2017 Volkswagen Golf: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2017 Volkswagen Golf: 5 recalls, 117 owner complaints and up to 29 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags, Seat belts Vehicle recall #16V955000 · 2016 · 5,947 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi a7, a4, a6, Volkswagen golf and tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that May not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi q7, a4 sedan, a4 allroad, and 2018 Audi q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners May…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017.
Electrical, Steering Vehicle recall #18V464000 · 2018 · 33,168 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen golf and golf sportwagen vehicles. The build of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts May enable the key to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle shift lever is not in "park." as such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 114, "theft…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019.
Suspension Vehicle recall #19V188000 · 2019 · 56,173 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019.
Other / unknown Vehicle recall #21V321000 · 2021 · 46 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 touareg gp, tiguan, golf a6, e-golf gp, ccf, 2016-2017 passat gp, 2018-2019 golf r gp, and 2018 atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and May have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles May fail to comply with the requirements of…
Why it matters: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements May have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
The fix: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #24V110000 · 2024 · 261,257 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 5 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Fuel & propulsion (51): the most common themes are leaks (28), warning light on (10), fire / smoke (9).
- Engine (18): the most common themes are leaks (6), warning light on (4), stalls / loses power (4).
- Other / unknown (12): the most common themes are warning light on (2).
- Electrical (10): the most common themes are electrical failure (3), warning light on (2), leaks (2).
The 2017 Volkswagen Golf has 117 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 34 Golf model years for complaints (2.8× the average Golf year). Complaints peaked in 2022 (27 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 24,306 miles. Neighboring years: 2016 (85 complaints, 9 recalls), 2018 (29 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 35 | 29 | Regular |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 36 | 29 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2017 Volkswagen Golf.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2017 Volkswagen Golf have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2017 Volkswagen Golf. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2017 Volkswagen Golf problems?
Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are fuel & propulsion (51), engine (18), other / unknown (12).
What gas mileage does the 2017 Volkswagen Golf get?
EPA ratings run up to 29 mpg combined (1.8 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2017 Volkswagen Golf repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.