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2013 Volkswagen Golf problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Volkswagen Golf has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 5safety recalls
- 43owner complaints
- 2crash reports
- 1fire report
- 23%fail the UK MOT
43 complaints, against an average of 60 for the other 10 Volkswagen Golf model years.
Every Volkswagen Golf model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Volkswagen Golf?
The components named most often in the 43 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2013 Volkswagen Golf owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 43 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2013 Volkswagen Golf been recalled?
5 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Side: Inflator Module 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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 this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
Unknown Or Other 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.
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Side: Inflator Module 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Side: Inflator Module 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air Bags: Frontal 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 contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Is the 2013 Volkswagen Golf recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSATakata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement
Risk: Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Our information shows your vehicle was originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Issue: The front airbag in your VW vehicle contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Risk: If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Fix: The front airbag must be replaced. Immediate Action Required: Stop driving your vehicle immediately. Contact the Takata Stop Drive helpline at 0113 526 9646 (MONDAY to FRIDAY 9:00AM to 5:00PM to arrange your recall service.
UK DVSATakata Front airbag
Risk: The function of the driver airbag inflators can degrade due to air and moisture ingress.
Fix: Replace airbag
UK DVSAThe housing bolts on the camshelf adjuster may come loose
Risk: The housing bolts on the camshaft adjuster may come loose and break the pulley
Fix: On the affected vehicles the camshaft adjuster has to be replaced
EU Safety GateThe propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time.If the airbags deploy, it can result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time.If the airbags deploy, it can result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe driver airbag's gas generator may be faulty, resulting in uncontrolled inflation and the release of metal fragments.This increases the risk of injuries to the occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe propellant in the front passenger airbag can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations.In the event of an accident in which the airbag deploys, this could result in fragments from the inflator casing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe propellant can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations.In the event of an accident in which the front airbag is deployed, this could result in fragments from the inflator housing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateCars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general…Cars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general public. There is a possibility that certain safety systems of these cars are not correctly modified for street use.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe belt pulley of the cam gear could break and the screws on the camshaft adjuster may loosen.As a result, engine oil can leak onto the road, posing a risk to the following traffic.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe front wheel-bearing casing might break, leading to a sudden loss of steering.Years estimated
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Other; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2013 Volkswagen Golf fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2013, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2013 Volkswagen Golf owners report?
12 of the 43 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
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 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…
The steering wheel clock spring was replaced on my vehicle as part of a recall in May 2016 by a local VW dealer. Within the last month I've received an "Error: Airbag" notification on my dash. My mechanic scanned the Air Bag Control Module for codes and there was 1 in memory: B1000 Igniter for Driver's Air Bag, Resistance Too Large". I understand that the defective Air bag clock spring replacement part is unavailable as it has been nationally on back order for the past year, and 7,000 vehicles are waiting for the part. This issue has affected everything controlled through the steering wheel…
Car shut off while driving on the freeway at a high rate of speed. EPS and Check Engine light came on. Luckily was able to pull over without hurting anyone. Local repair shop said it is the timing chain system.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR AND THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND SHUT-OFF WITH THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED A TOW TRUCK TRIED TO BOOST THE BATTERY AND IT FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE BATTERY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO RESTART. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY.
MY VW WAS RETROFITTED AS REQUIRED TO MEET FEDERAL EMISSION AND CALIFORNIA STANDARDS FOLLOWING THE VW EMISSIONS SCANDAL RELATED TO VW DIESEL VEHICLES. MY CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE DEALER REPORTS IT NEEDS A DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER. HOWEVER, THE PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE NATIONWIDE. THE EMISSIONS ARE NOW OUT OF COMPLIANCE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SUNNYVALE VOLKSWAGEN (1025 E EL CAMINO REAL, SUNNYVALE, CA 94087, 408-739-7321) AND WAS INFORMED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE GTI STARTED MAKING CLACKING SOUNDS, AND SHAKING WHILE ON BUT STOPPED. THEN THE EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. AFTERWARDS, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL AND WOULD SHAKE A LOT MORE. WHEN TAKEN TO AUTOZONE FOR DIAGNOSTICS OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE REPORT READ: "PERFORM ENGINE DE-CARBON PROCEDURE." THE COIL PACKS WERE FINE.
THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO WHEN MY CAR HAD 50K MI. RIGHT AFTER IT HAD BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER. INITIALLY, THE YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON OCCASIONALLY (E.G. ON IN THE MORNING AND THEN OFF IN THE AFTERNOON). NOW THE YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT IS STEADY ON AND THE ENGINE MAKES SOME WEIRD NOISE WHEN STARTING. THE FAULT CODE P2015 (FROM OBD-II DIAGNOSTIC SET) INDICATES THAT THERE IS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MAKING AN UNUSUAL RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING IDLE AND FUEL PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN AFFECTED. THE CAR USED TO RUN 27.5 MPG AND NOW IT IS…
ON TWO OCCASIONS, ABOUT TWO WEEKS APART, THE POWER CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND ON AGAIN ONCE OR TWICE, THE CAR STARTED AGAIN, AND THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. ON THE FIRST OF THESE OCCASIONS, THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A CITY STREET. IT WAS A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER FIRST STARTING THE CAR THAT DAY. THE SECOND WAS ALSO ON A CITY STREET. THIS ALSO OCCURRED JUST AFTER STARTING, WHILE TURNING A CORNER. ON A THIRD OCCASION, ABOUT ONE WEEK BEFORE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED TWO INCIDENTS, THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON…
VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, TURNED ENGINE OFF. DRIVER RESTARTED ENGINE, CHECKED UNDER HOOD. ENGINE STARTED, BUT THERE WAS A STRONG VIBRATION AND HIGH PITCH METAL ON METAL SOUND. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAILURE OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP AND ALL COMPONENT PARTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. NOTE: DIESEL FUEL ONLY USED ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
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2013 Volkswagen Golf: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Golf; the most common categories were engine (14, 32.6%), fuel/propulsion system (11, 25.6%), air bags (9, 20.9%). There are 5 safety recalls. 2 complaints mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 1 injury was reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Volkswagen Golf?
Across 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (32.6% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (25.6% of complaints), air bags (20.9% of complaints), electrical system (16.3% of complaints), service brakes (11.6% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Volkswagen Golf have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2013 Volkswagen Golf; the most recent (campaign 19V862000, 2019-12-04) concerns Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Side: Inflator Module. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2013 Volkswagen Golf stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
6 of the 43 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Volkswagen Golf (14%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Car shut off while driving on the freeway at a high rate of speed. EPS and Check Engine light came on. Luckily was able to pull over without hurting anyone. Local repair shop said it is the timing chain system." (NHTSA complaint 11450468, February 2022). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2013 Volkswagen Golf?
5 of the 43 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Volkswagen Golf (11.6%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Car shut off while driving on the freeway at a high rate of speed. EPS and Check Engine light came on. Luckily was able to pull over without hurting anyone. Local repair shop said it is the timing chain system." (NHTSA complaint 11450468, February 2022). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
What causes a knocking, ticking or rattling noise in the 2013 Volkswagen Golf engine?
4 of the 43 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Volkswagen Golf (9.3%) describe a knocking, ticking or rattling engine noise. One owner wrote: "Car shut off while driving on the freeway at a high rate of speed. EPS and Check Engine light came on. Luckily was able to pull over without hurting anyone. Local repair shop said it is the timing chain system." (NHTSA complaint 11450468, February 2022). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Golf
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only.