Model year record

2001 Volkswagen Golf

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 152 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V063000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected: 1,002,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-02-20
Owners notified: 2007-04-27

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Safety risk

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V584000

Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected: 410,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-12-16
Owners notified: 2005-03-31

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.

Safety risk

THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V244000

Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual

Component: Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected: 332,950
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-09-12
Owners notified: 2003-07-29

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.

Safety risk

THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V031000

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected: 55,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-01-31
Owners notified: 2002-03-08

Defect description

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).

Safety risk

THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V280000

Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm

Component: Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles affected: 4,218
Reported to NHTSA: 2000-09-20
Owners notified: 2000-09-15

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF TWO BRACKETS USED TO BOLT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO THE BODY STRUCTURE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WELDED SUFFICIENTLY.

Safety risk

THE CONTROL ARM COULD GRADUALLY LOOSEN AND ULTIMATELY SEPARATE FROM ITS BRACKET IN NORMAL DRIVING WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. AS THE BRACKET LOOSENS, LOUD METALLIC KNOCKING SOUNDS IN FROM THE VEHICLE WILL BE HEARD.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRACKET AND IF THE WELDING IS INSUFFICIENT, WILL REPLACE THE CONTROL ARM.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Air bags	16	90,000 mi
Air bags: side/window	10	21,405 mi
Electrical system	8	90,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	8	39,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch	8	51,232 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	7	40,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	6	73,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	6	64,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	5	40,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	4	72,864 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	4	32,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	3	80,687 mi
Electrical system: ignition	3	70,896 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	3	64,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	—
Unknown or other	3	—
Visibility	3	72,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	3	30,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	2	88,001 mi
Exterior lighting	2	64,000 mi
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch	2	37,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	2	90,421 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor	2	211,800 mi
Seats	2	73,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	2	38,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	2	18,895 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum	2	—
Structure: body	2	190,000 mi
Child seat: handle (infant)	1	—
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	1	—
Electrical system: starter assembly	1	79,900 mi
Electrical system: wiring	1	—
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	1	99,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	1	64,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel	1	79,900 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	1	104,000 mi
Equipment	1	51,232 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility	1	174,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	64,000 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights: switch	1	—
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch	1	44,642 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump	1	50,800 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch	1	65,300 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch	1	30,588 mi
Power train: driveline: constant velocity joint	1	—
Power train: manual transmission	1	79,900 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	1	84,200 mi
Seat belts: rear/other	1	—
Service brakes, electric	1	192,285 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	35,000 mi
Steering	1	93,000 mi
Suspension: front	1	—
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	1	29,878 mi
Suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly	1	48,500 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	1	30,588 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer	1	192,285 mi

The 2000 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2002 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.