2020 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 2020 Volkswagen Golf problems
Common Problems with the 2020 Volkswagen Golf
- Touchscreen Infotainment System Issues
The touchscreen infotainment system in the 2020 Volkswagen Golf has been reported to fail to respond quickly or even fail completely. This issue can be frustrating for drivers, and it is recommended to check with your local dealer if any remedial work has been carried out on the Golf you are thinking of buying.
- Faulty Crash Sensors for Airbag and Restraint Systems
A recall notice has been issued for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf due to faulty crash sensors for airbag and restraint systems that may have been fitted in the front doors. The crash sensors in the front doors are to be checked and if necessary replaced to fix the issue.
- Engine Problems
According to CarComplaints.com, engine problems are the worst problem category for the Volkswagen Golf, with the 2015 model year having the most overall complaints. The most-reported problem is with the 2002 Volkswagen Golf for transmission failure.
- Safety Issues
The 2020 Volkswagen Golf has been reported to have safety issues, such as airbags and seatbelt tensioners that may not function properly in a collision, affecting passenger safety. It is important to check if your car is affected by this and have all faulty airbags and seatbelt tensioners replaced.
- Fuel Leak
A tooling issue at the factory meant that some examples of the 2020 Volkswagen Golf were fitted with engine cylinder heads that were not produced to the correct specifications, which could lead to an issue with the fuel rail loosening over time and allowing fuel to leak, with the potential for an engine fire.
- Front Wheel Bearing Housing
The front wheel bearing housing on a small number of 2020 Volkswagen Golfs might not have been manufactured correctly and could potentially lead to issues with the wheel bearing. It is recommended to have your Volkswagen dealer check the casting date to find out if your car is affected and let you know whether it needs to be replaced.
- Incorrect Front Brake Discs Fitted
Some 2020 Volkswagen Golfs might have been fitted with front brake discs that are not of the correct thickness, which could crack under extreme circumstances. It is important to contact your local Volkswagen dealer to check if your car is affected by this recall and needs to have replacement discs fitted.
- Insecure Head Restraint
There has been an issue reported with the front head restraints of a limited number of 2020 Volkswagen Golfs where a burr created during the manufacturing process could potentially cause injury to occupants. Your Volkswagen dealer should be able to let you know if your car is affected.
- Child Lock Failure
The child locks on some examples of the 2020 Volkswagen Golf might disengage without warning and allow occupants to open the rear doors. Speak to your dealer for further information because new locks will need to be fitted to sort the problem.
- Rear Hub Carrier
On certain 2020 Volkswagen Golfs, there was an issue with the rear hub carrier not being manufactured to the correct standard, so in extreme circumstances, the car could lose a rear wheel. A recall was issued to replace the carriers on affected cars, so find out if your car is one of those affected by speaking with your local VW dealer.
- Seat Backrest
A small number of 2020 Volkswagen Golfs might have been fitted with seats where the welds on the backrest head restraint mounting could fail, which could cause injury to occupants. A Volkswagen dealer should be able to tell you if your car requires a replacement seat to solve the problem.
- Gearbox Issues
Volkswagen had largely sorted out the most expensive of its DSG automatic gearbox problems before this generation of Golf was launched, but there are still some early cars with which problems have been reported. Make sure the gearbox changes smoothly and there are no signs of temperamental behaviour.
- Timing Chains
Timing chains fitted to petrol engines have been known to snap prematurely; this can cause significant engine damage but can be mitigated by having the car serviced on time. This means a full service history is critical.
- Sat-nav Issues
Faults with the navigation and entertainment system, as well as other electrical niggles, have been reported on some models. It’s worth checking that all the electrics work as they should.
- High Oil Consumption
GTI models can suffer from high oil consumption, so it’s important to keep checking the oil level on these, even between services. If the level gets too low, it can cause damage to the engine or timing chain.
- Adaptive Cruise Control
Examples fitted with adaptive cruise control (which can automatically match the speed of the car ahead of you in your chosen lane) can suffer from issues that are often difficult to solve. The system can be recalibrated, at a cost.
Is 2020 Golf reliable?
The latest Volkswagen Golf is smooth and sophisticated, and comfortable to ride in – it's a great all-rounder. Reliability is a little mixed, however. Plenty of people seem to agree: it has long been Europe's best-selling car.
Is a 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.
Do VW Golf have transmission problems?
Over time, the gearbox in automatic Golf models can wear out and start to judder intermittently. This is a sign of failure in the mechatronic unit, also known as the control centre of the gearbox. Look out for the following symptoms: Loss of power when changing gear.
Is 2020 Golf reliable?
The latest Volkswagen Golf is smooth and sophisticated, and comfortable to ride in – it's a great all-rounder. Reliability is a little mixed, however. Plenty of people seem to agree: it has long been Europe's best-selling car.
Is Volkswagen Golf a reliable car?
