2014 Volkswagen Golf Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 14, 2026 · 12 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Golf years
Far fewer complaints than other years 20th of 29 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Volkswagen Golf. That ranks 20th out of 29 Golf model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (4 complaints, 33%), typically at around 32,730 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.

Volkswagen Golf
VW Golf GOAL (VIII, Facelift). Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2014 Volkswagen Golf problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags4 · ~32,730 mi
Unknown or Other3 · ~60,000 mi
Engine2 · ~127,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion System2 · ~82,975 mi
Power Train2 · ~34,272 mi
Electrical System1
Service Brakes1 · ~16,085 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags433%32,730——
Unknown or Other325%60,000——
Engine217%127,000——
Fuel/propulsion System217%82,975——
Power Train217%34,272——
Electrical System18%———
Service Brakes18%16,085——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2017, with 4 complaints
2015: 1201512017: 4201742018: 1201812019: 2201922020: 1202012022: 1202212023: 1202312026: 120261

n = 12 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2014 Volkswagen Golf recalls (5)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDec 4, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V862000 · 226 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.

Unknown or otherMay 16, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V329000 · 252 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleMar 6, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V148000 · 363,713 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleFeb 10, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V078000 · 659,493 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Air bags:frontalAug 4, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V483000 · 415,825 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Air Bag Clockspring Failure (EA18003) — opened Apr 18, 2018, still open.
  • Air Bag Clockspring Failure (RQ17009) — opened Nov 13, 2017, closed May 4, 2018.
  • Air Bag Clockspring Failure (PE15010) — opened Mar 24, 2015, closed Sep 28, 2015, led to recall 15V483000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Driving down the road as normal and heard a loud noise. My sunroof combusted and got glass everywhere. Nothing hit it, there is no damage to the rest of the car, but the sunroof shattered.

Unknown or Other · received Oct 14, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11771219

My vehicle has (2) serpentine belts, and (2) Belt Tensioners. (1) Tensioner is for the belt that engages the Water Pump, Alternator, Power Steering and then has (3) Idler Pulleys. The other one is the AC Tensioner, that belt routes from the AC Compressor to the Crank and the AC Tensioner. The AC…

Engine · received Aug 30, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11541789

While driving on the freeway the car stopped accelerating and would only rev when gas pedal was pressed. I coasted to the fast lane shoulder and put on hazard lights. CHP had to stop freeway traffic to push me to the side of the freeway. Car eventually restarted and let me put into gear. I drove to…

Electrical System · received May 24, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11465862

I'm having issues with a p0106 code. It continuously comes off and on. I have had the manifold absolute pressure sensor replaced, i have had the intake cleaned and relatable parts. The check engine light will come on at random times, and will just go away on it's own. I have read that multiple…

Engine · received Sep 3, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11353090

The slave cylinder went bad its poring fluid out it completely failed when the vehicle was parked it has exactly 34,272 miles it should not have failed at that mileage and age i know of 3 other people around that have had the same thing happen this needs to be looked into because its starting to…

Power Train · received Sep 11, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11254699

Other Volkswagen Golf years

← 2013 Golf · 2015 Golf →

See all Volkswagen Golf problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Volkswagen Golf?

Owners most often report air bags, unknown or other, engine problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 4 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2014 Volkswagen Golf?

Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2014 Volkswagen Golf a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Golf model years, the 2014 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.