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2005 Volkswagen Golf

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
19Owner complaints

Model-year median: 18

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
74
200226
200328
200419
200512
20062
20071
2008
Compare all Golf years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
6Electrical System
2Engine And Engine Cooling
2Exterior Lighting
2Fuel System, Other
2
All reported categories
Power Train
2Engine
1Fuel System, Diesel
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Interior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Structure
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Interior Lighting complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
40,000 miles · Dec 12, 2009
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting

VOLKSWAGEN 2005 GOLF: BOTH FRONT EXTERIOR LIGHTS, DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME WENT OUT. THE FUSE WAS GOOD AND THE LIGHT BULBS WERE OUT. APPARENTLY, THE WIRING HAD A MALFUNCTION WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE INTERIOR LIGHT ON THE CLIMATE CONTROLS TO GO OFF. THE FUSE WAS GOOD AS WELL. ANOTHER MALFUNCTION FROM THEVW COMPANY. LASTLY, DRIVER …

Read full complaint

VOLKSWAGEN 2005 GOLF: BOTH FRONT EXTERIOR LIGHTS, DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME WENT OUT. THE FUSE WAS GOOD AND THE LIGHT BULBS WERE OUT. APPARENTLY, THE WIRING HAD A MALFUNCTION WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE INTERIOR LIGHT ON THE CLIMATE CONTROLS TO GO OFF. THE FUSE WAS GOOD AS WELL. ANOTHER MALFUNCTION FROM THEVW COMPANY. LASTLY, DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING TO WORK 25 MPH. I DID NOT TOUCH THE WINDOW NOR TRIED TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT, IT WENT DONE COMPLETELY AND IT IS INSIDE THE DOOR...IT WON'T GO UP NOR DOWN. IT IS NOT BROKEN EITHER. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH NO WINDOW IN THE WINTER. SNOW, HAIL. RAIN CAN HAPPEN WHILE THE WINDOW WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. IT'S VERY UNPLEASANT TO HAVE WIND AND COLD OF 3 DEGREES BELOW ZERO HIT YOUR FACE AND GO IN THE CAR TO THE OTHER PASSENGERS. THE HAIL, RAIN OR SNOW CAN THAT CAN GET IN THE CAR CAN CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE INSIDE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295427

Official recalls

2

07V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 20, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

04V586000 · Fuel System, Diesel

Dec 15, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.