The Volkswagen Golf is generally a reliable car. In our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, petrol models came 18th out of 29 cars in the family car category, while diesel ones actually ranked higher – 14th. Petrol models received a reliability rating of 90.4%, while diesel ones 92.5%.
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 VW Golf a good car to buy?
Yes, it's the Volkswagen Golf, the 'hear hooves, think horses' of family hatchbacks. It's an industry benchmark. A vanguard in the battle against the overdone, overblown and ostentatious. An easy (and possibly lazy) recommendation given by all car people to non-car people when they simply need 'a car'.
2020 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:
- Electrical system problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Exterior lighting problems
- Engine problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2020 Volkswagen Golf vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2020 Volkswagen Golf complaints
The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2020 Volkswagen Golf.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-01
- VIN: 3VW6T7AU9LM
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: 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 or pedestrians.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-21
- VIN: 3VW6T7AU7LM
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-15
- VIN: 3VW5T7AU5LM
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-08-26
- VIN: 3VWG57AU6LM
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE
- Summary: 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 NOT TO DUPLICATE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. SO I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT HOME. HOWEVER, I STOPPED AT THE STOP SIDE, THE VEHICLE WAS KIND OF DEAD AGAIN! MY CAR STOPPED THERE AND COULD NOT MOVE FOR A FEW SECONDS, A GUY BEHIND ME PRESSED THE HONK. I WAS SO SACARY THAT I WAS AFRAID OF DRIVE HOME VIA THE FREEWAY! I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN, I TOLD THEM I DON'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE IT AT ALL UNLESS YOU FIGURE IT OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. I TOLD THE MECHANIC THAT I USED TO DRIVE GOLF 2011 FOR FIVE YEARS, MY EXPERIENCE TOLD ME THERE ARE SOMETHING NOT RIGHT WITH THIS CAR, IT LACKS OF POWER AND DOESN'T RESPOND PROPERLY FOR GAS PEDAL AND I CAN SENSE IT CLEARLY. HOWEVER, HE SAID HE MIGHT NOT DO ANYTHING IF THE COMPUTER DOESN'T TELL HIM WHAT ISSUES IT HAS. I LEFT THE CAR FOR THEM TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-08-06
- VIN: 3VWG57AUXLM
- Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
- Summary: 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.
2020 Volkswagen Golf recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 2020 Volkswagen Golf.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: 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 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
- Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. 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 VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
- 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 Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Negative 2020 Volkswagen Golf car reviews
Positive 2020 Volkswagen Golf car reviews
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I recently purchased a Golf Wolfsburg in white with a manual transmission and it's a great car! I had to replace my regular Golf that was only 3 weeks old and had been totaled, but I've always had good experiences with the comfort, reliability, and performance of VW cars. The Apple CarPlay is a great feature and the car looks nice both inside and out. I bought it from Fussilo VW in Schenectady and Bill Watson was incredibly helpful and a pleasure to work with, especially since I had to go through the process twice due to the accident. Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase!
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Your Golf has many of the same features as my Toyota Camry SE, except for leather seats and a sunroof. However, the Golf has a 1.8L engine with 170HP, which is even more powerful than the Camry's 2.5L engine with 168HP!
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This car is fantastic! It came with a clean carfax at 43k miles and has had no previous issues. I put 5k more on it in just 3 months and I cannot speak highly enough of it. As someone who drives a lot for work, I previously put 40k miles on my Nissan Sentra in just 2 years, and it felt like driving a rental car every day. But this car is a blast to drive, with its awesome manual transmission and zippy acceleration. It also has a smooth ride, making it perfect for commuting in and around town. And with CarPlay as a standard feature, it's even better. I can honestly say that this car makes me love driving, there's no other way to put it!
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The Volkswagen Golf has a really nice interior at an affordable price. During Thanksgiving, VW was offering mine for $21k. They throw in lots of features that other cars at the same price point don’t have, such as leatherette seats, blind spot warning, and a panoramic sunroof. The car is also really quick, but the transmission is slow shifting and lazy. It handles exceptionally well and has good brakes. You also get standard one-touch all windows, electric driver and passenger seats, lumbar on both front seats, rain-sensing wipers, paddle shifters, and rear air, which no hatchback at that price point has. The visibility is fine, but I have blind spot monitoring and a backup camera, so it doesn’t matter. I upgraded my sound system to Fender, which is one of the best sound systems I’ve heard in a car. My only problem so far has been minor electrical issues that don’t really affect the car at all. 90% of the time, I was able to fix them myself in a minute. Although my transmission went out, it was my fault for driving recklessly. This car handles so well that I’ve even drifted it sideways by flooring it at a stoplight and turning, and I kept it in control. It’s also great at whipping through traffic. It’s so easy to speed really fast and cut everyone off safely. If you need to get to your destination fast, take a Golf. It accelerates quickly, handles well, and you can even tune it for more power. It gets good gas mileage too, not the best, but still good. I recently got a new car, but I don’t want to get rid of the Golf. It’s such a fun car to drive. Someone also backed into me, and it was ruled 50/50, even though it was their fault and they hit me pretty hard. But there was barely even a dent, not even a scratch. You can’t even notice it unless I point it out.I've owned it for three years and it still feels very solid with no squeaks or rattles. My only complaint is that I wish it had the DSG, but then it would feel too much like a GTI, which would be kind of silly to get.
