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2019 Volkswagen Golf: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2019 Volkswagen Golf, most recently filed February 2024. Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. In NHTSA crash tests it earned 5 stars overall.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
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Recalls (6)

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2019 Volkswagen Golf. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2019 Volkswagen Golf. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 24V110000 Filed Feb 14, 2024

Fuel Leak from Fuel Tank Suction Pump Failure

Fuel system, gasoline
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
Consequence
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.
56.9% repairedof 261,257 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 24V110000
Listed for 2019 Volkswagen Golf. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 23V604000 Filed Aug 30, 2023

Ignition Switch May Fail

Electrical system · ignition · switch
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
Consequence
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.
63.8% repairedof 62,538 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 23V604000
Listed for 2019 Volkswagen Golf. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 22V815000 Filed Oct 31, 2022

Tire Pressure Loss Not Detected/FMVSS 138

Tires · pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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."
Consequence
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 Audi’s customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
84.4% repairedof 296,044 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 22V815000
Listed for 2019 Volkswagen Golf. Not checked against your VIN.
NHTSA: Do not drive. NHTSA says owners should not drive these vehicles until the recall repair is done. What a Do Not Drive recall means
Recall 19V879000 Filed Dec 11, 2019

Front Wheel Bearings Improperly Machined

Wheels
Official NHTSA text
Summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Jetta GLI, Golf Alltrack, and Golf GTI vehicles. The front wheel bearings may have been improperly machined, potentially causing excessive stress on the wheel, wheel bolts, or wheel bearings.
Consequence
The excessive stress can cause steering, traction or other stability issues or breakage relating to the front wheels, and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the wheel bearing assemblies, wheels, and wheel bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40P1. Note: The affected owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repairs have been made.
100% repairedof 8 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 19V879000
Listed for 2019 Volkswagen Golf. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 19V615000 Filed Aug 22, 2019

Key May Be Removed When Not In Park

Electrical system · ignition · anti-theft · control module
Official NHTSA text
Summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Consequence
Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
49.1% repairedof 679,027 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 19V615000
Listed for 2019 Volkswagen Golf. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 19V188000 Filed Mar 6, 2019

Rear Coil Springs May Fracture

Suspension · rear · springs · coil springs
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
Consequence
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.
90.1% repairedof 56,173 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 19V188000

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Owner complaints (63)

63 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.

2involved a crash
0involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Volkswagen Golf, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 63.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2019 compares with other Golf years

Best and worst Golf years →
2014201520162017201820192020202120222023
This year (2019)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Crash tests: 5 stars overall

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 4★★★★★☆
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 13.4%★★★★☆
Front seat of a modern car with the seat belt buckled across the passenger seat
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2019 Volkswagen Golf 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 32 mpg combined

32
mpg combined
29
city
37
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$2,100
CO₂ tailpipe
276 g/mi
EPA class
Compact Cars

What it costs you to run

$2,041per year
$170per month
469gallons a year

Miles ÷ 32 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2019 Volkswagen Golf configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
1.4 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive29 / 37 / 32$2,100276
1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive29 / 37 / 32$2,100274

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2019 Golf for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Golf years

Where to next

2019 Volkswagen Golf FAQ

How many recalls does the 2019 Volkswagen Golf have?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns: 24V110000 (fuel system), 23V604000 (electrical), 22V815000 (tire), 19V879000 (wheel), 19V615000 (steering), 19V188000 (suspension). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2019 Volkswagen Golf problems?

Owners filed 63 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (34), Power train (13), Unknown or other (11) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2019 Volkswagen Golf get?

EPA rates the 1.4 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 29 city, 37 highway and 32 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

What safety rating did the 2019 Volkswagen Golf get?

NHTSA rated the 2019 Volkswagen Golf 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (13.4% rollover risk).

How does the 2019 Golf compare with other years?

Among the 2014–2021 Volkswagen Golf model years at least five years old, the 2020 drew the fewest complaints (6) and the 2015 the most (131). The 2019 drew 63. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

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.
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