1996 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED WHEN SUDDENLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO TH...
Mileage: 110,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED WHEN SUDDENLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO TH...
Mileage: 110,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL # 98V160000, WHICH REFERS TO THE HOOD LATCH, APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER.
Mileage: 165,000
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE'S HOOD FLEW UP WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE WINDSHIELD GLASS WAS SHATTERED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Mileage: 96,000
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THEN, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE SHUT OFF ENGINE AND OPENED HOOD. BATTERY HAD EXPLODED. BATTERY WAS FACTORY REPLACEMENT PART INSTALLED BY DEALER. *AK THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. CONSUMER WAS BURNED FROM THE BAT...
OIL IS LEAKING FROM CONNECTOR SENSOR AND THIS IS GETTING DOWN INTO ENGINE. *AK
DOOR LOCK CYLINDER- SEPARATED FROM INNER ASSEMBLY , #2. WHILE IN HYWAY TRAFFIC, RADIO FAILED, FOLLOWED BY ,IN APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, ENGINE CUTTING OFF ( FUEL/WATER GUAGE FUNCTIONED), COASTED TO ROADSIDE. ATTEMPTED TO START ENGINE, ACTED AS IF BATTERY DEAD. AFTER 1 HOUR WAIT, ATTEMPTED TO R...
DOOR LOCK CYLINDER- SEPARATED FROM INNER ASSEMBLY , #2. WHILE IN HYWAY TRAFFIC, RADIO FAILED, FOLLOWED BY ,IN APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, ENGINE CUTTING OFF ( FUEL/WATER GUAGE FUNCTIONED), COASTED TO ROADSIDE. ATTEMPTED TO START ENGINE, ACTED AS IF BATTERY DEAD. AFTER 1 HOUR WAIT, ATTEMPTED TO R...
DOOR LOCK CYLINDER- SEPARATED FROM INNER ASSEMBLY , #2. WHILE IN HYWAY TRAFFIC, RADIO FAILED, FOLLOWED BY ,IN APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, ENGINE CUTTING OFF ( FUEL/WATER GUAGE FUNCTIONED), COASTED TO ROADSIDE. ATTEMPTED TO START ENGINE, ACTED AS IF BATTERY DEAD. AFTER 1 HOUR WAIT, ATTEMPTED TO R...
DOOR LOCK CYLINDER- SEPARATED FROM INNER ASSEMBLY , #2. WHILE IN HYWAY TRAFFIC, RADIO FAILED, FOLLOWED BY ,IN APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, ENGINE CUTTING OFF ( FUEL/WATER GUAGE FUNCTIONED), COASTED TO ROADSIDE. ATTEMPTED TO START ENGINE, ACTED AS IF BATTERY DEAD. AFTER 1 HOUR WAIT, ATTEMPTED TO R...
AFTER CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN STARTED IT BACK ON CAR ALARM CAME ON AND STAYED ON.CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER HOOD TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEN, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOK, AND REALIZED THAT WIRING SYSTEM BURNED OUT NOTHING THAT WAS MOTORIZED WAS WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER W...
AFTER CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN STARTED IT BACK ON CAR ALARM CAME ON AND STAYED ON.CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER HOOD TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEN, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOK, AND REALIZED THAT WIRING SYSTEM BURNED OUT NOTHING THAT WAS MOTORIZED WAS WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER W...
DROVE INTO PARKING LOT. HEARD A NOISE & VEHICLE STOPPED. SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT FLAMES. GAVE INDICATION OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, CAUSING FIRE. PRIOR TO PROBLEM ,HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING O...
DROVE INTO PARKING LOT. HEARD A NOISE & VEHICLE STOPPED. SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT FLAMES. GAVE INDICATION OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, CAUSING FIRE. PRIOR TO PROBLEM ,HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING O...
DROVE INTO PARKING LOT. HEARD A NOISE & VEHICLE STOPPED. SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT FLAMES. GAVE INDICATION OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, CAUSING FIRE. PRIOR TO PROBLEM ,HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING O...
WITH LESS THAN A YEAR OF PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAK INSIDE ON FLOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. TWICE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. CAR WAS TAKEN IN DUE TO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT NOT TURNING OFF, AND WAS WRONGLY DIAGNOSED AND THEREFORE WRONG PART WAS FIXED. WHEN COMPLAINT WAS MADE THAT THE LIGHT CONTINUED T...
WITH LESS THAN A YEAR OF PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAK INSIDE ON FLOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. TWICE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. CAR WAS TAKEN IN DUE TO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT NOT TURNING OFF, AND WAS WRONGLY DIAGNOSED AND THEREFORE WRONG PART WAS FIXED. WHEN COMPLAINT WAS MADE THAT THE LIGHT CONTINUED T...
WITH LESS THAN A YEAR OF PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAK INSIDE ON FLOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE. TWICE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. CAR WAS TAKEN IN DUE TO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT NOT TURNING OFF, AND WAS WRONGLY DIAGNOSED AND THEREFORE WRONG PART WAS FIXED. WHEN COMPLAINT WAS MADE THAT THE LIGHT CONTINUED T...
DRIVING AT APPROX. 30MPH, BALL JOINT OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO FALL OFF. CAR CAME TO A SCREETCHING HALT!. *AK
THE LEFT DOOR HAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING. IT NEEDS TO BE WELDED. DEALER SAID THAT VOLVO ISN'T RESPONSIBLE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPENED WITH OTHER VOLVOS. ARE THERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE? VOLVO IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FROM OTHER VEHIC...
