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exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (5)
Exterior lighting: brake lights, switch
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Risk and remedy
Risk: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights, switch
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.
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.
Equipment: other, owners/service/other manual
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
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. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).
Risk and remedy
Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
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 REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Suspension: front, control arm
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: THE CONTROL ARM COULD GRADUALLY LOOSEN AND ULTIMATELY SEPARATE FROM ITS BRACKET IN NORMAL DRIVING WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. AS THE BRACKET LOOSENS, LOUD METALLIC KNOCKING SOUNDS IN FROM THE VEHICLE WILL BE HEARD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRACKET AND IF THE WELDING IS INSUFFICIENT, WILL REPLACE THE CONTROL ARM.
Canadian recalls (5)
Show 5 Canadian recalls
Lights and instruments
2006-05-24 · campaign 2006-122
On certain Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta wagon, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, Passat and Passat wagon, the brake lamp switch may malfunction. If this happens, the brake lamps could become inoperative; or could come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked. Correction: Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch with a newly revised version. This action includes vehicles previously affected by Transport Canada recall 03-184 and 04-075. The switch installed during this prior repair may not function properly. Note: parts available December 2006.
Electrical
2004-12-13 · campaign 2004-436
On certain 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. The subject vehicles utilize a 27-watt turn signal bulb, instead of the 21-watt bulb used in other VW vehicles, which results in substantially higher current draw through the hazard switch relay. This may result in intermittent or inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function. Correction: Dealers will replace the hazard switch relay.
Brakes
2002-02-15 · campaign 2002-028
On certain passenger vehicles short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (ABS). This can result in a fire. Correction: Dealers will replace the ABS control unit.
Steering
2000-10-03 · campaign 2000-214
On certain vehicles, one of two brackets used to bolt the front control arm to the body structure may not have been welded to specifications. Depending on the strength of the weld seams, the control arm could gradually loosen and ultimately separate from its bracket resulting in control difficulty or possible loss of vehicle control. Correction: Vehicles will be inspected and suspect control arms will be replaced.
Other
2000-09-14 · campaign 2000-189 · 32 vehicles
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 115 - Vehicle Identification Number. Vehicles were produced with a V.I.N. which contains an incorrect check digit. Correction: V.I.N. Plate and Certification Label will be replaced.
Owner complaints (116)
Owners filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Volkswagen Golf/GTI (4 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries reported). Among 39 model years of this model, it ranks #3 for the most complaints (median 18).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Air bags | 32 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 23 | |
| Electrical system | 15 | |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | |
| Visibility | 13 | |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 9 | |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | |
| Power train | 7 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2001 Volkswagen Golf/GTI.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2001 Volkswagen Golf 4-DR. w/SAB | – | – | – | – |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2001 Volkswagen Golf/GTI version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| GTI 1.8 L Automatic 4-spd | 20 | 26 | 22 | $3,750 |
| GTI 1.8 L Manual 5-spd | 22 | 28 | 24 | $3,400 |
| GTI 2.8 L Manual 5-spd | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Golf 1.8 L Automatic 4-spd | 20 | 26 | 22 | $3,750 |
| Golf 1.8 L Manual 5-spd | 22 | 28 | 24 | $3,400 |
| Golf 1.9 L Automatic 4-spd | 29 | 40 | 33 | $2,900 |
| Golf 1.9 L Manual 5-spd | 35 | 44 | 38 | $2,500 |
| Golf 2.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 20 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Golf 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.