Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
2012GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual Extended coverage
42 serious complaints of 48, the most about engine (11) and air bags (10); per car on the road, 0.7× this model's usual year. 6 recalls. NHTSA investigation EA11003: high-pressure fuel pump failure. NHTSA investigation EA18003: air bag clockspring failure.
What owners report
“While coming to a stop at a red light, heard a slight ringing sound as the engine slowed down and stalled right as we stopped. The engine would not restart and the "coils" warning light was illuminated in the dash board. Several attempts were made to restart the vehicle as we waited for a tow truck.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Sep 2015
“The contact owns a 2012 volkswagen golf. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact was concerned for the safety of the passenger in the event of a crash.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the air bags, Jul 2019
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension for High-Pressure Fuel Pump: Volkswagen informed customers of a decision to extend the warranty for the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) in the TDI® Clean Diesel engine vehicle under specific conditions to 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicle's… (Customer, Jun 2015)
- Extended coverage This Document was revised. (VWP-18-11, Apr 2023)
- Extended coverage VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP COMMUNICATION: Volkswagen announced a warranty extension program to cover the High Pressure Fuel Pump on 2009-2012 model year TDI Clean Diesel Engine vehicles (Dealer, Apr 2015)
- Extended coverage This technical bulletin was updated per powertain team and warranty team. (V241702, Feb 2017)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
48 owner complaints · 6 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 26–32 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2012 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel; 2.5L 5-cyl · Drive: FWD
2012 Golf trims
| R |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Volkswagen reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Volkswagen aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, 147 hp manual available | FWD | 32–33 mpg | 5 of 5 | 1 | 7 | Electrical system (3) | — |
| 2020 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, 147 hp manual available | FWD | 31–32 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 6 | Electrical system (2) | — |
| 2019 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, 147 hp 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, 168 hp manual available | AWD, FWD | 24–32 mpg | 5 of 5 | 6 | 93 | Engine (40) | — |
| 2018 | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, 170 hp manual available | AWD, FWD | 24–29 mpg | 5 of 5 | 6 | 49 | Fuel/propulsion system (11) | — |
| 2017 | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, 170 hp manual available | AWD, FWD | 25–29 mpg | 5 of 5 | 6 | 232 | Fuel/propulsion system (61) | — |
| 2016 | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, 170 hp manual available | FWD | 28–29 mpg | 5 of 5 | 9 | 141 | Fuel/propulsion system (35) | — |
| 2015 | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel manual available | FWD | 28–35 mpg | 5 of 5 | 13 | 195 | Electrical system (38) | — |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel 2.5L 5-cyl manual available | FWD | 26–32 mpg | Not rated | 5 | 11 | Air bags (4) | — |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel 2.5L 5-cyl manual available | FWD | 26–32 mpg | Not rated | 5 | 44 | Engine (14) | — |
| 2012 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel 2.5L 5-cyl manual available | FWD | 26–32 mpg | Not rated | 6 | 48 | Engine (11) | — |
| 2011 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel 2.5L 5-cyl manual available | FWD | 26–32 mpg | Not rated | 6 | 110 | Fuel/propulsion system (30) | — |
| 2010 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel 2.5L 5-cyl manual available | FWD | 25–32 mpg | Not rated | 4 | 69 | Fuel system, diesel (22) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | No | 1 | 7 |
| 2020 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Optional | 2 | 6 |
| 2019 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Optional | 6 | 82 |
| 2019 | Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 5 | 11 |
| 2018 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 6 | 37 |
| 2018 | Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 5 | 12 |
| 2017 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 6 | 189 |
| 2017 | Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 5 | 116 |
| 2017 | Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 5 | 116 |
| 2016 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 9 | 85 |
| 2016 | Volkswagen Golf 2 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 9 | 85 |
| 2016 | Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 56 |
| 2015 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 12 | 131 |
| 2015 | Volkswagen Golf 2 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | No | 12 | 131 |
| 2015 | Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 13 | 186 |
| 2014 | Volkswagen Golf 2 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 5 | 11 |
| 2014 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 5 | 11 |
| 2013 | Volkswagen Golf 2 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 5 | 43 |
| 2013 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR AWD | Not Rated | No | No | 5 | 43 |
| 2013 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 5 | 43 |
| 2012 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 6 | 48 |
| 2012 | Volkswagen Golf 2 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 6 | 48 |
| 2011 | Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 6 | 110 |
| 2011 | Volkswagen Golf 2 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 6 | 110 |
| 2010 | Volkswagen Golf 4-DR. w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 69 |
| 2010 | Volkswagen Golf 2-DR. w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 69 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Golf | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
32–33 |
| 2020 | Golf | Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
31–32 |
| 2019 | Golf | Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
32 |
| 2019 | Golf Alltrack | Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
24–25 |
| 2019 | Golf SportWagen | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
31–32 |
| 2019 | Golf SportWagen 4motion | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
24–25 |
| 2018 | Golf | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
28–29 |
| 2018 | Golf Alltrack | Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
24–25 |
| 2018 | Golf SportWagen | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
28–29 |
| 2018 | Golf SportWagen 4motion | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
24–25 |
| 2017 | Golf | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
29 |
| 2017 | Golf Alltrack | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
25–26 |
| 2017 | Golf SportWagen | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
28–29 |
| 2017 | Golf SportWagen 4motion | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
25–26 |
| 2016 | Golf | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
29 |
| 2016 | Golf SportWagen | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
28–29 |
| 2015 | Golf | Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
29–35 |
| 2015 | Golf SportWagen | Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo |
28–35 |
| 2014 | Golf | Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 5 cyl, 2.5 L |
26–32 |
| 2013 | Golf | Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 5 cyl, 2.5 L Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.5 L |
26–32 |
| 2012 | Golf | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 5 cyl, 2.5 L Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.5 L |
26–32 |
| 2011 | Golf | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 5 cyl, 2.5 L Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.5 L |
26–32 |
| 2010 | Golf | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 5 cyl, 2.5 L Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.5 L |
25–32 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.