2011 Volkswagen Golf Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2011 Volkswagen Golf ranks 4th worst out of 19 model years, with a complaint index of 83 and an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 110 complaints, 6 recalls, 3 fires, and 4 crashes, with Fuel System issues making up 44% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 83/100
- #4 of 19 Golf years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 110
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 29.5
- 26.5 city / 35 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2011 Volkswagen Golf problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System48 (44%)
- Engine29 (26%)
- Transmission & Powertrain21 (19%)
- Electrical System20 (18%)
- Airbags12 (11%)
- Brakes4 (4%)
- Other4 (4%)
- Steering3 (3%)
- Structure & Body2 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Vehicles stall unexpectedly at low speeds, sometimes while downshifting into first or second gear, creating dangerous situations in traffic.
- The transmission occasionally fails to engage for several seconds after slowing down, with the engine revving as if in neutral before re-engaging on its own.
- Engine compartment fires have occurred, in one case shortly after parking and in another while driving at 45 mph with black smoke and flames appearing from under the hood.
- Airbags have deployed several seconds after a low-speed collision rather than at the moment of impact.
- An electrical short was reported to have caused a fire in the engine compartment, suspected to stem from a water leak tied to manufacturing.
- One owner described the vehicle lunging forward into a parked car while shifting into park, describing it as possible unintended acceleration.
2011 Volkswagen Golf recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V862000Dec 4, 2019Airbags226 vehicles
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 18V329000May 16, 2018Other252 vehicles
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 18V148000Mar 6, 2018Airbags363,713 vehicles
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.
Remedy: 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.
2011 Volkswagen Golf fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26.5 MPG
- Highway
- 35 MPG
- Combined
- 29.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,725
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2011 compared with other Golf years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
- Compared to other Golf model years, the 2011 ranks 4th worst out of 19 years tracked, with a complaint index of 83 and an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volkswagen Golf?
- NHTSA data shows Fuel System complaints lead at 44% of total complaints, followed by Engine at 26% and Transmission & Powertrain at 19%. Median mileage at failure for fuel system issues was 30,650 miles.
- Does the 2011 Volkswagen Golf have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2011 Golf, covering airbags, fuel system, and other components, including a fuel injector line replacement and multiple Takata-related airbag inflator recalls.
- Did the 2011 Volkswagen Golf have engine fires?
- NHTSA complaint data records 3 fires for the 2011 Golf, with sample complaints describing fires originating in the engine compartment, in one case with a median mileage at failure of 22,000 miles for engine-related complaints.
- How does the 2011 Golf compare to the 2010 and 2012 models?
- The 2010 Golf has a complaint index of 67 (Caution) and the 2012 Golf has 61 (Caution), both lower than the 2011 Golf's index of 83, which carries an Avoid verdict.