by a design feature, and may require monitoring or replacement of the affected parts.
In conclusion, the Volkswagen Golf 2013 has several common problems that can affect its performance, safety, and reliability. These issues range from mechanical faults to electrical glitches, and may require replacement of affected parts or software updates. It is important for Volkswagen Golf 2013 owners to be aware of these issues and take appropriate action to address them, to ensure the safety and reliability of their vehicle.
Is the 2013 Golf a reliable car?
Petrol models received a reliability rating of 90.4%, while diesel ones 92.5%. As a whole, this generation of Golf should be more reliable than the rival Skoda Scala, but less reliable than the current Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla. As a car brand, Volkswagen placed 22nd out of 32 manufacturers featured.
Is Volkswagen Golf a reliable car?
Its reliability score was 90.4%. As a car brand, VW ranked 22nd out of 32 manufacturers. The largest concern is electric issues, of which 5% of owners that took part in the survey cited as something they've experienced with their Golf. Problems with the exhaust followed behind, with 3.3% of owners commenting on this.
How long will a VW Golf engine last?
Most Volkswagen vehicles will last between 100,000 and 200,000 miles, although well-kept models can last even longer than that. All VWs are remarkably reliable vehicles. When it comes to longevity, the Golf, Passat, Jetta, and Beetle are known to be particularly long-lasting.
Is Volkswagen Golf high maintenance?
According to RepairPal, Volkswagen maintenance costs are only slightly more expensive than average. Volkswagen maintenance and repairs cost about $676 per year while the industry average is $652.
Is the 2013 Golf a reliable car?
Petrol models received a reliability rating of 90.4%, while diesel ones 92.5%. As a whole, this generation of Golf should be more reliable than the rival Skoda Scala, but less reliable than the current Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla. As a car brand, Volkswagen placed 22nd out of 32 manufacturers featured.
Is Volkswagen Golf a reliable car?
Its reliability score was 90.4%. As a car brand, VW ranked 22nd out of 32 manufacturers. The largest concern is electric issues, of which 5% of owners that took part in the survey cited as something they've experienced with their Golf. Problems with the exhaust followed behind, with 3.3% of owners commenting on this.
Is Volkswagen Golf high maintenance?
According to RepairPal, Volkswagen maintenance costs are only slightly more expensive than average. Volkswagen maintenance and repairs cost about $676 per year while the industry average is $652.
How long will a VW Golf engine last?
Most Volkswagen vehicles will last between 100,000 and 200,000 miles, although well-kept models can last even longer than that. All VWs are remarkably reliable vehicles. When it comes to longevity, the Golf, Passat, Jetta, and Beetle are known to be particularly long-lasting.
2013 Volkswagen Golf car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volkswagen Golf problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
- Air bags problems
- Electrical system problems
- Service brakes problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2013 Volkswagen Golf vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2013 Volkswagen Golf
The NHTSA has received 43 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2013 Volkswagen Golf. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2013 Volkswagen Golf vehicles.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-02-10
- VIN: WVWGD7AJ1DW
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: i was driving down the freeway on the way to work at 75 mph when all of a sudden my EPC went off in my 2013 volkswagon gti my entire car shut down (manual transmission) i lost all steering ability while on the freeway going 75 mph i couldn't get over to the shoulder due to loss of brakes due to entire car shutting down .i was almost smashed by a semi due to inability to steer my vehicle to total loss of power . i got the vehicle towed to a service shop they tell me that my timing chain had stretched and timing chain tensioner has failed, which caused significant damage to my engine . i bought the vehicle used and have taken meticulous car on it since i have owned it 3k oil changes ,proper oil ,proper, premium gas as notated milage based maintenance. the service center then notifies me that there was a class action lawsuit about failing timing chains and tensioners but when i called my local volkswagon dealership they told me it only covers up to125,000 miles but what i don't understand is that this issue almost cost me my life this is a known issue hence a class action lawsuit but to actually take care of the situation they refuse to do so i do enjoy the vehicle but i almost lost my life
EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-12-01
- VIN: WVWMM7AJ0DW
