2015 Volkswagen E-Golf

Routine

Owners filed 29 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
17,653 milesMedian miles at failure

25 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System19
000
Unknown or Other6
000
Fuel/Propulsion System3
000
Electronic Stability Control (esc)1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Unknown or Other18V329000
Filed May 16, 2018252 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery16V138000
Filed Mar 7, 20165,561 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 e-Golf vehicles manufactured May 21, 2014, to March 1, 2016. Oversensitive diagnostics for the high-voltage battery management system may falsely detect an electrical surge resulting in the vehicle's electric drive motor shutting down unexpectedly.

Risk. An unexpected vehicle shutdown can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will update the battery management software, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 93B4.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-inactive15V627000
Filed Oct 7, 2015993 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured September 8, 2014, to November 28, 2014, Golf vehicles manufactured April 2, 2014, to December 3, 2014, and E-Golf vehicles manufactured July 26, 2014, to October 18, 2014. The affected vehicles are equipped a Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) that may have been manufactured improperly. As a result, the front passenger seat occupant may be improperly classified or may not be detected.

Risk. In the event of a crash, if the front passenger seat occupant is incorrectly classified or non-detected, the passenger frontal air bag may deploy improperly or not at all, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PODS control module, free of charge. The recall began on November 20, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswgen's number for this recall is 69L6.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 18, 2023NJ

I was driving and the car shuddered and lost all power and would not accelerate. The car glided to a stop, but there were no shoulders so I was stuck blocking traffic. Later, the police helped push it to a side street where it was safe to park. The dashboard displayed the following error: "Error: Electrical System. Stop!" This message occured at the time of the failure. There were no symptoms or warnings prior to the failure. This message can not be found in the owners manual. Turning the car off and on does not change the situation. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer and is awaiting a tow to a dealer

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 22, 2021CT

There is a known issue regarding a software update required to keep using the heat and cooling options on 2015 and older eGOLF models. Without this patch the heating and cooling of the vehicle will cease to operate. This includes the defogging capability for front and side windows in cold weather. On more than one occasion, I have had to wipe condensation from the windows while driving due to the failure of the heat pump. VW is aware of this software issue, but for vehicles out of the standard warranty will require a service diagnostic fee as well as a large repair cost for essentially a software upgrade. VW owns the diagnostic tools and software so there is no third party way to fix this issue. Affected vehicles should have the software update applied so visibility is not affected during driving. TSB attached

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 2, 2021CA

The trim located around the gear selectors has separated leaving a sharp chrome edge that cuts your hand when reaching into the cubby beyond the shifter. This issue was corrected by VW Canada in a recall but not by VW US. It is a known issue and is prevalent across the golf lineup.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 28, 202127,500 milesWA

CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER. PULLED OFF ROAD, WAITED AND RESTARTED VEHICLE WITH NORMAL FUNCTION. EVALUATED AT VW DEALER AND TOLD THE DC-DC CONVERTOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND SHUTTING DOWN THE MOTOR. THIS PART WAS PART OF A PRIOR SAFETY RECALL BY NHSTA, AND THE CAR WAS EVALUATED AND SAID TO BE FIXED. CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA (CASE # 04750977) AND TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 9, 202015,000 milesMN

WHEN I WENT TO UNPLUG MY CAR IN MY GARAGE, THE CHARGING PORT WOULD NOT RELEASE THE CHARGER. WHEN I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE, I FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO OWNED 2015 E-GOLFS HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THAT NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL RESETS WOULD WORK TO GET THE CHARGING PORT TO RELEASE THE CHARGING CABLE. (HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839&START=60) I TRIED ALL THE ELECTRICAL RESETS ANYWAY, BUT NOTHING WORKED. THE CAR WAS LOCKED DOWN, AND IT WOULD NOT EVEN LET ME PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, SO IT COULD NOT BE ROLLED ON TO A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DAMAGED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY CAR TRYING TO GET IT OUT OF MY GARAGE AS A RESULT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LUTHER WESTSIDE VW DEALERSHIP IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN, AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME A DEDUCTIBLE EVEN THOUGH THE FREQUENCY OF THIS ISSUE POINTS TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE CHARGING PORT SHOULD BE RECALLED. PEOPLE ARE BEING STRANDED OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE VW WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 14, 201925,000 milesCA

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT UNLOCK/RELEASE THE CHARGING CONNECTOR FROM THE CONNECTION PORT. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE EMERGENCY RELEASE PROCEDURE FOR THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHARGING CONNECTOR. THE CHARGING STATUS INDICATOR IS RED. EVENTUALLY CONNECTOR FINALLY RELEASES BUT AFTER EITHER HOURS OF WAITING OR SOMETIMES HITTTING THE CONNECTOR TO JAR IT FREE. DURING THE LOCKED CONDITION, THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVEABLE - WILL NOT OPERATE. IF IT OCCURS AT A PUBLIC CHARGER, THE CAR IS LITERALLY TIED TO THE CHARGER AND BUILDING, UNABLE EVEN TO BE TOWED. CHARGERS CAN BE IN SOME KIND OF BLEAK, SCARY PLACES. NOT ALWAYS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE TRAPPED ALONE AT NIGHT. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS BY OTHER OWNERS/DRIVERS OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL, SEE: HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839&START=10 OR HTTPS://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?9292185-NOW-CHARGER-PORT-WON-T-RELEASE-CHARGER-CONNECTER! OR HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=158&START=30 . THERE ARE OTHERS ALSO.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 16, 201947,000 milesCA

