There are 14 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2015 Volkswagen Golfin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I smelled a strong odor coming from the heater that turned out to be burnt plastic and wiring associated with the auxiliary heater. This is an obvious fire/ smoke hazard that could have been deadly if other nearby components caught fire.
Clock spring issue in VW golf’s should re reinvestigated. These are failing on these cars and companies are not looking into fixes or warranty help for these devices that should last. It’s shortsighted for consumers to continue to deal with this issue.
When I switch the key to turn on the car it does turn on and it says starting system error on the dashboard car runs ok it’s just that it keep saying that and I think there is something wrong with the ignition switch that Volkswagen should address. Thank you!
The frame and track of the sun roof has developed a crack. It is available for inspection upon request. Because the frame/track developed a crack in the structural material, I can hear it rattling when I drive, which tells me it is loose. A loose sun roof structural system is not good, as driving on a freeway / highway at a higher speed could possibly cause the sun roof to become detached and fly off of the vehicle, or dislodge enough to distract the driver. Another secondary problem that has happened because of this loose, cracked sun roof track/frame, is that water has now been leaking into the car (possibly causing mold and condensation which has fogged up the windshield while driving) and slippery conditions all over the track/frame. This water drips through the overhead electrical panel, the headliner and down into the speakers. This can cause an electrical shortage in the vehicle, or shock. Water dripping into the car while driving on a rainy day on the freeway, can cause major distraction to the driver in dangerous conditions. The vehicle and sun roof issue have been inspected by the VW dealer, auto shop, and insurance. The VW dealer did tell me they have this issue often for these same models (they were fixing one as i was talking to them) and I have seen lawsuits online for this same issue. The car has never warned me about this issue, there are no warning lamps or messages pertaining to this. Nothing has ever severely impacted the car to cause this problem (It has never been in an accident). Please note, I have not used / opened / activated / operated this sun roof since this issue began back in December 2021. Car Insurance has offered to pay for a new headliner, but not for sun roof repair. The lifetime warranty has declined to pay for the repair because water has been involved (even though water is a secondary issue to the initial issue of a crack developing in the sun roof track/frame under normal dry warm conditions).
CLOCK SPRING BROKE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND RECALL FOR PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT APPARENTLY NOT MINE. SYMPTOMS ARE AIRBAG LIGHT ON, INOPERABLE STEERING WHEEL ACCESSORIES INCLUDING HORN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. FIRST KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS UPON STARTING FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE.
When I turn on the ignition it says on the screen Starting system fault please service the vehicle.
I WAS TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL TO PARALLEL PARK TODAY AND HEARD A 'CLICK' FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. MY AIRBAG LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ONE. I DID SOME INVESTIGATION, AND MY PROBLEM IS EXACTLY WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THIS ARTICLE: HTTPS://AUTOWEEK.COM/ARTICLE/RECALLS/NHTSA-INVESTIGATE-415000-VW-VEHICLES-AIRBAG-ISSUE MY HORN IS NOT WORKING. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE LOST ELECTRICAL CONTROL ON ALL BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS INCLUDES VOLUME BUTTONS, HANDS-FREE PHONE CONTROL BUTTONS, AND THE BUTTON THAT CHANGES THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD DISPLAY.
I DROVE THE CAR TO A MEETING ON THURSDAY EVENING, JAN 4TH, 2018. PARKED IT IN A RESIDENTIAL HOME OFFICE PARKING AREA IN SANTA FE, NM AT 6PM. AT 6:10PM ANOTHER PERSON ARRIVED TO THE MEETING AND SAID SHE SAW FLAMES BY A RED CAR. IT WAS MY GOLF. SEVERAL OF US WENT OUT WITH POTS OF WATER AND A HOSE TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. MOVED THE OTHER VEHICLES AWAY FROM IT TO AVOID IT SPREADING. THE FLAMES CAME DOWN FROM THE ENGINE ONTO THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THE BUMPER. IT WAS SMOKY AND SMELT HORRIBLE. WE WERE ABLE TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. WHEN THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED THEY USED A SPECIAL TOOL TO PRY THE HOOD OPEN AND USED THE RESIDENTIAL GARDEN HOSE TO DOUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP THE SMOLDERING AND REDUCE THE HEAT OF THE VEHICLE TO ASSURE IT WOULD NOT IGNITE AGAIN. THE CAR WAS ASSESSED AS TOTALED. I JUST BOUGHT IT FROM VW UPTOWN ABQ. IT WAS A TDI THAT HAD THE MODIFICATION FOR THE EMISSIONS CLASS ACTION SUIT.
