YearToAvoid

2014 Volkswagen Golf Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

15/100

#12 most-complained of 14 Golf years

The 2014 Volkswagen Golf ranks 12th of 14 model years for reported problems, with a Complaint Index of 15, the second-lowest of any Golf year, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other Golf years. It has 11 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls, mostly tied to Takata airbags.

Complaints
11
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
32
29 city / 37 hwy

Top 2014 Volkswagen Golf problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the ABS warning light coming on after a wheel speed sensor failure, in one case linked to a crash.
  • Drivers describe a glow plug warning light followed by sudden engine stall while driving at highway speed.
  • Some owners say they received Takata airbag recall notices but dealers lacked replacement parts for an extended period.
  • One owner reported a clutch slave cylinder failing and leaking fluid at 34,272 miles while the car was parked.
  • An owner described a recurring engine code (P0106) with the check engine light turning on and off despite sensor and intake cleaning repairs.
  • One owner reported 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 month3Aug 2015Jul 2017Aug 2018Sep 2019May 2022
14 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2015 to Aug 2023; peak May 2022 (3).

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)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Caution5448629
2013Good3843529
2014Best1511532
2015Avoid1001311232
2016Caution6285929

All Volkswagen Golf years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
Among Golf model years, the 2014 has one of the lowest complaint counts, with a Complaint Index of 15 and only 11 NHTSA complaints, giving it a "Best" verdict relative to other Golf years.
What are the most common problems on the 2014 VW Golf?
NHTSA data shows Airbags as the top problem area with 4 complaints (36% share), followed by Engine, Fuel System, and Transmission & Powertrain issues, each with 2 complaints.
Does the 2014 Golf have a Takata airbag recall?
Yes. The 2014 Golf is covered by multiple Takata-related airbag recalls, including campaigns 19V862000, 18V148000, 16V078000, and 15V483000, addressing frontal airbag inflators and a steering wheel clock spring cover.
How many recalls does the 2014 Volkswagen Golf have?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2014 Golf, and none are classified as do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2014 Golf compare to other Golf years?
The 2014 Golf's Complaint Index of 15 is well below the worst year, 2015, which scored 100, and below 2011 (77) and 2017 (85), both rated "Avoid."

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.