There are 2 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2005 Volkswagen Golfin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TURBOCHARGER ON 2005 VW GOLF FAILED TWICE (5000 MI AND 95000 MI). FIRST BLADE FAILED (COVERED BY WARRANTY), SECOND SHAFT BROKE IN HALF ($1,800 OUT OF POCKET). I BOUGHT CAR BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RELAAIBLE AND SUPPOSED REPUTATION OF THE DIESEL ENGINE. I DON'T THINK TWO FAILURES OF $1,800ITEM IN 2.5 YRS IS ACCEPTABLE.
DT: CONSUMER OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF WITH TURBO DIESEL INJECTION. SHE BOUGHT VEHICLE WITH 75 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON AND PASSING A BIG TRUCK WHICH WAS MERGING INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FELL BACK. TRUCK VEERED INTO THE LANE AND CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO THE MEDIAN UNTIL TRUCK NOTICED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, GOT OVER, AND LET HER BACK IN THE LANE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CONSUMER CALLED DEALER THE NEXT MORNING AND DEALER CAME AND PICKED UP VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS FIXED. CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE. WHEN SHE GOT INTO VEHICLE AND TURNED KEY ON SHE SAW THAT ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. WHEN GETTING BACK ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND VEHICLE HAD NO POWER. WHEN CONSUMER ARRIVED AT HUSBAND'S JOB TO PICK HIM UP SHE RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE DEALER TELLING HER THAT THE TURBO WAS OUT, AND VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE . TURBO PART WOULD BE IN ON FRIDAY. SHE RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY GAVE HER A LOANER VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED TURBO. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR DIFFERENT FUEL RELATED PROBLEMS.*AK
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