CLOCK SPRING FAILURE IN THE STEERING WHEEL DISABLED AIRBAG OF 2015 GOLF.
NEED TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS WITH THE VW GOLF R 2015 MODEL. ANYTHING RELATED TO ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, EXHAUST THAT WOULD CAUSE A FIRE
CHARGING PORT FAILURE LOCKED CHARGER HANDLE IN PLACE. COULD NOT MOVE VEHICLE UNTIL EVSE WAS REMOVED FROM BUILDING. THEN CAR WAS TOWED TO SERVICE CENTER WHERE CAR'S CHARGING PORT WAS REPLACED. CAR WAS STATIONARY, CHARGING ON A LEVEL 2 EVSE. MANUAL OVERRIDE PROCEDURE DESCRIBED IN OWNER'S MANUAL FAILED TO UNLOCK CHARGING PORT.## VIN PASSED ## VW E-GOLF SEL 2015 ##
I LEASED THE E-GOLF FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND SUDDENLY CAR SHUT DOWN. AN ERROR "ERROR:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. STOP!" APPEARED. CAR STOPPED AND BLOCKED THE LANE. I CALLED VW SOS AND THEY CONNECTED ME TO 911. POLICE OFFICER CAME AND HELPED ME PULLING THE CAR TO THE ROADSIDE. THE WINDOWS AND MULTIMEDIA WORKED. TRIED TO PRESS THE POWER BUTTON OFF AND TURNED IT ON BUT SAME ERROR SHOWED. I WAITED FOR ONE HOUR TO TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALER. I GOT CAR BACK FROM DEALER 4 DAYS LATER, IN THEIR REPORT STATED " CHECKED FAULTS IN SYSTEM, FOUND P0C0100 DRIVE MOTOR A CURRENT HIGH. CONTACTED VW HELPLINE. VW HELPLINE ADVISED THESE FAULTS ARE RELATED TO CUSTOMER PRESSING START/STOP BUTTON WHILE DRIVING" , I'M PRETTY SURE I DIDN'T TOUCH THE POWER BUTTON WHEN DRIVING. AND THEY " CLEARED ALL FAULTS, SET BASIC SETTING FOR ELECTRIC DRIVE AND ROAD TESTED EXTENSIVELY FOR 90 MILES AND NO MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AT THIS TIME". I LIKE THE CAR'S DESIGN AND STILL DRIVING THE CAR DAILY BUT JUST REALLY REALLY WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY.
THE VW EGOLF AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ITSELF OFF WHEN THE DRIVER EXITS THE VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH THE KEY IS LEFT IN THE VEHICLE, ONCE THE DRIVER EXITS THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. YOU INTENTIONALLY LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON TO ENSURE THE CABIN IS MAINTAINING A COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE FOR YOUR PASSENGERS... MEANWHILE, THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND DISABLES THE CLIMATE CONTROL. YOU HAVE NOW LEFT YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, ELDERLY, CHILDREN, PETS, ETC POSSIBLY IN A HOT VEHICLE WITH NO WAY TO MAINTAIN CABIN TEMPERATURE! PEOPLE, CHILDREN AND PETS DIE REGULARLY FROM CABIN EXTREME TEMPERATURES! PLEASE CONTACT VW AND TELL THEM TO REVERSE THIS PROGRAMING! A DRIVER/OWNER SHOULD HAVE CONTROL OVER THIS! I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN THE MARKET THAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ITSELF OFF WHEN THE DRIVER EXITS THE VEHICLE!
I WAS IN HAYWARD ON THE 880 FREEWAY (FLAT, DRY ROAD) IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, IN THE HOV LANE GOING ABOUT 40 MPH, AND MY VW E-GOLF JUST SHUT DOWN AND SHOWED THE ERROR "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE: STOP!". I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO COAST 5 FEET OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE (CENTER DIVIDER) I COULD NOT MAKE IT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE LANE. CARS WERE LAYING ON THEIR HORN AND SPEEDING PAST ME WHILE MY BUMPER HUNG OUT A FOOT INTO THE LANE. THE CAR IS 3 MONTHS OLD. IT HAD A CHARGE OF 86 MILES WHEN IT HAPPENED, I HAD IT ON A CHARGING STATION IT SHOWED I CHARGED MY CAR ACCUMULATED (KWH): 29.523. THE RADIO, WINDOWS, BLUETOOTH AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL POWERED INSTRUMENTS STILL WORKED. I PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN , THE ERROR STILL REMAINED, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT "TURN ON".
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