NHTSA Data Explorer

Volkswagen Golf R

Data refreshed June 26, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Volkswagen Golf R.

Complaints

205

Active records

Recalls

16

Active records

TSBs

1,320

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

4

Crashes

2

Fires

1

Top reported issues — Volkswagen Golf R

Click a category to expand its values.

Operating state

169

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

111

Performance issue

69

Vibration/harshness

48

Engine behavior

35

Condition issue

33

Driver assistance issue

30

Reporting mechanism

29

Noise

24

Fluid issue

19

Braking behavior

15

Infotainment behavior

15

Safety restraint issue

8

Smell

8

Starting behavior

8

Electrical issue

6

Lighting behavior

6

Access/entry issue

5

Powering on/off behavior

4

Thermal issue

3

Ride/handling behavior

2

Safety restraint behavior

2

Steering behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2019 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

Filed Jun 22, 2026


Crash

While turning (right hand turn) slowly into parking space, vehicle engine unexpectedly reved and accelerated causing vehicle to jump curb and strike fixed object (tree). Foot was not/not on the accelerator but rather on brake yet acceleration was so rapid vehicle could not be stopped prior to striking curb and fixed object. Filing HHTSA report due to research indicating similar incidents of unanticipated rapid acceleration at slow speeds for VW Golf models.

2026 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

Filed Jun 6, 2026


3 occasions, the car went into emergency brake mode. once on hiway at 70mph warning came up and told me to grab the wheel and take control and prepare for impact. Nothing was in front of me to trigger this scenario. On hiway I was nearly rear ended but driver slid around me and didn't hit. This could have been a serious accident or death. The other two times it was at 45 mph and locked them up for no reason. Third was in a parking lot at 5 mph and it locked em up impending traffic and upsetting…

2024 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

Filed May 17, 2026


The Hill Hold Assist system on my 2024 Volkswagen GTI (manual transmission) repeatedly holds the brakes too long when starting on an incline. The brakes remain engaged for 1–2 seconds even after I begin releasing the clutch and applying throttle, which causes the car to stall or hesitate before moving. This creates a safety risk when pulling into traffic or when other vehicles are behind me on a hill. This issue has occurred at least four times within the first 1,000 miles of driving. It is…

2016 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

Filed Feb 18, 2026


On 04/24, I purchased 4 P235/40ZR18 Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires from Tire Rack. The tires have approx 15000 miles on them. I discovered the tires started to show approx 1/2 in cracks all around the tire where the tread transitions to the sidewall. This appears to be a safety issue because if the cracks worsen, the tread may separate from the tire. I have also spoken to Tire Rack were I`ll be filing a complaint.

2023 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

Filed Oct 29, 2025


The vehicle has a feature called hill hold that can not be disabled where it holds the brakes when stopped on a hill untill 3 seconds after removing your foot from the brake pedal. This has resulted in many near miss safety hazards because I can not move the vehicle quickly enough to make a safety maneuver in the event of imminent collision from another vehicle when stopped on a hill.

2022 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

Filed Oct 19, 2025


While stopped at a stoplight, the infotainment system went blank and all sorts of errors showed on dashboard display. The infotainment system continued to turn on and off approximately every 30 seconds. No audio, no backup camera and limited to no functionality via the infotainment system. According to VW Dealership, VW is currently working on a fix. No fix to date!

2024 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

Filed Mar 9, 2025


I own a manual transmission MK8 Golf R, the ‘hill assist’ system cannot be turned off. The brakes will hold for 2-5 seconds after being released even on very slight inclines. I unfortunately upgraded from a 2017 MK7 Golf R manual that was damaged in an accident (I was not at fault). In that model VW the hill assist or ‘auto hold’ was able to be turned off with a button. The new models ‘assist system’ is an unsafe as is requires heavy clutch/throttle input in order for it to release. I’m [XXX] …

2023 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

Filed Feb 13, 2025


Hello, The problem that I am having, and that many people have been having with the 8th generation Volkswagen Golf Rs (and GTIs as well) is with the hill hold feature. My car is manual transmission. When on a hill, the hill hold feature automatically holds the brakes after you take your foot off the brake. The way this feature is supposed to work is that the hill hold is supposed to release upon clutch disengagement and throttle input. It does not do that. Rather, it bites really hard on the…

2024 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

Filed Jan 16, 2025


The infotainment system attempts to call for information or help. It disconnects my cell phone from bluetooth or USB and causes the screen to swap to either of the above call pages and makes a loud 'click' sound. It then cancels the call and attempts them again around a second or two later and gradually speeds up until the car is entirely turned off. The screen flashing and clicking is extremely distracting and there is no way to resolve it short of entirely shutting the vehicle off and letting…

2024 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

Filed Dec 12, 2024


Hill Hold Assist: This feature appears to be on most manual transmission Volkswagen vehicles, and activates on a forward facing incline. In newer models the feature completely immobilizes movement for almost 3 seconds when stopped on an incline, after breaks are released, potentially causing a safety hazard. Request this feature either be removed all together, shortened to approximately 1 second, or become disabled when accelerator is depressed.

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated June 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.