1991 Volkswagen Golf

Routine

Owners filed 8 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › defroster/defogger/hvac system › heater core. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core2
001
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Structure › Body › Bumpers1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys1
000
Electrical System › Ignition1
101

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic06E018000
Filed Mar 1, 2006266 vehiclesForeign Parts Distributors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES, P/N 171.611.107B, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1975-1985 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) RABBIT; 1985-1992 VW GOLF; AND 1980-1992 VW JETTA PASSENGER VEHICLES. POSSIBLE BRAKE HOSE RUPTURE COULD OCCUR WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES."

Risk. BRAKE HOSE RUPTURE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. FOREIGN PARTS DISTRIBUTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE BRAKE HOSES WITH COMPLIANT BRAKE HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOREIGN PARTS DISTRIBUTORS AT 305-885-8646 EXT. 11.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings93V129000
Filed Aug 2, 199376,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

Defect. AN ENGINE PREHEATING TUBE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SUPPORTED DUE TO A MISSING SUPPORT BRACKET, CAUSING THE PREHEATING TUBE TO CHAFE AGAINST THE RIGHT FRONT METAL BRAKE LINE. THIS CAN DAMAGE THE HYDRAULIC LINE, CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE AND DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT.

Risk. DIMINISHED BRAKING CAN RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PREHEATING TUBE SUPPORT BRACKET TO ENSURE PROPER POSITIONING RELATIVE TO THE RIGHT FRONT METAL BRAKE LINE.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings92V058000
Filed Apr 14, 1992358,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

Defect. THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL ON THE ENGINE MAY SHRINK BEYOND THE CLAMP FORCE OF THE FUEL HOSE CLAMPS, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.

Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IF THE FUEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy. REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 31, 2002WI

WHILE DRIVING IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER THE ACCELERATOR STUCK OPEN. ( IN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND VOLKSWAGEN RECALLED CARS IN CANADA FOR THIS PROBLEM. RECALL TR (CANADA ONLY). ) THIS HAPPENED THIS WINTER -- BELOW 10*F . IT IS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF -- PUSHING THE CLUTCH IN CAUSED HIGH REV'S. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IDLE WHEN IT WAS BELOW 20*F PUSHING THE CLUTCH IN AT A STOP LIGH WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO QUIT. REPLACING THE IDLE STABILIZER VALVE HELPED THIS ISSUE -- AFTER THE ISV I REMOVED FROM THE CAR SAT INSIDE FOR SEVERAL DAYS I PICKED IT UP TO MOVE IT AND A CLEAR LIQUID RAN OUT WHICH LOOKED A LOT LIKE WATER. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR I HAVE DRIVEN IT DURING THE WINTER AND THIS YEAR I HAVE MOVED 240 MILES FURTHER NORTH WHERE THE WEATHER IS COLDER. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core1 injured
Filed Sep 3, 2000MD

TOP SECTION OF HEATER CORE CRACKED OPEN WHILE ENGINE AT IDLE SPEED ALLOWING VERY HOT COOLANT TO ENTER THE COCKPIT DRIVER AND PASS. SIDE AT THE FOOT LEVEL. AFTER EMAILING OTHER VW OWNERS GOLF, JETTA, GTI, PASSAT THEY HAVE REPORTED SAME PROBLEMS DUE TO FACT THAT VWOA USES THE SAME PART ON THESE CARS. ALSO FOUND A SAFETY RECALL W/ WWW.ALLDATA.COM WITH TSB # CMPGSD ISSUED MAY 1992 RE: HEATER CORE.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Feb 8, 2000MD

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL CAMPAIGN SK IN NOVEMBER 1999 DATED AUGUST 1993, HOWEVER NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE REPAIR DUE TO LACK OF KITS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. (92V-058) *MJS

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring
Filed Apr 26, 1999WA

WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL SWITCH FELL OFF DUE TO WEAK MATERIAL. MJS

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Aug 31, 1998NH

HEATER CORE FAILED POURING HOT COOLANT INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AND STEAM POURING THROUGH VENTS.

Structure › Body › Bumpers
Filed May 12, 1998VT

WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE FRONT BUMPER FELL OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE BUMPER IS BEING HELD ON BY BUNGEE CORDS AT THIS TIME. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Jul 4, 1995AL

ALTERNATOR/AIR CONDITIONER BELTS REPLACED. *AW

Electrical System › IgnitionCrash1 injured
Filed May 12, 199500

DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED 40 MPH, HAD COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, IMPACT 3:00 POSITION. TT

8 of 8 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2015
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202311000Routine
202281000Routine
20217100Routine
20206200Routine
201963600Do not drive
201829600Do not drive
2017116500Routine
201685900Routine
20151311230Routine
201411500Routine
201343510Routine
201248600Routine
2011110630Routine
201069400Routine
20093000Routine
20081000Routine
20072000Routine
200612300Routine
200519400Routine
200428611Fatalities reported
200327670Routine
200274700Routine
2001116920Routine
200088810Routine
199964710Routine
199818100Routine
199723010Routine
199636120Routine
199543500Routine
199441540Routine
19937500Routine
19926200Routine
1991 — this page8300Routine
199010520Routine

Compare every 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: Mar 1, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.