NHTSA lists 28 complaints for the 2004 Volkswagen Golf, 3 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 1 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as VOLKSWAGEN GOLF.
At a glance
Complaints
28
With crash
3
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
1
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
1,002,000
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
239
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
14.3%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
14.3%
AIR BAGS
3
10.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
10.7%
POWER TRAIN
3
10.7%
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
2
7.1%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2
7.1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
7.1%
EQUIPMENT
1
3.6%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
3.6%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE
4
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
HOOD
2
POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2
AIR BAGS
FRONTAL
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRING
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE LIGHTS
1
POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1
TIRES
TREAD/BELT
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL
1
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. (excerpt)
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. (excerpt)
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 (excerpt)
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
0 investigations; 0 open.
Manufacturer communications
239 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
EQUIPMENT
87
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
50
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
47
VISIBILITY
22
STRUCTURE
21
ENGINE
17
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
15
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
11
10241177
Date: 2023-08-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
10237427
Date: 2023-05-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
10235138
Date: 2023-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
10228180
Date: 2022-12-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Update model year applicability to include 2023.
10228178
Date: 2022-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.
10214458
Date: 2022-06-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
10204722
Date: 2021-12-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
This bulletin contains general instructions for software updates.
10193577
Date: 2021-05-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)
10175799
Date: 2020-05-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Tool number added to table. Removal of Behr Flush Kit. VAS 6337/1A
10174476
Date: 2020-04-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.