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Amazing car with everything you’d need. Great acceleration and even better gas mileage. Just a great car to drive.
Other years of Volkswagen Golf
Are you having problems with your 2020 Volkswagen Golf?
Javonte Murray 2025-01-09
I have owned three VWs and I appreciate the brand's concept of providing an affordable, well-made, and fun-to-drive European car in the US market. Unfortunately, my recent experience with a poorly made car has left me disappointed. Despite being a fun car to drive, the panoramic sunroof caused constant squeaking, creaking, and cracking noises, which the dealer was unable to resolve despite multiple attempts. This left me feeling like I was driving a worthless piece of junk. Additionally, the residual value of the car dropped significantly, causing me to lose all my equity from my previous trade-in. While I acknowledge that VW has had its share of scandals and quality control issues, I believe that they have the potential to dominate the US market with their unique offerings. The new Golf, for example, is built on the same platform as the Audi A3 and with the new turbo 4, it feels like a luxury car. Although the interior may feel a little old-fashioned compared to other cars in its class, it is still a great option for those looking for a well-made and fun-to-drive compact car with good seating for four and excellent fuel economy.VW has made a great effort to include quality interior components such as a soft-touch dashboard, leather steering wheel and shift knob, and a carpeted storage area in the door. However, there have been some quality control issues with the panoramic sunroof, which has caused some annoyance and frustration for the owner. Despite this, the car is still a great value and has many exceptional characteristics. While Consumer Reports has expressed concerns about the Golf's long-term reliability, only time will tell. The owner hopes to update the review in a year or so with good news.
Alfredo Quitzon 2025-01-01
I purchased a new 2020 vehicle and experienced hesitation while shifting gears in the first month. When I brought it in for testing, I was told that it was normal. However, a year later, I encountered an error with the start-stop system and engine light. The dealership suggested that I use only top-tier gas, but the issue persisted even after they put a fuel additive in. Despite being in the shop for a month and undergoing several fixes, the problem persisted. The dealership replaced my coolant pipe and vacuum to my brake system, moved cylinders around, installed new wiring, and found that my exhaust valve was not closing properly, causing a cylinder to receive 30% less compression. Although the lights have not come back on, the vehicle still does not drive smoothly and the hesitation remains. Despite my attempts to discuss options with VW Canada, they have not been helpful. The dealership offered me a $400 credit for services, which does not provide peace of mind. They also suggested a trade-in assist or extended warranty, but did not provide details unless I bring my car back. As a young buyer who purchased a new vehicle for peace of mind, I am disappointed with my experience and would appreciate any advice.
Modesto Waters 2024-09-15
I bought this car brand new and I absolutely love how it looks and drives! Although, I have had a few issues with it and it has been in the shop 8 times in the 11 months that I’ve owned it. Unfortunately, it has left me stranded twice which is not something I would expect from a new car. I didn’t think I’d find myself in the car market again after only 11 months, but here I am.
Everardo Hagenes 2024-08-15
Although the VW is a fun car to drive, the maintenance costs can be quite high. Unfortunately, I needed a new transmission after only 109,000 Km on the vehicle, and VW would not cover it under warranty. I ended up spending approximately $10K to get it fixed.
Guiseppe Cremin 2024-05-28
I have a 2019 Golf S 1.4l turbo with a 6-speed manual transmission and it currently has 26,000 miles. I use it as a commuter, driving 160 miles every 3rd day on the highway at 65-70mph. I'm happy to report that the fuel mileage, calculated not from the dash readings, is consistently between 39-42 mpg. Although I have not made any modifications to the car, I have had to take it back to the dealer 5 times for emissions issues. They have replaced the same O2 sensor twice, the charcoal canister twice, and the n90 valve. The most recent visit (5/20/21) involved resetting the engine management system per a VW tech bulletin and replacing a belt tensioner pulley that was causing a squeaking noise. While I'm keeping my fingers crossed, I'm not holding my breath. Despite these issues, I really like having the convenience of a hatchback and a manual transmission. However, the check engine light coming on every 3,000-5,000 miles has made me lose faith in this car. I'm considering trading it for a non-VW product, but I still have the balance of the 6-year/72,000-mile warranty. The repairs have always taken 1-2 days due to waiting on parts. This last visit, the replacement of the squeaking belt tensioner pulley delayed the repairs by an extra day. I bought this car new with hopes that it would carry me through until I retire in 2 years, but I'm having reservations.