What's Wrong with the 7th Generation (2014–2019) Golf?

Golf owners have made 42 complaints about the 2014–2019 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 29th out of 46 VW generations in overall reliability, with some interior and engine concerns.

Compare With Other Golf Generations

Common 2014-2019 Volkswagen Golf Problems

Some of the worst issues 7th generation Golf owners have to deal with.

  1. Front Assist Problems

    VW's collision avoidance technology is detecting objects that don't exist. When that happens it slams on the brakes and ends up putting unsuspecting occupants in harm's way. A lawsuit wants the automaker to do more than simply suggest that …

    Continue reading article "Front Assist Problems" Red warning light of VW's collision avoidance technology

  2. Diesel Emissions Scandal

    Volkswagen has admitted to using a defeat device on its supposedly 'clean diesel' vehicles. The reason? To skirt around US emissions standards. This doesn't sit well with ... well, just about anybody. In fact, the only group who seems reall…

    Continue reading article "Diesel Emissions Scandal" Emissions cloud coming out of a tailpipe

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

7th Generation (2014–2019) Golf Key Numbers

  1. 6 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 42 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 29th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 46 eligible generations.

Recent 7th Generation (2014–2019) Golf News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. A new class-action says VW's front assist technology applies the brakes randomly and without warning.

    Customers who complain are typically given two not-so-great options, live with it and document the malfunctions or disable the feature entirely.

    The Missouri-based class-action says that's unacceptable and wants VW to take ownership of the problem. That includes covering any related repairs or costs associated with the system malfunctioning under warranty.

    keep reading article "Volkswagen's Front-Assist Emergency Braking Can Activate For No Reason, Says Lawsuit"

  2. Volkswagen is recalling 56,000 vehicles with rear coil springs that can snap, crackle, and pop the tires.

    This appears to be an expansion of a smaller recall for the exact same problem last month. It wasn’t until the cars were shipped and sold that VW’s supplier admitted the coil springs weren’t ready for production. Yikes. Owners of the 2015-2019 Golf, 2017-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, and 2018-2019 Tiguan should watch for a recall notice next month.

    keep reading article "VW Recalls More Vehicles with Rear Coil Springs ‘Not Ready for Production'"

  3. When Volkswagen agreed to a multi-district settlement for selling polluting engines marketed as clean diesel, it did so knowing it’d have to pay billions of dollars to customers that owned or leased an affected vehicle when the news about the scandal broke.

    Some owners that had sold their affected vehicles before the news came out tried to file for compensation in court, but didn't get very far. That may be about to change due to an interesting court decision in California.

    Former owners and lessees of Volkswagen "clean diesel" vehicles can proceed with their lawsuit even though the customers got rid of their diesel vehicles before anyone knew the emissions systems were illegal.

    Volkswagen, as you might image, is less than impressed with this decision.

    Volkswagen says the case is nothing more than trial attorneys trying to suck more money out of the automaker that has already paid more than $25 billion for its emissions sins.

    keep reading article "Judge's Decision May Open to the Door to New Diesel-Scandal Claims"