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: The low beam headlamp burned out. I replaced the bulb successfully, but then the headlamp needed adjustment to be aimed properly with the new bulb. I found instructions online to aim the headlamp. There are three adjustment points, covering both low and high beams, according to the online document. I will try to attach photo of this document. The three adjustments are labeled as: L1, L2H2, and L3. On my VW, there is no adjustment available for location shown as L3. I even drilled into the plastic headlamp housing looking for the hidden adjustment point, but there was none. As a consequence, I am unable to aim that headlamp properly: either the low beam is pointing too high or the high beam is pointing too low. I believe this presents a safety issue at night. To me, it is unbelievable that VW eliminated the L3 adjustment on this vehicle. As I said, the position of the L3 adjustment point was molded over at the factory, there was no opening for adjustment. That's why I drilled into the area, and still found no adjustment point. I have no idea how many other VW vehicles are impacted by this shortcoming, the owners will not find out until the headlamp burns out and there is no way to adjust the replacement lamp. This is a latent defect in design/manufacture.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-11-19
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: WVWDM7AJ4DW
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat overheated and burned the occupant. The burn injuries were minor and there was no medical attention sought. The contact mentioned that the front passenger side fan was failing as well. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but no failure was determined. The vehicle was taken to another dealer and the contact was informed that the rear passenger’s side door had mildew and mold and that there was a leak that caused electrical damage inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 40,000.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-05-21
- VIN: WVWED7AJ0DW
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The steering wheel clock spring was replaced on my vehicle as part of a recall in May 2016 by a local VW dealer. Within the last month I've received an "Error: Airbag" notification on my dash. My mechanic scanned the Air Bag Control Module for codes and there was 1 in memory: B1000 Igniter for Driver's Air Bag, Resistance Too Large". I understand that the defective Air bag clock spring replacement part is unavailable as it has been nationally on back order for the past year, and 7,000 vehicles are waiting for the part. This issue has affected everything controlled through the steering wheel, including my horn, making the otherwise perfectly good car unsafe and perhaps illegal to drive. Both the dealership and VW of American Customer Care have been unable to offer me an interim solution (at least offering a horn).
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-09-01
- VIN: wvwhd7aj6dw
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Car shut off while driving on the freeway at a high rate of speed. EPS and Check Engine light came on. Luckily was able to pull over without hurting anyone. Local repair shop said it is the timing chain system.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-01-16
- VIN: WVWNM7AJ4DW
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Misfiring after cold starts. After driving the car in freezing temperatures, problem sometimes happens when the car is allowed to sit and water in the intercooler melts. It may start fine, but then starts misfiring when pulling into traffic and creates dangerous merges. Misfire goes away in the first 30 seconds to 2 minutes or so of starting the vehicle. Several dealer complaints but they have so far refused to install their own TSB repair under warranty. The most recent dealer visit had them replace the anti-shudder valve. The problem reoccurred two days later.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-03-07
- VIN: WVWMM7AJ5DW
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR AND THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND SHUT-OFF WITH THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED A TOW TRUCK TRIED TO BOOST THE BATTERY AND IT FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE BATTERY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO RESTART. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-08-12
- VIN: WVWDA7AJ1DW
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY.
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-06-12
- VIN: WVWDA7AJ1DW
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY REAR PASSENGER COIL SPRING BROKE. *TR
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-04-17
- VIN: WVWBM7AJ6DW
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: MY VW WAS RETROFITTED AS REQUIRED TO MEET FEDERAL EMISSION AND CALIFORNIA STANDARDS FOLLOWING THE VW EMISSIONS SCANDAL RELATED TO VW DIESEL VEHICLES. MY CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE DEALER REPORTS IT NEEDS A DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER. HOWEVER, THE PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE NATIONWIDE. THE EMISSIONS ARE NOW OUT OF COMPLIANCE. *TR
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-08-21
- VIN: WVWDB7AJ4DW
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SUNNYVALE VOLKSWAGEN (1025 E EL CAMINO REAL, SUNNYVALE, CA 94087, 408-739-7321) AND WAS INFORMED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-09-01
- VIN: WVWAB7AJ7DW
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-05-25
- VIN: WVWHV7AJ5DW
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: THE GTI STARTED MAKING CLACKING SOUNDS, AND SHAKING WHILE ON BUT STOPPED. THEN THE EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. AFTERWARDS, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL AND WOULD SHAKE A LOT MORE. WHEN TAKEN TO AUTOZONE FOR DIAGNOSTICS OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE REPORT READ: "PERFORM ENGINE DE-CARBON PROCEDURE." THE COIL PACKS WERE FINE.
