2019 Volkswagen Golf Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2019 Volkswagen Golf has a complaint index of 78, ranking 5th worst of 19 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. Engine complaints make up 57% of reports, mostly stalling at low speed, with a median failure mileage of 528.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 78/100
- #5 of 19 Golf years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 63
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- 1 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 32
- 29 city / 37 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2019 Volkswagen Golf problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine36 (57%)
- Transmission & Powertrain13 (21%)
- Other11 (17%)
- Fuel System7 (11%)
- Electrical System5 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (5%)
- Airbags2 (3%)
- Steering2 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engine stalls or shuts off quietly while slowing to a stop, sometimes going unnoticed until the driver tries to accelerate again.
- Stalling occurs whether the clutch is fully depressed or the car is in neutral, on manual-transmission cars.
- Some owners report the transmission gear indicator shows the wrong gear at the same time the car stalls.
- After restarting, a few owners noticed a rough idle, shudder, or an exhaust sound suggesting uneven cylinder firing.
- One report describes the steering wheel seizing briefly when the car stalled at a stop sign.
- Stalling has been reported at very low mileage, in some cases under 1,000 miles.
2019 Volkswagen Golf recalls
6 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 23V604000Aug 30, 2023Electrical System62,538 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.
Risk: Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.
- NHTSA 22V815000Oct 31, 2022Suspension, Wheels & Tires296,044 vehicles
Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or AudiÂs customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
2019 Volkswagen Golf fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 29 MPG
- Highway
- 37 MPG
- Combined
- 32 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,050
- 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.
2019 compared with other Golf years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2019 Golf has a complaint index of 78, the 5th worst among 19 model years covered, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other Golf years.
- What is the main problem with the 2019 Volkswagen Golf?
- Engine issues dominate, accounting for 36 of 63 complaints (57%), mostly stalling at low speed, with a median mileage at failure of 528.
- Does the 2019 Volkswagen Golf have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2019 Golf, including one do-not-drive recall for improperly machined front wheel bearings on Golf Alltrack and Golf GTI variants.
- How does the 2019 Golf compare to other years?
- The 2019 Golf's complaint index of 78 is worse than the 2020 (17) and 2021 (22) model years, which both earn a Best verdict, but better than the 2015 Golf, which has the highest index at 100.