Volkswagen Golf SportWagen complaints by model year
172 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2018 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2017 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 2016 | 51 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 2015 | 59 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2013–2019. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2013 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| Air bags | 0 | 14 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 0 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Suspension | 0 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine | 0 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Power train | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Volkswagen Golf SportWagen recalls (9)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Golf SportWagen model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24V110000 | Feb 14, 2024 | Fuel Leak from Fuel Tank Suction Pump Failure | 2015–2019 | 56.9% |
| 23V604000 | Aug 30, 2023 | Ignition Switch May Fail | 2019 | 63.8% |
| 22V815000 | Oct 31, 2022 | Tire Pressure Loss Not Detected/FMVSS 138 | 2019 | 84.4% |
| 22V543000 | Jul 27, 2022 | Air Bag Inflator May Explode or Deploy Improperly | 2016 | 63.2% |
| 19V679000 | Sep 25, 2019 | Modifications to Vehicles Made Them Noncompliant | 2015 | 17.7% |
| 19V615000 | Aug 22, 2019 | Key May Be Removed When Not In Park | 2017, 2018, 2019 | 49.1% |
| 19V188000 | Mar 6, 2019 | Rear Coil Springs May Fracture | 2017, 2018, 2019 | 90.1% |
| 18V464000 | Jul 11, 2018 | Key May Be Removed While Not In Park/FMVSS 114 | 2015–2018 | 76.9% |
| 18V369000 | Jun 1, 2018 | Insufficient Coating on Brake Caliper Pistons | 2018 | 98.6% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | sw fwd |
| 2018 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | sw fwd |
| 2017 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | sw fwd |
| 2016 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | sw fwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Volkswagen Golf SportWagen FAQ
How many recalls has the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen had?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns that cover at least one Volkswagen Golf SportWagen model year from 2013 to 2019. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Volkswagen Golf SportWagen year has the most complaints?
Among the last 6 model years with settled counts, the 2015 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (59) and the 2013 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Volkswagen Golf SportWagen problems?
Across the 2013–2019 model years, owners most often name the electrical system, air bags, unknown or other in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen get?
EPA rates the 2019 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen at 31 to 32 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.