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-05-21
- VIN: WVWGV7AJ2DW
- Components: ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO WHEN MY CAR HAD 50K MI. RIGHT AFTER IT HAD BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER. INITIALLY, THE YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON OCCASIONALLY (E.G. ON IN THE MORNING AND THEN OFF IN THE AFTERNOON). NOW THE YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT IS STEADY ON AND THE ENGINE MAKES SOME WEIRD NOISE WHEN STARTING. THE FAULT CODE P2015 (FROM OBD-II DIAGNOSTIC SET) INDICATES THAT THERE IS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MAKING AN UNUSUAL RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING IDLE AND FUEL PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN AFFECTED. THE CAR USED TO RUN 27.5 MPG AND NOW IT IS RUNNING ABOUT 24 MPG ON AVERAGE. SOME OF THE FORUMS AND INTERNET SITES THAT I VISITED SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS SO FREQUENTLY ON THE 2.0T TSI ENGINE USED ON VW GTI AND AUDI A3 BETWEEN 2009 AND 2015 THAT VW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PART TO 120K MI. OR 5 YRS. (WHICHEVER COMES FIRST). HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER THE MECHANIC SAID THAT, AFTER CHECKING THE VIN, THIS RECALL/WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET SAYS OTHERWISE AND TOLD ME TO TRY ANOTHER DEALER. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO OTHER DEALER NEARBY. THE LOCAL DEALER WANTS $ 1,400.00 TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD AND CLEAN THE INJECTION VALVE. MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ONLY BY THIS DEALER. I HAVE THE SERVICE RECORDS OF ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-06-20
- VIN: WVWDB7AJXDW
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: TAKATA RECALL. INSIGNIFICANT UNUSUAL SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT SOUNDS LIKE CLICKS. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2017-10-05
- VIN: WVWDM7AJ3DW
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE - CAR STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NORMAL OPERATION, DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, NO SIGNS OR WARNING PRIOR.
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2017-09-21
- VIN: WVWDB7AJ1DW
- Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: ON TWO OCCASIONS, ABOUT TWO WEEKS APART, THE POWER CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND ON AGAIN ONCE OR TWICE, THE CAR STARTED AGAIN, AND THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. ON THE FIRST OF THESE OCCASIONS, THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A CITY STREET. IT WAS A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER FIRST STARTING THE CAR THAT DAY. THE SECOND WAS ALSO ON A CITY STREET. THIS ALSO OCCURRED JUST AFTER STARTING, WHILE TURNING A CORNER. ON A THIRD OCCASION, ABOUT ONE WEEK BEFORE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED TWO INCIDENTS, THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER WAS DIMINISHED, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT CUT OUT TOTALLY. THIS OCCURRED ON AN EXPRESSWAY, AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR SOME TIME. AFTER DROPPING IN SPEED, THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED. BOTH PROBLEMS WOULD APPEAR TO BE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. VW CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THAT AS THERE WAS NO LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD, THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2017-07-07
- VIN: WVWDB7AJ1DW
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
- Summary: THE EPC STARTED COMING ON, IT LOSES POWER AND SOMETIMES CUTS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. MY SPEED SLOWS DOWN TO 3 MILES AN HOUR.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2017-02-18
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, BRAKING AND STEERING
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2017-02-15
- VIN: WVWPF7AJ0DW
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: TAKATA RECALL ONE YEAR HAS PASSED SINCE THE RECALL WAS INITIATED FOR THE DRIVERS AIRBAG FOR MY VW VEHICLE AND TO DATE MY I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY VW AND THERE WEBSITE STATES NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 16V078 HAS QUOTE "REPAIR NOT YET AVAILABLE." THIS IS BOTH DISAPPOINTING AND WORRYING SINCE NOT A SINGLE VW AFFECTED VEHICLE APPEARS ON YOUR PUBLISHED PRIORITY GROUPS LIST OR THE "COMPLETED SO FAR" LIST. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I LIVE IN TEXAS WHICH IS DEEMED A PRIORITY ZONE A ! I REALIZE THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM TO TACKLE BUT LACK OF INFORMATION AND UPDATES ONLY MAKES PEOPLE WORRY AN INCIDENT COULD OCCUR RATHER THAN INSTILL CONFIDENCE THAT A SOLUTION IS FORTH COMING.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-04-01
- VIN: WVWDB7AJ0DW
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: TAKATA RECALL - I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THIS RECALL ALMOST A YEAR AGO, AND JUST CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO PROJECTED DATE FOR THE REPAIR. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS, IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING VERY DANGEROUS TO BE LEFT UNREPAIRED WHILE DRIVING.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2017-01-21
- VIN: WVWDM7AJ2DW
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,700.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-12-14
- VIN: WVWNM7AJ1DW
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG TO IMPLEMENT A FIX FOR THE TAKATA DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG RECALL? MAKES ME NERVOUS TO DRIVE THE CAR AND FRUSTRATED THAT THERE IS AN UN-ACTIONED RECALL.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-04-01
- VIN: WVWNM7AJ4DW
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: TAKATA RECALL, IT'S BEEN 5 MONTHS SINCE I GOT THE NOTICE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STILL HAS NO PART TO REPLACE THE DEFECTED PART.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-08-21
- VIN: WVWBM7AJ3DW
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60MPH) ENGINE SHUT DOWN ABRUBTLY AND GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS RESULTED IN HAVING TO COAST ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH DIFFICULTY IN STEERING AND BRAKING TO NARROW SHOULDER AREA. ENGINE WOULD CRANK OVER BUT NOT RESTART. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DIAGNOSIS IS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE, A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES.
