Used Volkswagen Golf 2013-2020 reliability
Category: Family car
Smooth, suave and sophisticated, the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 is a terrific used buy.
What should I look for in a used Volkswagen Golf hatchback?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
Gearbox issues
Volkswagen had largely sorted out the most expensive of its DSG automatic gearbox problems before this generation of Golf was launched, but there are still some early cars with which problems have been reported, so make sure the gearbox changes smoothly and there are no signs of temperamental behaviour.
Timing chains
Timing chains fitted to petrol engines have been known to snap prematurely; this can cause significant engine damage but can be mitigated by having the car serviced on time. This means a full service history is critical.
Sat-nav issues
Faults with the navigation and entertainment system, as well as other electrical niggles, have been reported on some models, so it’s worth checking that all the electrics work as they should.
High oil consumption
GTI models can suffer from high oil consumption, so it’s important to keep checking the oil level on these, even between services. If the level gets too low, it can cause damage to the engine or timing chain.
Adaptive cruise control
Examples fitted with adaptive cruise control (which can automatically match the speed of the car ahead of you in your chosen lane) can suffer from problems whereby the system gets confused and slams on the brakes. Often, there’s little that can be done to solve this. The system can be recalibrated, at a cost.
What are the most common problems with a used Volkswagen Golf hatchback?
At the time of writing, the Mk7 Volkswagen Golf has 14 recalls listed. To check whether your car has been affected, you can contact your local Volkswagen dealer. You will not need to pay for anything involving the recall.
Reason for recall
The door child locks may disengage without driver knowledge. Though the door remains closed it is possible for the door to then be opened from the inside.
How the manufacturer will repair: On affected vehicles, inspect lock mechanism and replace where necessary.
Number of affected vehicles: 13,620
Date of recall: 23/06/2016
Reason for recall
Front wheel bearing housings with insufficient hardness may have been fitted. This can lead to a fracture of a wheel bearing housing which can affect the directional control of the vehicle.
How the manufacturer will repair: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to check the casting dates of both front wheel bearing housings. Where the affected wheel bearing housings are found they will be replaced.
Number of affected vehicles: 303
Date of recall: 24/06/2015
Reason for recall
It has been identified that due to a programming issue with the On-Board Supply Control Unit, it is possible that the failure of one of the vehicle lights may not be recognised by the control unit and therefore not shown in the instrument cluster. It is also possible that vehicle lights may be shown as faulty when they are not. Furthermore, a failure of a dipped beam may not trigger a replacement response (activation of side lights). A light failure without a display in the instrument cluster or without replacement response can pose a danger of an accident, especially in the dark.
How the manufacturer will repair: Recall all affected vehicles to reprogram the On-Board Supply Control Unit.
Number of affected vehicles: 12,440
Date of recall: 23/01/2017
Reason for recall
Due to an error in the manufacturing process, the air bag and/or seat belt pretensioner may not trigger in the event of a collision
How the manufacturer will repair: On affected vehicles, replace air bag assembly and seatbelt pretensioner where necessary.
Number of affected vehicles: 3879
Date of recall: 22/03/2017
Reason for recall
A tooling problem during manufacture could result in the cylinder head not being to specification. It is possible that the fuel rail could loosen and fuel leaks cannot be ruled out. The customer may notice a smell of fuel because of the leak. In the most unfavourable case, it is thought possible the fuel could ignite in the engine compartment.
How the manufacturer will repair: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the cylinder head.
Number of affected vehicles: 8
Date of recall: 25/07/2017
Reason for recall
The hardening process for the rear wheel bearing housings may not have been correctly performed. In the worst case this could lead to a fractured housing. Should a fractured housing occur there would be abnormal noises bad tyre wear and a theoretical possibility of wheel loss.
How the manufacturer will repair: Recall the 420 vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the right and left rear wheel bearing housings.
Number of affected vehicles: 420
Date of recall: 17/11/2017
Reason for recall
There is a possible faulty weld to the gas generator. If the airbag is deployed, there is a potential danger to the vehicle occupants by gas generator parts being ejected into the interior.
How the manufacturer will repair: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the airbag inflator unit.
Number of affected vehicles: 21
Date of recall: 02/02/2018
Reason for recall
The front brake discs may not meet the required thickness dimension. Under extreme loads this could cause cracking, which may lead to fractures.
How the manufacturer will repair: The front discs on affected vehicles will be checked for conformity and where necessary they will be replaced.
Number of affected vehicles: 56
Date of recall: 19/03/2018
Reason for recall
On a limited production period a burr may have developed on the locking bar of the head restraint guide.
How the manufacturer will repair: On affected vehicles the left head restraint guide on both front seats must be replaced.
Number of affected vehicles: 2881
Date of recall: 11/05/2018
Reason for recall
The rear back rest head restraint mounting is not correctly welded.
How the manufacturer will repair: Check and replace rear back rest frame if required.
Number of affected vehicles: 4027
Date of recall: 12/12/2018
Reason for recall
The housing bolts on the camshaft adjuster may come loose and break the pulley.
How the manufacturer will repair: On the affected vehicles the camshaft adjuster has to be replaced.
Number of affected vehicles: 472
Date of recall: 09/08/2019
Reason for recall
The bolted connection of the pull rod between the electromechanical brake servo and brake pedal may come loose, resulting in a loss of all service braking ability.
How the manufacturer will repair: Vehicles are not to be driven and the bolted connection of the input rod between the electromechanical brake servo and brake pedal must be checked and if necessary retightened
Number of affected vehicles: 145
Date of recall: 10/09/2021
Reason for recall
On affected vehicles, the software specification of safety-related systems and component groups may not have been in line with the standard condition at the time.
How the manufacturer will repair: On affected vehicles, the system software will be checked and updated accordingly.
Number of affected vehicles: 1
Date of recall: 01/03/2024
Reason for recall
On affected vehicles, the front airbag contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. If the airbag inflator explodes, metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
How the manufacturer will repair: The front airbag will be replaced.
Number of affected vehicles: 92
Date of recall: 22/08/2025
Click here for more information. Contact your local VW dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.
Is a used Volkswagen Golf hatchback reliable?
The Mk7 Volkswagen Golf is generally a reliable car. While the petrol version finished in 22nd place out of 29 cars in the family car section of the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, it received a good reliability rating of 90.7%. As a whole, this generation of Golf should be more reliable than the Ford Focus, Seat Leon (2020-present) and Mk8 Volkswagen Golf, but less reliable than the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
As a car brand, Volkswagen placed 24th out of 30 manufacturers featured. Its overall reliability rating of 90.5% makes it a more reliable brand than Nissan, but less reliable than Honda, Skoda and Toyota.
Used Volkswagen Golf reliability: the owners' view
In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, Mk7 Volkswagen Golf owners have painted a mixed but concerning picture of the car's reliability.
While many owners reported trouble-free motoring, a significant number reported a range of frustrating and costly issues. A major trend was problems with the DSG automatic gearbox, which many found to be unreliable, suffering from jerky changes or complete failure, sometimes requiring expensive repairs. Owners also flagged frequent issues with the air conditioning system. Some reported electrical gremlins, including warning lights illuminating on the dash, and intermittent faults with the infotainment system and parking brake.
The experience with the dealer network appears particularly inconsistent. Several readers found service to be poor or felt they were overcharged for fixes. One owner reported being quoted a wildly inflated price for a simple tire patch and others felt their faulty cars were poorly handled. However, some readers did report very positive experiences, with dealers who were helpful and honoured warranty work effectively. The overall impression is that while the car itself can suffer from notable faults, the quality of the dealer service varies drastically.