THE 2015 EGOLF LOCKS THE CHARGING CONNECTOR ONTO THE VEHICLE DURING CHARGING. THIS FUNCTIONALITY HAS TWO (AT LEAST) BENEFITS TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. ONE BENEFIT IS THAT THE (VERY EXPENSEIVE) CAR CHARGER'S POWER SUPPLY CAN'T EASILY BE STOLEN DURING CHARGING. A SECOND, SAFETY-CENTRIC, FUNCTION IS DERIVED BY NOT ALLOWING THE CHARGING PORT TO SEPARATE WHILE A CHARGE IS UNDERWAY PREVENTING POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ARCS AND ELECTROCUTION. THE LOCKING MECHAISM INTERMITTENLY FAILS TO UNLOCK TOGETHER WITH THE REST OF THE DOORS AND FUNCTIONS ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS SEVERAL POTENTIAL DANGERS TO A VEHICLE OPERATOR. WHEH THE CHARGE CONNECTER WILL NOT RELEASE, THE VEHICLE WILL START AND MIGHT CREATE A SITUATION OF BEING STRANDED AT NIGHT IN A PUBLC CHARGING LOCATION. TJRTRRWERT---9RR-RRWPWRHIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. TRYING TO RELEASE THE PLUG REQUIRES A STRONG LONG NARROW OBJECT (USUALLY METAL) BE INSERTED INTO THE SHIELDED AREA OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. THE MECHANISM CAN SOMETIMES BE OVER-RIDDEN THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR. EVENAUALLY, THOUGH AN OOPERATOR IS GOING TO ACCIDENTALLY CONTACT ONE OF THE HIGH VOLTAGE TERMINALS.AND BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. CLIPPERCREEK CHARGING EQUIPMENT SEEMS MORE LIKELY TO CAUSRE THIS CONDITION. OUR HSC-40 UNIT AND THE SMALLER 120V TRAVEL MODEL THESE ARE OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS FOUND ONLINE: HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839 ' HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839#P7764 ' HTTPS://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=83

Electrical System
Filed Aug 6, 201926,415 milesGA

EV CHARGER WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM PORT EVEN WHEN CAR IS UNLOCKED WITH REMOTE. RED LIGHT INDICATING CHARGING FAILURE REMAINS AND CHARGER MUST BE REMOVED USING EMERGENCY DISENGAGE PIN WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS AND CAR IS IMMOBILIZED WHILE CHARGER REMAINS STUCK. ELECTRICAL ERROR MESSAGE REQUESTING SERVICE COMES UP ON DASHBOARD TWO DAYS BUT DISAPPEARS UPON RESTART OF VEHICLE.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 19, 201940,000 milesGA

CHARGE PORT LOCK WOULD NOT RELEASE CHARGING CABLE AFTER CHARGING IS DONE. RESULTS IN STUCK CHARGING CABLES AT PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 5, 201850,000 milesCA

CAR WILL NOT DETACH/RELEASE FROM CHARGER IN INTERMITTENT BUT REGULARLY OCCCURRING FREQUENCY. HAPPEN ABOUT ONCE WEEKLY. LEAVES DRIVER STRANDED. HAVE NOW STARTED USING RUBBER MALLET TO TAP CHARGER FREE. VEHICLE IS ALWAYS STATIONARY.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 21, 201721,000 milesCA

MY VEHICLE IS PARKED PLUGGED INTO A 240 V CHARGING STATION IN MY GARAGE/DRIVEWAY. I CANNOT DISCONNECT THE CHARGER BECAUSE THE RED LIGHT ON MY CAR IS ON SOLID RED AND THE LOCK WILL NOT DISENGAGE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON RED SOLID TO SEEK EXPERT ADVICE. HOWEVER, NO ONE AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT. NOW MY VEHICLE STUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND CAN'T EVEN BE TOWED BECAUSE IT IS ATTACHED TO MY HOUSE.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 8, 201727,000 milesCA

TODAY, WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROAD, CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND MESSAGE APPEARED "BATTERY MALFUNCTION" AND CAR JUST DIED WHILE RUNNING 40 MPH. AFTER I TURNED IT OFF AND ON AFTER FEW MINS EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF HUNDREDS FEET AND THEN IT REPEATED AGAIN. THIS TIME WHILE I WAS ON THE TRAFFIC LIGHT.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 23, 201722,000 milesHI

