2001 Volkswagen Golf Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 2001 Volkswagen Golf, and owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

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5 safety recalls for the 2001 Volkswagen Golf

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Switch (exterior lighting)

   NHTSA 07V063000 Reported February 20, 2007 1,002,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

   On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.

   Remedy: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on april 27, 2007, and will be conducted in several staggered mailings through september 21, 2007. Vehicles within the make,…

2. Switch (exterior lighting)

   NHTSA 04V584000 Reported December 16, 2004 410,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

   On certain passenger vehicles, the hazard switch and flasher system function may degrade over time because of distortion and material transfer of the contacts of certain hazard switch relays which occurs due to substantially increased electrical current load from higher wattage turn signal bulbs.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the hazard flasher switch/relay kit. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

3. Owners/service/other manual (equipment)

   NHTSA 02V244000 Reported September 12, 2002 332,950 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

   Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." child seat anchorages installed in the vehicle's rear seats must be identified by markings, and their location and use be described in the owner's manual.

   Remedy: Owners will be provided with a supplement for the owner's manual and also one set of four guidance fixtures intended to use in conjunction with child seats equipped with rigid or semi-rigid lower anchorage attachments.…

4. Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (service brakes)

   NHTSA 02V031000 Reported January 31, 2002 55,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

   On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (ABS).

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the ABS control unit. Owner notification began march 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…

5. Suspension: upper arm

   NHTSA 00V280000 Reported September 20, 2000 4,218 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. One of two brackets used to bolt the front suspension control arm in front of the vehicle to the body structure may not have been welded sufficiently.

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect the bracket and if the welding is insufficient, will replace the control arm.

116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2001 Volkswagen Golf have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 80,112 miles. Complaints peaked in 2005 with 23 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Air bags16
• Air bags: side/window10
• Electrical system8
• Engine and engine cooling: gasoline8
• Exterior lighting: switch8
• Visibility: power window devices and controls7
• Engine and engine cooling: engine6
• Vehicle speed control6

What owners are reporting

“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen golf. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and she was informed that the air bags”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 21, 2021 · Air bags

“The door latches on all four driver and passenger doors often malfunction. Most the time you have to press on the door from the outside until you hear a soft click before the the door handle will work”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 29, 2020 · Structure

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2001 Volkswagen Golf/GTI (GTI, Golf). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Compare Volkswagen Golf model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Golf model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 2001 Volkswagen Golf

Other Volkswagen models

• Jetta10,000 complaints
• Passat7,705 complaints
• Beetle2,596 complaints
• Tiguan2,300 complaints
• Atlas1,999 complaints
• GTI1,405 complaints
• ID.41,007 complaints
• Cc983 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.