2013 Volkswagen Golf recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 5 recalls for different components of the 2013 Volkswagen Golf.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. 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 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
- Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
- Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
- Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
- Consequence: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Negative 2013 Volkswagen Golf car reviews
Positive 2013 Volkswagen Golf car reviews
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This Golf TDI is so much fun to drive and it fits like a glove. The torque is surprisingly strong and peppy. I absolutely love the looks of this car both inside and out. Why settle for an ugly Prius when VW offers this Golf with 45 MPG? This is actually the fourth VW I have purchased (I have previously owned a Jetta TDI, a Passat, and a CC) and I must say, this one just might be my favorite out of the four. I highly recommend this car!
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I own a 2013 Golf TDI and I couldn't be happier with it! I bought it in January 2014 with only 9,000 miles on it and since then, I've put about 13,000 miles on it. The best part? I haven't had to make a single service call or deal with any issues. The car is incredibly well-built and has amazing build quality. It's such a pleasure to drive and I'm a big guy at 6'1 and 250lbs. I was considering upgrading to the Touareg TDI, but I'm honestly scared to because this car has been so reliable. I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a hassle-free driving experience!
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This is my second VW, and it's far better than my previous 2007 Jetta. Despite some criticism for its fuel economy, I get upper 20's to mid-30's depending on the type of driving, and that's all on REGULAR gas. I frequently get between 400 and 500 miles per tank! The interior quality, cargo capacity, driving dynamics, and comfort are all legendary. It's surprising that few of these are sold in the U.S. even though it's the #1 car sold in Germany— the
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I bought this car on 01/31/2012 and it has now covered 5.8K miles, so it's past its first stage break-in period. I'm now averaging 39.7K overall in mixed driving, but can easily hit 48 MPG cruising at 72 MPH @ just under 2K RPMs. I'm amazed at how powerful it feels while still being so fuel efficient. The shifter feels solid and well weighted, the clutch is light without being too light, and the steering is direct and tracks well. The car as a whole is vastly superior to any other eco compact non-luxury car, which is also evident in its simple yet top-notch interior. For pure driving excitement, the GTI wins hands down, but the TDI is a nice compromise that leaves me with no regrets.
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After 15 months and 17000 miles, your car still feels like new. It's great to hear that there's plenty of room for two people and that it's very comfortable even on 600-700 mile days. It's also impressive that your fuel economy is averaging in the low 40s for a highway/city mix.
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Alan Boyer 2024-09-07
We bought the Golf TDI as a reliable, fun-to-drive, high-mileage commuter car, and it has exceeded our expectations. With a combined highway and city fuel economy of 40mpg, it's much more fuel-efficient than my Passat V6, and it feels solid and well-built. However, we have experienced some issues with the media interfaces, such as when we plug in our iPhone and the Bluetooth pairing causes the multimedia interface to stop working. Despite these frustrating bugs, we still highly recommend the Golf TDI for its overall performance and efficiency. We hope that the customer care team will address these issues and improve the multimedia package in the future.
Ethan Skiles 2024-01-15
This vehicle is unfortunately caught up in the VW emissions scandal, but I have found it to be a reliable car that gets 35-40mpg. The turbo provides a nice boost of power, especially for climbing hills in the Rocky Mountains. The sunroof is a great feature, just remember to close it when it rains! As a taller driver at 6'2