1995 Volkswagen Golf
Safety ratings
1995 Volkswagen Golf III 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
Crash test #1NHTSA test 2227
Full test report (PDF) ↗Recalls (5)
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FANCampaign 95V178000 · 20/09/1995
IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.
Risk: A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCampaign 95E034000 · 18/08/1995
WHEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLES, A TIE WRAP IS USED TO GUIDE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SOME TIE WRAPS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH A LARGE LOOP OPENING IMPROPERLY GUIDING THE CABLE WHICH COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION.
Risk: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THEPOTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE COLLISION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CRUISE CONTROL TIE WRAP AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED GUIDE.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSCampaign 98V195000 · 17/08/1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK. THE LINE COULD BE DAMAGED BY CHAFING AGAINST THE FUEL TANK.
Risk: REPEATED CHAFING COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LEAKING BRAKE LINE CAUSING DIMINISHED BRAKING IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT INCREASING THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCHCampaign 98V160000 · 16/07/1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH CAN LOOSEN OVER TIME. THE LATCH WOULD MOVE CAUSING DISENGAGEMENT OF THE HOOD STRIKER FROM THE LATCH.
Risk: UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD COULD OCCUR OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.
- EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFTCampaign 95V054000 · 13/03/1995
THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SPINDLE, SO THAT A SHARP RIDGE ON THE EDGE OF SPINDLE'S THREAD WOULD HAVE REMAINED.
Risk: THIS RIDGE CAN DAMAGE THE INSIDE THREAD OF THE JACK'S SCISSOR SHOE WHEN THE JACK IS USED TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. THE JACK COULD COLLAPSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT A PERSON STANDING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE INJURED.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW JACK.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
- EQUIPMENT9
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES8
- AIR BAGS6
- STRUCTURE4
- SERVICE BRAKES4
- HYDRAULIC4
- STEERING3
Read individual complaints (46 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/26/1996· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
AT TIMES THE DOOR LOCKS STICK AND WILL NOT OPEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
- 12/09/1996· INTERIOR LIGHTING
DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED FOUR TIMES. *AK
- 12/02/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
HOOD LOCK RECALL WORK CAN NOT BE DONE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
- 11/13/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY
WHILE DRIVING WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, THEY COULD QUIT WORKING. HEADLIGHTS COULD BE ON, THEN TURN OFF.*AK
- 11/07/1995· AIR BAGSCrash
AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN RIDING OVER A DISFIGURATION IN THE ROAD. BOTTOM OF VEHICLE SCRAPED ROAD W/LOSING CONTROL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
- 10/31/1997· AIR BAGS
IAR BAGS: PULLED OUT OF GAS STATION OIN MAIN STREET AT 5MPH AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON AND DID NOT HIT A BUMP OR ANYTHING, THE AIR BAGS JUST DEPLOYED. *AK
- 10/22/1999· STRUCTURE
BEFORE RECEIVING A MFR. RECALL NOTICE ON HOOD LATCH; VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT( BENT HOOD ). LATER ON WHILE DRIVING THE ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX. 55 MPH THE HOOD POP OPEN, AND CRACKS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. NOTIFED DEALER OF RECALL AND INFORMED CONSUMER THEY REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER.
- 10/22/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DEALER ABOUT TWO RECALLS, ONE IS ON THE HOOD LATCH RECALL #98V160000, AND THE OTHER IS THE REAR BRAKE LINE RECALL #98V195000. DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE PARTS. *AK
- 10/20/1995· AIR BAGSCrash
IN ACCIDENT AT 25-30MPH AT 12:00 POSITION PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
- 10/14/1999· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
RECALL 98V160000/VW HOOD LATCH; BEFORE RECALL RECEIVED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HOOD LATCH FAILURE WHILE DRIVING A T APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MP.; HOOD UNLATCHED AND HIT TOP OF ROOF AND CRACKED FRONT WINDSHIELD. AFTER RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT LATCH WAS TEMPERED WITH AND BENT. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR HOOD LATCH. ASKING NHTSA TO HELP IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
- 10/10/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES SQUEAK. *SD
- 10/06/2000· STRUCTURE
TRYING TO KEEP DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CLOSED AT ALL TIME, BUT COULD NEVER KEEP IT CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE DOOR CHANNEL. THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN THERE SINCE THE BEGINING.*AK
- 10/03/1996· STEERING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,STRUCTURE,SEATS,EQUIPMENT
FUEL PUMP FAILED, ALSO LOOSE DRIVER'S SEAT/DEFECTIVE ALARM/LOOSE DRIVER'S SEAT/AIR CONDITIONING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
- 10/03/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL LINE HOSE CAME APART DUE TO FUEL LEAKAGE. TT CONSUMER NOTICED FAULTY FUEL LINE HOSE DUE TO STRONG GAS FUMES. *SLC
- 09/05/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINECOOLING FAN: FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL.
- 09/05/1995· AIR BAGS
DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS VIOLENT, CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVERS ARM, ALSO FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. *DSH
- 08/19/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RECALL 95V178000; WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOT OF NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT WAS BENT. ALSO, THAT ENTIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING. *AK
- 08/15/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILED. *AK
- 07/30/1996· EQUIPMENT
DEFECTIVE JACK RECALLED, REPLACEMENT JACK NOT RECEIVED AFTER WAITING NINE MONTHS.
- 07/24/2000· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WIRING UNDER THE HOOD IS TERRIBLE- SUNROOF LATCH BROKE AFTER 2YEARS- BATTERY LEAKS 3 TIMES CAUSING DAMAGES TO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR TWICE, MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS SO OFTEN. PLASTIC PARTS THAT THE MFG ARE USING ARE BAD QUALITY THEREFORE CAUSING CONSTANT BREAKDOWS .. AK..
