2017 Volkswagen Golf Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2017 Volkswagen Golf ranks 2nd worst of 19 model years with a Complaint Index of 94 and an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 116 complaints and 5 recalls, with Fuel System issues making up 48% of complaints and a median failure mileage of 36,000 miles.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 94/100
- #2 of 19 Golf years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 116
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 29
- 25 city / 35.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2017 Volkswagen Golf problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System56 (48%)
- Engine22 (19%)
- Other12 (10%)
- Electrical System11 (9%)
- Structure & Body10 (9%)
- Airbags7 (6%)
- Brakes5 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (4%)
- Steering4 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Sudden loss of power and EPC warning light at highway speed, with the vehicle stuck in limp mode after a faulty fuel injector.
- Unexpected acceleration while parked, resulting in a collision with a barrier before the driver could brake.
- Check engine light and misfire across all cylinders that the dealer could not consistently duplicate.
- Low oil pressure warning shortly after purchase traced to metal shavings found in the engine oil.
- Sunroof glass cracking and shattering while driving on the freeway with no outside impact.
- Ticking or cracking noise from the driver's side B-pillar linked to a weld joint issue when the body flexes over uneven roads.
2017 Volkswagen Golf recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V110000Feb 14, 2024Fuel System261,257 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. 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 VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
- NHTSA 21V321000May 5, 2021Other46 vehicles
Unknown or other
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
- NHTSA 19V188000Mar 6, 2019Suspension, Wheels & Tires56,173 vehicles
Suspension:rear:springs:coil springs
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Risk: If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
2017 Volkswagen Golf fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 25 MPG
- Highway
- 35.5 MPG
- Combined
- 29 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,250
- 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.
2017 compared with other Golf years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
- Compared with other Golf model years, the 2017 ranks poorly: it has a Complaint Index of 94, the second highest of all 19 years, and carries an Avoid verdict.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Volkswagen Golf?
- Fuel System complaints dominate, accounting for 48% of all reports, with a median failure mileage of 36,000 miles. Engine problems are the second largest category at 19%.
- Does the 2017 Volkswagen Golf have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2017 Golf, covering the fuel system, electrical shift lever switch, rear coil springs, seat belts and airbags, and an internal-use vehicle repurchase campaign. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- What year Volkswagen Golf should I avoid?
- Among 19 model years, 2015 has the highest Complaint Index at 100, followed by 2017 at 94 and 2011 at 83, all rated Avoid. The 2020 and 2021 Golf years rate Best.
- How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2017 Volkswagen Golf?
- NHTSA has logged 116 complaints for the 2017 Golf, including 3 crashes and 5 injuries, with no fires or deaths reported.