YearToAvoid

2014 Volkswagen Golf Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2014 Volkswagen Golf ranks 14th out of 19 model years with a complaint index of 28 and a Good verdict. It has 11 complaints and 5 recalls, mostly tied to Takata airbag inflators, making it one of the better Golf years for reported problems.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
28/100
#14 of 19 Golf years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
11
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2020
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
32
29 city / 37 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2014 Volkswagen Golf problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags4 (36%)
  2. Engine2 (18%)
  3. Fuel System2 (18%)
  4. Other2 (18%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain2 (18%)
  6. Brakes1 (9%)
  7. Electrical System1 (9%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the ABS warning light coming on with a failed wheel speed sensor, in one case tied to a crash at a median mileage of 16,085 miles.
  • Some describe a glow plug warning light followed by the engine stalling suddenly at highway speed.
  • Multiple owners describe long delays getting the Takata airbag inflator recall completed, with dealers reporting parts unavailable for over a year.
  • One owner reported the clutch slave cylinder failing and leaking fluid at a median mileage of 34,272 miles.
  • An owner reported a recurring engine trouble code (P0106) tied to the intake manifold pressure sensor at a median mileage of 127,000 miles.
  • One owner described the car losing acceleration on the freeway with an electrical communication fault code, requiring a coast to the shoulder.
2014 Volkswagen Golf complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2015Jul 2017Aug 2018Sep 2019May 2022
11 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2015 to Aug 2023; peak Jul 2017 (2).

2014 Volkswagen Golf recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2014 Volkswagen Golf →

2014 Volkswagen Golf fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29 MPG
Highway
37 MPG
Combined
32 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Diesel
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.

2014 compared with other Golf years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Caution6148629
2013Caution5043529
2014Good2811532
2015Avoid1001311232
2016Caution7285929

All Volkswagen Golf years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
Among 19 Golf model years, 2014 ranks 14th-worst with a complaint index of 28 and a Good verdict, meaning it has fewer reported problems than most other Golf years.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Volkswagen Golf?
NHTSA data shows airbags are the top complaint area, making up 36% of complaints, followed by engine, fuel system, and transmission issues, each at 18%.
Does the 2014 Volkswagen Golf have a Takata airbag recall?
Yes. It is covered by four separate airbag-related recall campaigns tied to Takata inflators, including campaigns 19V862000, 18V148000, 16V078000, and 15V483000.
How many complaints and recalls does the 2014 Golf have?
NHTSA lists 11 complaints and 5 recall campaigns for the 2014 Volkswagen Golf, with 1 crash and no fires or injuries reported.
What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Volkswagen Golf?
EPA rates the 2014 Golf at 32 mpg combined (29 city / 37 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.