Reliable Auto DB

2018 Volkswagen Golf reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Volkswagen Golf holds 37 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 4 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Golf years here — under the median of the other years, which is 7. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Fuel system, gasoline, Labels, and Control module.

2012 Volkswagen Golf
Photo by Vauxford, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

37

Per year

4

Recalls

6

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Fuel and propulsion system (10 of 37), then Structure (5) and Engine (4). Those filings include 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Golf has 189 complaints, 19 per year, and the 2019 has 82 complaints, 18 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Volkswagen Golf. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (6)

Recall Fuel system, gasoline 2024-02-14 · NHTSA campaign 24V110000
Summary 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 (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Remedy 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
Recall Labels 2020-06-24 · NHTSA campaign 20V372000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling two 2018 Golf GTI vehicles. The VIN printed on the Federal Certification label may not match the actual VIN on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a correct certification label, free of charge. This recall began July 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E7.
Recall electrical system, ignition, anti-theft, control module 2019-08-22 · NHTSA campaign 19V615000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
Recall suspension, rear, springs, coil springs 2019-03-06 · NHTSA campaign 19V188000
Summary 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.
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
Recall steering, column locking, anti-theft device 2018-07-11 · NHTSA campaign 18V464000
Summary 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 Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37L5.
Recall hydraulic brakes, foundation components, disc, caliper 2018-06-01 · NHTSA campaign 18V369000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Remedy Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.

Complaints by component (37 total)

Fuel and propulsion system
10
Structure
5
Engine
4
Powertrain
4
Forward collision avoidance
3
Electrical system
2
Exterior lighting
2
Service brakes
2
Steering
2
Suspension
2
Lane departure
1
Speed control
1
Tires
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 6 more Show less
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

2

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220188201922020420215202252023620242202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Vehicle brought in for Recall 20UF (fuel tank suction pump fire risk) on 04/15/2026. Upon pickup after approximately one week of dealer service, a strong chemical odor was present in the cabin that did not exist prior…"
    Structure, Unknown or other, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-05-31
  • "Took my car into VW in Johnson City TN because my millage has been dropping drastically. Went from about 420 miles to a tank, down to less than 300. There is hesitation and jerking when I accelerate as well as a…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-05-26
  • "SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION OF ODI COMPLAINT NUMBER 11740201. I am submitting critical supplemental information to my active safety complaint regarding a 2018 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen (1.8T engine). My primary safety…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-05-26
  • "Sunroof Glass Implosion While Driving (2018 Volkswagen Golf) While driving my 2018 Volkswagen Golf at normal highway speed, my sunroof suddenly and violently imploded without any warning or external impact. The sound…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2025-12-15
  • "Volkswagen Wastegate Turbo Failure / design flaw and “wrongfully and intentionally” concealed a defect from consumers that could cause their vehicle’s engine turbocharger to fail prematurely at any time. Drivers have…"
    Engine · filed 2025-05-18

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Golf 1.8L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 25 34 29 MPG $2250
Golf 1.8L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 33 28 MPG $2300
Golf Alltrack 1.8L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed All-wheel drive 21 30 24 MPG $2700
Golf Alltrack 1.8L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) All-wheel drive 22 30 25 MPG $2600
Golf R 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S7) All-wheel drive 22 29 25 MPG $3200
Golf R 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed All-wheel drive 21 29 24 MPG $3300
Golf SportWagen 1.8L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 33 28 MPG $2300
Golf SportWagen 1.8L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 25 34 29 MPG $2250
Golf SportWagen 4motion 1.8L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) All-wheel drive 22 29 24 MPG $2700
Golf SportWagen 4motion 1.8L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed All-wheel drive 22 31 25 MPG $2600

Specs and fitment

Mk7 (US), 2015–2021
Body styles Hatchback
Oil VW 502.00/504.00 5W-30 or 0W-20 (engine dependent) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 225/40R18

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 22V815000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.". An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash. Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Volkswagen Golf Next year 2019 Volkswagen Golf See every Volkswagen Golf model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Volkswagen Golf reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Volkswagen Golf holds 37 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 4 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Golf years here — under the median of the other years, which is 7. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Fuel system, gasoline, Labels, and Control module.

What are common problems with a 2018 Volkswagen Golf?

The complaints owners file most often name Fuel and propulsion system (10 of 37), then Structure (5) and Engine (4). Those filings include 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2018 Volkswagen Golf more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Golf has 189 complaints, 19 per year, and the 2019 has 82 complaints, 18 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Volkswagen Golf been recalled?

The 2018 Volkswagen Golf has 6 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Volkswagen Golf?

Owners have filed 37 complaints about the 2018 Volkswagen Golf with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Volkswagen Golf get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Volkswagen Golf is 26.1 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Volkswagen Golf use?

US Golf manuals list the approved VW oil standard and viscosity for your engine in the maintenance chapter.

What generation is the 2018 Volkswagen Golf?

Mk7 (US, 2015-2021).

What tire sizes does a Volkswagen Golf use?

Mk6 US pages often list 225/45R17; Mk7 pages commonly list 225/40R18.