2011 Volkswagen Golf problems
Owners have filed 151 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Golf. Fuel system is the most reported problem area, at 35% of complaints. Next are engine (17%) and electrical system (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 151 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 35% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 6 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 28,000 miles 129 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 49 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 33 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 19 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 16 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 129 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 28,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 31,000 miles (49 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 6 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 20 model years of the Volkswagen Golf with enough data (129 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 volkswagen golf. While driving approximately 5 MPH , another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags deployed several minutes after the actual impact and not during. The contact sustained a chest contusion, multiple bruises to her body and face, a sprained left foot and burns to the chest and right hand from the air bag deployment. The police reported to the scene and a report was filed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 volkswagen golf. Moments after parking the vehicle, it caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact indicated that the fire originated in the engine compartment; however, the cause of the fire was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 volkswagen golf. While driving 45 MPH, the contact noticed black smoke underneath the hood. The contact pulled over and observed flames. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who repaired the coil pack, harness wiring, and electronic control module. The vehicle caught fire twice after the repair. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 50,000.
2011 VW golf tdi 6-speed manual. My car was at the VW dealership to have an intercooler kit installed (TSB 2025464). On dealer's test drive, car abruptly stalled and would not restart. All power lost, car had to be towed off of roadway. Finally diagnosed as a malfunctioning high pressure fuel pump. 03l-130-851-ax was the replacement part number. Repair description stated that the common rail fuel pressure was too low, so the car's ECM would not allow injection - even in a limp-home mode.
As I was entering the on ramp to get on the highway, under normal acceleration, there was a hissing sound and the car stalled in the middle of the highway lane where multiple cars were getting on and off the highway. I was forced to pull to the side of the exit ramp where I waited 45 min for a tow truck to get us while cars flew past my fiancee and I, putting our lives in danger. I had the car towed to the dealer where I purchased the car.