US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained
Volkswagen Golf R recall history and complaint patterns
Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Volkswagen Golf R,
sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.
Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Volkswagen Golf R. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Volkswagen Golf R,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 2012–2025 with 20 recall campaigns and 105 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 2022 (5), 2018 (4), and 2016 (4).
Years with the most complaint volume: 2017 (22), 2022 (20), and 2024 (14).
Top recall themes: Other, Seats and restraints, and Engine and cooling.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Electrical system, Power train, Service brakes.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Other
4 campaigns · Years: 2018–2019, 2022–2024
These campaigns do not fit a single dominant theme, or the component taxonomy is broad.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Volkswagen Golf R in NHTSA complaint data are
Electrical system, Power train, Service brakes.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
2025
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
2024
1
14
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, Power train, Electrical system.
2023
3
8
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, Electrical system, Electrical system:adas:hill start assist:clutch solenoid.
2022
5
20
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance: warnings, Steering.
2019
2
6
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakes, Electrical system.
2018
4
13
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, Power train, Electrical system.
2017
0
22
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine, Power train, Electrical system.
2016
4
13
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Power train.
2015
0
2
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electronic stability control (esc), Suspension.
2013
0
4
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Suspension.
2012
0
3
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Back over prevention
, Unknown or other
and Engine and engine cooling
Show recall evidence by year
2025
Seat belts: Retractor:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 GTI, Golf R, Audi A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, S5, S6 Sportback E-Tron, 2026 Q4 Sportback E-Tron, and Q4 E-Tron vehicles. The torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production.
2024
Back over prevention: Software:
Safety recall involving the back over prevention area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Golf R, Golf GTI, 2024 Atlas, and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The rearview camera image may be delayed or deactivated after shifting into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot
2023
Engine and engine cooling: Radiator assembly:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Golf R A8 and Golf GTI vehicles. The radiator may not have been attached correctly to the intercooler, which can result in a damaged coolant hose.
Suspension: Macpherson strut:
Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Golf R A8 and Golf GTI vehicles. The strut mount may be deformed, loosening the bolted connections to the suspension strut mounting.
Back over prevention: Software:
Safety recall involving the back over prevention area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Golf R, Golf GTI, 2024 Atlas, and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The rearview camera image may be delayed or deactivated after shifting into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot
2022
Engine:
Safety recall involving the engine area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Golf GTI and Golf R vehicles. Certain driving situations, such as high acceleration driving maneuvers, may loosen the engine design cover.
Visibility: Sun/moon roof assembly:
Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Golf R A8 and Golf GTI vehicles. The touch switch for the sunroof may be too sensitive, allowing it to be inadvertently pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety St
Engine and engine cooling: Radiator assembly:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Golf R A8 and Golf GTI vehicles. The radiator may not have been attached correctly to the intercooler, which can result in a damaged coolant hose.
Back over prevention: Display function:
Safety recall involving the back over prevention area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Golf R A8, Audi S3, RS3 Sedan, Q4 E-Tron SUV, A3 Sedan, and 2022-2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI, and ID4 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be blank or unresponsive when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear or when the park
Back over prevention: Software:
Safety recall involving the back over prevention area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Golf R, Golf GTI, 2024 Atlas, and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The rearview camera image may be delayed or deactivated after shifting into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot
2019
Unknown or other:
Safety recall involving the unknown or other area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory req
Tires: Pressure monitoring and regulating systems:
Safety recall involving the tires area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The
2018
Seats: Mid/rear assembly:
Safety recall involving the seats area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf and Golf R vehicles, and Audi A3 Sedan and RS3 vehicles. The rear seat frame head restraint guide sleeves may be incorrectly welded to the seat frame.
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R vehicles. The fuel hose quick connector may detach from the fuel supply line in the engine bay, resulting in a fuel leak.
Unknown or other:
Safety recall involving the unknown or other area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have
Unknown or other:
Safety recall involving the unknown or other area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory req
2016
Equipment: Labels:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Golf R vehicles manufactured March 17, 2016 to March 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with a Federal Certification Label that lists an incorrect rear axle weight limit. As such, these vehicles fail
Latches/locks/linkages:
Safety recall involving the latches/locks/linkages area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrati
Air bags: Inflator module:
Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or de
Electrical system: Software:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Golf R vehicles. Incorrect front windshield wiper software was installed which may prevent the wipers from activating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard num
Other Volkswagen Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Volkswagen models.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