- 07/24/2000· EQUIPMENT
A/C COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER FAILED-VALVE DID NOT OPEN PROPERLY- NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT INSTEAD OF VALVE ONLY. COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW. NHTSA SHOULD HAVE THIS UNIT RECALLED. *AK
- 07/23/1998· AIR BAGSCrash
CONSUMER RECEIVED AN IMPACT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER READ IN MANUAL THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD ONLY DEPLO IF VEHCILE WAS HIT OR RECEIVED IMPACT IN THE FRONT. PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR CUTS/ ABRASIONS FROM THE AIR BAGS. DEALER NOTIFIED AND CONSUMER WILL SEND A COPY OF MANUAL INFORMATION CONCERNING AIR BAGS. *AK
- 07/10/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
- 07/10/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BATTERY LEAKS - DESTROY THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. *AK
- 06/30/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,TIRES
TIRE BLEW OUT RESULTING IN HOLE IN THE GAS TANK DUE TO LACK OF PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR TANK.
- 06/26/1995· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT DESIGN COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL HARM TO BATTERY. *SKD
- 06/11/1996· EQUIPMENT
THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SEND HIM HIS SCISSOR JACK REGARDING RECALL 95V054000. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE RECEIVED WRITTEN NOTIFICATION FROM MANUFACTURER ABOUT A JACK RECALL, AND CONSUMER WOULD BE SENT A REPLACEMENT, THE JACK NEVER CAME AND CONSUMER HAS CALLED EVERY SIX WEEKS THEIR EXPLANATION IS THAT THEY ARE SENDING IT OR IT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, THE JACK CAN NOT BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEALER.*JB
- 06/01/1999· AIR BAGSCrash
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
- 05/28/1998· EQUIPMENT
AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER FAILURE.
- 05/23/2000· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. CONTROLLER WAS NOT TRANSMITTING TO TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT. TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REPLACED. EFFECT OF A BAD TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ALLOW CONSUMER TO PACE WITH FLOWING TRAFFIC. *AK
- 05/17/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
VEHICLE CAN NOT BE LOCKED. THE TUMBLER HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE DOOR HANDLE LEAVING A HOLE. PRIOR TO FALLING OUT THE CAR LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND COULD NOT BE OPENED, PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE.
- 05/07/1998· STRUCTURE
ALL THE DOOR LOCKS ARE POPPING OUT OF THE HOLE. (TUMBLER.) TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALE, R AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE LOCKS UNLESS THE DRIVER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. DRIVER SAID COULD NOT GET IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE LOCKS BROKE, AND THE KEY DID NOT WORK. *AK
- 04/30/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING A SMELL OF MELTED PLASTIC AND SHORTAGE OF ELECTRICTY WHICH COULD RESULT INTHE VEHICLE BECOMING INOPERATIVE. DISTRIBUTOR OF ALTENATOR SAID THAT HE HAD TO ORDER 24 ALTERNATORS WHICH ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR 94-95 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. *AK
- 04/23/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash
BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH
- 04/11/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FINE IN THE MORNING, BUT AFTER WORK (APPROX 5 PM) IT EITHER DOES NOT WORK OR ONLY WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES/MILES. SOMETIMES TAPPING ON THE FRONT OF THE GAUGE HELPS IT RESUME REGISTERING THE SPEED, SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT HELP. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF VW GOLF/CABRIO/JETTA OF SIMILAR MODEL YEAR AS MINE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
- 03/31/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UNABLE TO REPAIR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SPEEDOMETER) DUE TO PARTS SHORTAGE FROM VOLKSWAGEN. *AK
- 03/24/1999· SEAT BELTS
REAR SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT AFTER BEING PULLED OUT. YH
- 03/12/2000· SEAT BELTS
THE REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE BECOME TANGLED 4 TIMES ON EACH SIDE. *AK
- 03/11/1997· EQUIPMENT
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA HAS NOT SENT HER HER RECALL EPLACEMENT FOR THE JACK SINCE NOVEMBER OF 1995. SHE HAS CALLED THEM EVERY THREE MONTHS SINCE THEN AND STILL NO REPLACEMNT JACK. *AK
- 03/05/1998· STEERING
STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. ALSO METAL THAT HOLDS WHEEL IS VISIBLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY DEALER. *AK
- 03/04/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT IS SUSPECTED THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAULTY. BRAKE LIGHTS WILL CONSTANTLY BLOW, CAR WON'T START, DASHBOARD LIGHTS STAY OFF, SUNROOF WILL NOT WORK.*AK
- 02/11/2000· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY BROKE, CAUSING THE DOOR TO STAY OPEN AND NOT LATCH. DEALER SAID THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW DOOR LATCH ASSEMBY. *AK
- 02/04/1997· EQUIPMENT
RECEIVED RECALL LETTER REGARDING JACK NOT BEING PROPERLY MACHINED DURING MANUFACTURE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER MANY TIMES, NOT REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. 95V-054. *AK
- 01/30/1997· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKED UP IN THE COLD AND WHEN TRYING TO USE THE KEY, THE DOOR STILL WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE DOOR BUT THEY HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM YET. *AK
- 01/04/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT ENGINE FAILURE, WHEN APPROX. 65MPH ENGINE SHUT DOWN, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, DEALER'S MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX. TT
- 01/03/1997· EQUIPMENT
WAITING FOR JACK SINCE NOVEMBER OF 1995. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER MANY TIMES. STILL NO JACK. *AK