THE CHARGING CABLE DOES NOT DISENGAGE PROPERLY FROM THE CHARGING PORT. THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY HAS A CHARGING FAULT, DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THAT CAR IS UNLOCKED AND THEREFORE THE CABLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE REMOVED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL ALSO NOT SUSTAIN CHARGING. OF COURSE CHARGING OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN A CHARGING CABLE IS ENGAGED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 15, 201735,614 milesCA

THE 2015 AND 2016 EGOLF'S HAVE A CHARGING FAULT WHICH PREVENTS THE CHARGE PLUG FROM BEING REMOVED FROM THE CAR. THIS PERMANENTLY ATTACHES THE CAR TO THE CHARGER IT IS CONNECTED TO, BE IT AT HOME, IN A MALL, AT THE GROCERY, ETC. THE ISSUE IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL HERE: HTTP://WWW.MYVWEGOLF.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=12&T=839

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 21, 2017CA

CHARGER THAT CAME WITH THE CAR WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM CHARGING PORT. NORMAL PROCEDURE IS TO UNLOCK THE CAR, WHICH UNLOCKS THE CHARGER PIN AND ALLOWS IT TO BE REMOVED. I REPEATED THE PROCESS MULTIPLE TIMES, UNPLUGGED THE CHARGER FROM THE WALL OUTLET, TURNED CAR OFF AND ON, ETC. EVENTUALLY I LEFT THE CAR ALONE FOR 20 MINUTES, WENT BACK AND CLICKED THE LOCK/UNLOCK FOB MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE CHARGER RELEASED FROM THE CAR. LOOKING ONLINE, I SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND THE LOCKING SYSTEM IS FAULTY. VW NEEDS TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE OR REMOVE THE LOCKING FEATURE ALTOGETHER.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 22, 201625,555 milesIL

I EXPERIENCED THIS ERROR "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE: STOP!". I COULDN'T USE MY CAR. I HAD TO WAIT FOR COUPLE OF MINUTES AND AFTER THIS EVERITHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL

Electrical System
Filed Dec 18, 201619,000 milesCA

AFTER CHARGING TIME RESUMED, THE CAR DOESN'T RELEASE THE CHARGE PLUG . CHARGE LIGHT TURNED RED.-LOCK WON'T RELEASE.-THE CAR IS STUCK BECAUSE THE PIN IS STUCK AND IT WON'T UNLOCK. AT THE END OF THE DAY IT UNLOCKED BY ITSELF NOW IT HAPPENED FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER ONLY 3 DAYS SINCE LAST TIME.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 15, 20164,800 milesMA

THERE ARE MULTIPLE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE CAR'S CHARGING CONNECTOR ALLOWS REMOVAL OF THE PLUG FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE POWER IS ENGAGED. THIS HAS LEAD TO SPARKS BEING GENERATED ON REMOVAL. THE CONDITIONS INVOLVE THE FAILURE OF THE PHYSICAL LOCKING PIN ON THE CHARGE PORT, AND VW'S INCOMPLETE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE J1772 CHARGING STANDARD, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE PROXIMITY CIRCUIT.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 22, 201617,653 milesMA

AT ABOUT 17500 MILE ON ODOMETER, I HAD JUST UNPLUGGED THIS ELECTRIC CAR FROM A PUBLIC LEVEL 2 CHARGING STATION AND SAW A WARNING "ERROR: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. STOP!". I ASSUMED IT WAS JUST A LIGHT WHEN FIRST TURNING THE CAR ON SO SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. ( I WAS PARKED IN A STANDARD PARKING LOT, RACKING THE CHARGER. THE CAR STARTED ROLLING OUT OF THE SPOT, BUT HAD NO POWER. I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND NOT ROLL INTO TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO VW AND I AM TOLD THAT TWO SEPERATE SMALL BATTERIES HAD A PROBLEM AND NEEDE TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS OCCURRED AND THE CAR SHOULD BE RETURNED IN A FEW DAYS. I'M WORRIED ABOUT ANOTHER FAILURE HAPPENING WHEN I AM DRIVING WITH KIDS IN CAR, AS HAS BEEN REPORTED ON YOUR SITE.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 13, 20168,727 milesCA

ON AUGUST 28 2016 PRIOR TO CHARGING E-GOLF, CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE DAMAGE ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND BATTERY. THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE UCSD THORNTON PARKING LOT. AT THAT TIME CAR ODOMETER SHOWS 8727 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN DIDN'T (FAILED TO) INFORM ME ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROL CHARGING SYSTEM AND BATTERY CHARGING. NOT SURE IF THE SOFTWARE FOR THE BATTERY/CHARGING SYSTEM IS THE ONLY PROBLEM SINCE THE VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA STATE THAT BATTERY NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED, TESTED AND IF BROKEN FIXED OR REPLACED. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN UNABLE TO START OR MOVE. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TAKE THE CAR TO OXNARD THE ONLY AVAILABLE SERVICE CENTER FOR E-GOLF IN CALIFORNIA. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET SINCE THE AUGUST 29TH WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES.

20 of 29 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2015
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20196020Routine
20181100Routine
20171200Routine
201618500Routine
2015 — this page29300Routine

Compare every E-Golf year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 16, 2018. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.