2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

67

Owner Complaints

3 Crashes 3 Fires

5

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

55

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

The 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF has received a total of 67 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER. 55 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (14 complaints), Fuelpropulsion System (11 complaints), and Air Bags (9 complaints).

Recalls for the 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF, potentially affecting up to 1,439,509 vehicles.

Recall 19V862000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 226 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

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

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 18V329000 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER

| 252 vehicles affected

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.

Consequence: 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.

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Recall 18V148000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 363,713 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 16V078000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 659,493 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 15V483000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

| 415,825 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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...

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Owner Complaints for the 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

67 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11506679 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | N/A miles
i was driving down the freeway on the way to work at 75 mph when all of a sudden my EPC went off in my 2013 volkswagon gti my entire car shut down (manual transmission) i lost all steering ability while on the freeway going 75 mph i couldn't get over to the shoulder due to loss of brakes due to entire car shutting down .i was almost smashed by a semi due to inability to steer my vehicle to total loss of power . i got the vehicle towed to a service shop they tell me that my timing chain had stretched and timing chain tensioner has failed, which caused significant damage to my engine . i bought the vehicle used and have taken meticulous car on it since i have owned it 3k oil changes ,proper oil ,proper, premium gas as notated milage based maintenance. the service center then notifies me that there was a class action lawsuit about failing timing chains and tensioners but when i called my local volkswagon dealership they told me it only covers up to125,000 miles but what i don't understand is that this issue almost cost me my life this is a known issue hence a class action lawsuit but to actually take care of the situation they refuse to do so i do enjoy the vehicle but i almost lost my life
#11506679 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
i was driving down the freeway on the way to work at 75 mph when all of a sudden my EPC went off in my 2013 volkswagon gti my entire car shut down (manual transmission) i lost all steering ability while on the freeway going 75 mph i couldn't get over to the shoulder due to loss of brakes due to entire car shutting down .i was almost smashed by a semi due to inability to steer my vehicle to total loss of power . i got the vehicle towed to a service shop they tell me that my timing chain had stretched and timing chain tensioner has failed, which caused significant damage to my engine . i bought the vehicle used and have taken meticulous car on it since i have owned it 3k oil changes ,proper oil ,proper, premium gas as notated milage based maintenance. the service center then notifies me that there was a class action lawsuit about failing timing chains and tensioners but when i called my local volkswagon dealership they told me it only covers up to125,000 miles but what i don't understand is that this issue almost cost me my life this is a known issue hence a class action lawsuit but to actually take care of the situation they refuse to do so i do enjoy the vehicle but i almost lost my life
#11506679 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | | N/A miles
i was driving down the freeway on the way to work at 75 mph when all of a sudden my EPC went off in my 2013 volkswagon gti my entire car shut down (manual transmission) i lost all steering ability while on the freeway going 75 mph i couldn't get over to the shoulder due to loss of brakes due to entire car shutting down .i was almost smashed by a semi due to inability to steer my vehicle to total loss of power . i got the vehicle towed to a service shop they tell me that my timing chain had stretched and timing chain tensioner has failed, which caused significant damage to my engine . i bought the vehicle used and have taken meticulous car on it since i have owned it 3k oil changes ,proper oil ,proper, premium gas as notated milage based maintenance. the service center then notifies me that there was a class action lawsuit about failing timing chains and tensioners but when i called my local volkswagon dealership they told me it only covers up to125,000 miles but what i don't understand is that this issue almost cost me my life this is a known issue hence a class action lawsuit but to actually take care of the situation they refuse to do so i do enjoy the vehicle but i almost lost my life
#11500133 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | | N/A miles
The low beam headlamp burned out. I replaced the bulb successfully, but then the headlamp needed adjustment to be aimed properly with the new bulb. I found instructions online to aim the headlamp. There are three adjustment points, covering both low and high beams, according to the online document. I will try to attach photo of this document. The three adjustments are labeled as: L1, L2H2, and L3. On my VW, there is no adjustment available for location shown as L3. I even drilled into the plastic headlamp housing looking for the hidden adjustment point, but there was none. As a consequence, I am unable to aim that headlamp properly: either the low beam is pointing too high or the high beam is pointing too low. I believe this presents a safety issue at night. To me, it is unbelievable that VW eliminated the L3 adjustment on this vehicle. As I said, the position of the L3 adjustment point was molded over at the factory, there was no opening for adjustment. That's why I drilled into the area, and still found no adjustment point. I have no idea how many other VW vehicles are impacted by this shortcoming, the owners will not find out until the headlamp burns out and there is no way to adjust the replacement lamp. This is a latent defect in design/manufacture.
#11481068 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | 40,000 miles 1 Injury
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat overheated and burned the occupant. The burn injuries were minor and there was no medical attention sought. The contact mentioned that the front passenger side fan was failing as well. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but no failure was determined. The vehicle was taken to another dealer and the contact was informed that the rear passenger’s side door had mildew and mold and that there was a leak that caused electrical damage inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 40,000.

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Safety Rating for the 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has issued 55 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

V0017132033846_24 — ENGINE

Fuel Additive

V2118022025464_9 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Frozen Charge Air Cooler, Engine no start updated to include Parts ordering notification.

TRMDMV_VA_VW — AIR BAGS

In conjunction with the Virginia DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,217 VW owners in the State of Virginia on July 21, 2022

TRMDMV_CA_VW — AIR BAGS

In conjunction with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Volkswagen sent Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 7,152 Volkswagen owners in the State of California on April 29, 2022.

VIN4APIN20220303 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Oil level sensor leaking Customer states front brake noise Customer states blower stays on Customer states cannot set seat memory Customer states cannot set seat memory Any TDI within the vehicle/MY range

V011813203489817 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

DTC P0401 diagnostic assistance, additional smoke test and cold air control valve test

RNS510 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Updated Navigation System Software to Enhance Radio Stability

VIN4APIN20200728 — EQUIPMENT

Customer states MIL-on with P0496 Customer states MIL-on with U0284 Customer states oil leak from the engine Customer states oil leak from the engine Customer states MIL-on with P0111 Customer states MIL-on with P0442 Customer states MIL-on with P2407 "Customer states MIL-on with P11A1/P11A2/P11A3/P11A4/P11A5/P11A6/P11A7/P11A8/ P11A9/P11AA/P11AB/P11AC/P11AD/P11AE/P11AF/P11B0" Customer states MIL-on, HPFP mounting...

VIN4APIN20200710 — EQUIPMENT

Customer states MIL-on with P0496 Customer states MIL-on with U0284 Customer states oil leak from the engine Customer states oil leak from the engine Customer states MIL-on with P0111 Customer states MIL-on with P0442 Customer states MIL-on, HPFP mounting bolts loose/broken No crank, no start Customer states both headlights are...

Dealer 24EE — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Engine and/or transmission control software designed and certified for a similar model/model year was used in vehicles affected by this action. This could impact vehicle tailpipe emissions.

Showing 10 of 55 technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

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Other VOLKSWAGEN Models

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