Used Volkswagen Golf hatchback 2013-2020 reliability

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

Gearbox issues

Volkswagen had largely sorted out the most expensive of its DSG automatic gearbox problems before this generation of Golf was launched, but there are still some early cars with which problems have been reported, so make sure the gearbox changes smoothly and there are no signs of temperamental behaviour.

Timing chains

Timing chains fitted to petrol engines have been known to snap prematurely; this can cause significant engine damage but can be mitigated by having the car serviced on time. This means a full service history is critical.

Sat-nav issues

Faults with the navigation and entertainment system, as well as other electrical niggles, have been reported on some models, so it’s worth checking that all the electrics work as they should.

High oil consumption

GTI models can suffer from high oil consumption, so it’s important to keep checking the oil level on these, even between services. If the level gets too low, it can cause damage to the engine or timing chain.

Adaptive cruise control

Examples fitted with adaptive cruise control (which can automatically match the speed of the car ahead of you in your chosen lane) can suffer from problems whereby the system gets confused and slams on the brakes. Often, there’s little that can be done to solve this. The system can be recalibrated, at a cost.

Lights could fail without warning

An issue with the programming of the on-board supply control unit means the driver might not be warned of a light bulb blowing. It’s also possible for a message to pop up suggesting there’s a fault when there isn’t. Speak to a VW dealer for further information, because new software will need to be installed to fix the problem.

Passenger airbag

Due to a faulty weld in the gas generator used in the airbag assembly, there’s a potential for parts of the assembly to break off and cause injury to occupants. Affected vehicles will need to have any faulty items replaced, so find out from your VW dealer if your car is affected by this.

Airbag and seatbelt tensioners

Some examples could have an issue with either the airbags or the seatbelt tensioners, or both. Due to an error in the manufacturing process, these might not trigger correctly in a collision, affecting passenger safety. Find out if your car is affected by this, because it'll need to have all faulty airbags and seatbelt tensioners replaced.

Fuel leak

A tooling issue at the factory meant that some examples were fitted with engine cylinder heads that were not produced to the correct specification. This could then lead to an issue with the fuel rail loosening over time and allowing fuel to leak, with the potential for an engine fire.

Front wheel bearing housing

The front wheel bearing housing on a small number of Golfs might not have been manufactured correctly and could potentially fracture. Your Volkswagen dealer should be able to check the casting date to find out if your car is affected and let you know whether replacements are required.

Incorrect front brake discs fitted

Some Golfs might have been fitted with front brake discs that are not of the correct thickness, which could crack under extreme circumstances. Contact your local Volkswagen dealer to check if your car is affected by this recall and needs to have replacement discs fitted.

Insecure head restraint

There has been an issue reported with the front head restraints of a limited number of Golfs where a burr created during the manufacturing process could prevent the locking mechanism from working correctly. Your Volkswagen dealer should be able to let you know if your car is affected.

Child lock failure

The child locks on some examples might disengage without warning and allow occupants to open the rear doors. Speak to your dealer for further information because new locks will need to be fitted to sort the problem.

Rear hub carrier

On certain Golfs, there was an issue with the rear hub carrier not being manufactured to the correct standard, so in extreme circumstances, the car could lose a rear wheel. A recall was issued to replace the carriers on affected cars, so find out if your car is one of those affected by speaking with your local VW dealer.

Seat backrest

A small number of Golfs might have been fitted with seats where the welds on the backrest head restraint mounting could fail in an accident. A Volkswagen dealer should be able to tell you if your car requires a replacement seat to solve the problem.

Click here for more information. Contact your local VW dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.

The Volkswagen Golf is generally a reliable car. In our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, petrol models came 18th out of 29 cars in the family car category, while diesel ones actually ranked higher – 14th. Petrol models received a reliability rating of 90.4%, while diesel ones 92.5%. As a whole, this generation of Golf should be more reliable than the rival Skoda Scala, but less reliable than the current Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla.

As a car brand, Volkswagen placed 22nd out of 32 manufacturers featured. Its overall reliability rating of 90.2% makes it a more reliable brand than Renault, but less reliable than Ford and Toyota.

Used Volkswagen Golf: owners' reliability data

Our readers have expressed mixed feedback on the reliability and dealer service of the 2013-2020 Golf. On the one hand, many people were impressed by the reliability of its engines, with fewer reports of major faults next to other brands. However, we have heard mentions of electrical issues, particularly with the infotainment systems and warning lights, which sometimes led to repeated dealer visits.

Some readers praised their dealership for prompt and courteous service, while others found the repair costs expensive and the service times longer than expected. There were a few instances of dissatisfaction with how warranty issues were handled, leading to a loss of trust for some customers. Overall, while the cars themselves are generally seen as reliable, the inconsistent dealer service experience has left some owners feeling frustrated.