There are 3 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2004 Volkswagen Golfin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH WHEN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE WIRING FOR THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 8/31/12 *CN UPDATED 09/11/2012 *JS
GLOW PLUG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH WHILE DRIVING, RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS AND CHECKED MY VEHICLE. THOUGH MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL YEARS AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN NOTIFICATION ABOUT A RECALL THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED ON MY VEHICLE RESULTING IN MY BRAKE LIGHTS NOT LIGHTING WHEN I BRAKE. THIS IS A HAZARD TO ME AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. *JB
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT ON JUNE 30, 2005, HIS VEHICLE BURNED TO THE GROUND, VW 2004 TURBO DIESEL GOLF. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CONSUMER STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE. THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR. AFTER THE CONSUMER RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, HE TURNED AROUND TO SEE THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES FROM THE BACK SEATS. THERE WAS ALSO A CASE OF OIL BEHIND THE BACK SEAT, WHICH THE CONSUMER STATES THAT MAY HAVE SPREAD THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAD ONLY OWED THE VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS. ALL OF THE OWNERS PAPERWORK FROM THE CAR WAS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT BURNED. THE CONSUMER HAS SPOKEN TO THE DEALER BRIEFLY, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, OR HAD NOT HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. THE CAR IS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSS NOW. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER THE OWNER ESCAPED. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026