2 SIDEWALL FAILURES OUT OF 6 TIRES (DOT NUMBER: MKHCFJWR19 TIRESIZE: 195/60R14)
THE SERPENTINE BELT CRACKED. YH
PRIOR TO RECALL HOOD LATCH FAILED (98V-160). YH
COOLANT LEAKED DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE. YH
WINDSHIELD CRACKED. YH
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHT, EXPERIENCING ROUGH IDLE AS WELL. YH
THE SERPENTINE BELT CRACKED. YH
PRIOR TO RECALL HOOD LATCH FAILED (98V-160). YH
COOLANT LEAKED DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE. YH
WINDSHIELD CRACKED. YH
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHT, EXPERIENCING ROUGH IDLE AS WELL. YH
CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AND DEALERS DID NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK
THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER SAID HE CANNOT KEEP TENSIONERS IN STOCK, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 40% OF 1996 AND LATER MODELS OF GOLFS COMING IN TO HAVE THE TENSIONERS REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE HOLDING ASSEMBLY. THE COST OF THIS WAS QUOTED IN THE $300.00 RANGE. THE DEALER IS VERY SURPRISED THAT A RECALL HAS NOT B...
EXTENTED WARENTEE NOT ACCEPTED,HAD TO PAY PARTS AND LABOR. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY, FAILED OXYGEN SENSOR TWICE. DOOR LOCK LITERALLY FELL OUT OF DOOR AND LEFT HOLE, WAS REPLACED. STEREO DISPLAY FADED OVER LIFE OF CAR (3.5YRS) UNTIL NOW UNREADABLE. CANNOT BE FIXED MUST BE REPLACED. CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY, FAILED OXYGEN SENSOR TWICE. DOOR LOCK LITERALLY FELL OUT OF DOOR AND LEFT HOLE, WAS REPLACED. STEREO DISPLAY FADED OVER LIFE OF CAR (3.5YRS) UNTIL NOW UNREADABLE. CANNOT BE FIXED MUST BE REPLACED. CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY, FAILED OXYGEN SENSOR TWICE. DOOR LOCK LITERALLY FELL OUT OF DOOR AND LEFT HOLE, WAS REPLACED. STEREO DISPLAY FADED OVER LIFE OF CAR (3.5YRS) UNTIL NOW UNREADABLE. CANNOT BE FIXED MUST BE REPLACED. CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. *AK
THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE COMPLETELY FELL APART. IT WAS BEING USED FOR AN INFANT CAR SEAT CARRIER. WHEN I WENT TO UNBUCKLE THE BELT, TTHE ENTIRE BUCKLE FELL APART AND COMPLETELY CAME OFF THE STRAP. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED BY DEALERSHIP AT NO CHARGE. I AM INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THIS IS A...
DOOR LOCK HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
DOOR PANEL AND HANDLE REPLACED.
ELECTRICAL FUSE FAILED.
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER FAILED. YH
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILURE DURING WET WEATHER CONDITIONS ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
ELECTRICAL FAILURE RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF EVERY LIGHT IN THE CAR MORE THAN A FEW TIMES.
SUN ROOF MAKES NOISE SINCE OWNERSHIP.
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
DOOR MOLDINGS FALLING OFF.
TIRES WORN PREMATURELY DUE TO ALIGNMENT PULLING.
COOLING FAN FAILED. ALSO REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED.
COOLING FAN FAILED. ALSO REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED.
COOLING FAN FAILURE. *AK
REAR BRAKE FAILURE.
PROBLEM IDLE SURGING, SEVER DIAGNOSIS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BAD CHIP IN ECM COMPUTER, UPDATE CHIP, WIRING PROBLEM-CUT WIRES ING THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT OF FUEL INJECTORS, REPLACE BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS, THROTTLE BODY SWITCH BAD-REPLACED, ALL TO NO AVAIL.
BAD CHIP IN ECM COMPUTER.
OXYGEN SENSORS FAILED.
THROTTLE BODY SWITCH FAILED.
HORN BUTTON DIFFICULT TO FIND IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
ENGINE ECM FAILED.
TERMINAL CONNECTOR FOR AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED.
THE RUBBER DOOR MOLDING HS SEPARATED AWAY FROM DOOR FOR THE THIRD TIME IN ONE AND ONE HALF YEARS.
POOR STEERING ASSISTANCE.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING.
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE INTO 5TH GEAR AND IS MAKING GRINDING NOISE.
FITTING HOSE LEAKING CAUSING POWER STEERING TO PERFORM POORLY.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ROUGH IDLE.
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.
CIGARETT LIGHTER ADOPTER, AFTER BEING PUSHED IN, POPPED OUT AND THE ELEMENT STAYED INSIDE, CAUSING AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM, SAW SMOKE. *AK
DRIVER REARENDED CAR IN FRONT AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY . *AK
OTHER: AIR BAGS DEPLOYED APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AFTER THE IMPACT, ALSO SEAT BELT LOCKED UP AND CAN'T BE REAPPLIED.
OTHER: AIR BAGS DEPLOYED APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AFTER THE IMPACT, ALSO SEAT BELT LOCKED UP AND CAN'T BE REAPPLIED.
WHILE TRAVELING 30MPH, VEHICLE OVERCAME WITH SMOKE, IMPAIRING VISION. DRIVER LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK
DURING FRONTAL COLLISION DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL. TT
DURING FRONTAL COLLISION PASSENGERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL. TT