RecallMyCar

2010 Volkswagen Golf Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2010 Volkswagen Golf, and owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
69
owner complaints to NHTSA
3 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
25–32
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 2010 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. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 18V148000 Reported 363,713 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer…

  2. Electronic stability control (esc) and antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (service brakes)

    NHTSA 16V913000 Reported 135,683 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC)…

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will…

  3. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V078000 Reported 659,493 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure…

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification…

  4. Fuel system, diesel

    NHTSA 11V490000 Reported 168,275 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

    Volkswagen is recalling certain model 2009-2012 jetta and jetta sportwagen vehicles, manufactured from may 2008 through september 2011, model year 2010-2012 volkswagen golf vehicles, manufactured from may 2009 through september 2011, and model year 2010-2012 audi a3 vehicles, manufactured from september 2009 through september 2011, that…

    Remedy: Volkswagen will install an improved fuel injector line for the number 2 cylinder on certain vehicles and will install vibration dampers on all of the injector lines. Volkswagen and audi will notify owners to have the…

69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2010 Volkswagen Golf have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 41,055 miles. Complaints peaked in 2011 with 16 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mech”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 18, 2024 · Service brakes, hydraulic

“The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Golf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) however, the dealer declin”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 18, 2024 · Service brakes, hydraulic

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2010 Volkswagen Golf/GTI (GTI, Golf). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined25–32 mpg
City / Highway21–29 / 30–39
FuelDiesel, Premium, Regular
EPA classCompact Cars
Engine4/5 cyl, 2/2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S6); Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd

Compare Volkswagen Golf model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1985 Volkswagen Golf510
1986 Volkswagen Golf413
1987 Volkswagen Golf34
1988 Volkswagen Golf59
1989 Volkswagen Golf317
1990 Volkswagen Golf410
1991 Volkswagen Golf28
1992 Volkswagen Golf16
1993 Volkswagen Golf47
1994 Volkswagen Golf441
1995 Volkswagen Golf443
1996 Volkswagen Golf13
1997 Volkswagen Golf07
1998 Volkswagen Golf118
1999 Volkswagen Golf464
2000 Volkswagen Golf588
2001 Volkswagen Golf5116
2002 Volkswagen Golf374
2003 Volkswagen Golf226
2004 Volkswagen Golf228
2005 Volkswagen Golf219
2006 Volkswagen Golf112
2007 Volkswagen Golf02
2008 Volkswagen Golf01
2009 Volkswagen Golf03
2010 Volkswagen Golf469
2011 Volkswagen Golf6110
2012 Volkswagen Golf648
2013 Volkswagen Golf543
2014 Volkswagen Golf511
2015 Volkswagen Golf12131
2016 Volkswagen Golf985
2017 Volkswagen Golf5116
2018 Volkswagen Golf629
2019 Volkswagen Golf663
2020 Volkswagen Golf26
2021 Volkswagen Golf17
2022 Volkswagen Golf081
2023 Volkswagen Golf011

Checking a specific 2010 Volkswagen Golf

How do I know if my 2010 Volkswagen Golf has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2010 Volkswagen Golf; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V490000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Volkswagen models

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.