Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen Problems by Year
Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Golf Sportwagen year: 2015, 2016, 2017. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2015 Golf Sportwagen: 59 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2016 Golf Sportwagen: 51 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2017 Golf Sportwagen: 38 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2013 Golf Sportwagen: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2019 Golf Sportwagen: 11 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2018 Golf Sportwagen: 12 complaints, 5 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 37 | 6 | 5 |
| Air Bags | 36 | 4 | 2 |
| Suspension | 29 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 23 | 5 | 3 |
| Power Train | 14 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 4 | 1 |
| Structure | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Steering | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Visibility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Golf Sportwagen | 11 | 5 | 5★ | Suspension | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Golf Sportwagen | 12 | 5 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 Golf Sportwagen | 38 | 4 | 5★ | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Golf Sportwagen | 51 | 3 | 5★ | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 Golf Sportwagen | 59 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Golf Sportwagen | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from Volkswagen: all Volkswagen models · Volkswagen VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2015 (59), 2016 (51), 2017 (38) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Golf Sportwagen year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen?
Electrical System, with 37 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen have?
9 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.