5.8

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,750 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Volkswagen Golf:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #8

Dec 122003

Golf 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles
Under normal driving conditions, the vehicle consumes engine oil at a rate that leaves the resevoir empty before it would be refilled during an oil change (all the oil is consumed within 5000 miles, the recommended oil change interval). Volkswagen maintains a policy that using one quart of oil per 1000 miles is normal for a 'modern engine, ' and refuses to repair vehicles who do not meet the consumption requirement. This issue is known by the company to affect a number of the 2.0L engines on their Golf and jetta models, with the cause being attributed to piston rings being installed upside down. Reinstallation of the rings is the recommended solution to the problem. However, dealers are reluctant to even perform the consumption tests on suspect vehicles, much less perform the repairs. Furthermore, they falsify findings when reporting to the customer, underestimating oil consumption.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #7

Nov 162003

Golf 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles
Vehicle consumes oil at an alarming rate. The recommended oil change interval is every 3000 miles, however in that time the vehicle would consume more than its oil capacity, resulting in the car running without oil. VW is aware of the issue and performs "oil consumption tests" on vehicles, but many dealership service departments are reluctant to do so and always claim that 1 quart of oil consumption per 1000 miles is "normal" and refuse to perform any service unless the consumption exceeds that amount.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #6

Jan 062004

Golf 4-cyl Diesel

  • Manual transmission
  • 41,000 miles
Seals to turbo charger in 2001 VW gold tdi are leaking oil into air intake and onto ground.

- Palm Harbor, FL, USA

problem #5

Nov 032002

Golf

  • miles
VW says working on it, knows coilpacks are bad. Will only replace bad ones. Only a matter of time until the other's will fail. VW will not replace the badly designed ones that have not gone bad yet. Recall should be done. Situation of failed coil packs can potentially be dangerous.

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #4

Dec 242000

Golf

  • miles
The vehicle would stall while driving at various speeds, while making a turn, slowing down to a stop or during acceleration from a stop position. The vehicle has been to the dealer on eight occasions and the problem still exists. Feel free to provide any further information.

- Wood Dale, IL, USA

problem #3

Nov 102001

Golf

  • miles
The engine died 3 times and it was fixed. Then the cruise wasn't working and it was fixed. Also periodically the ABS light comes on and brake light blinks while driving, dealer told me there was nothing wrong found. On 12/31/2001 after starting car engine light was blinking, towed to dealership, they told me that there is nothing wrong, I asked them to recheck it maybe the dashboard is defective(short circuit).

- Millis, MA, USA

problem #2

Jun 272001

Golf

  • miles
Main airflow sensor went out 4 times. Engine check light would come on, and vehicle would lose all power. Power relay( relay109) would shut down. Contacted dealer, and informed to bring in vehicle.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #1

May 202001

Golf Diesel

  • miles
Engine suddenly quit while driving on highway in heavy traffic.

- Venice, FL, USA