NHTSA vehicle safety data

2019 Volkswagen Golf R Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf R has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 6 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Volkswagen dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2019 Volkswagen Golf R, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2019 Volkswagen Golf R owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Volkswagen Golf R, describing incidents dated September 25, 2020 to June 19, 2026.

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance 2 complaints
Back Over Prevention 1 complaint
Electrical System 1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Of the 6 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11745563 · Filed June 22, 2026
While turning (right hand turn) slowly into parking space, vehicle engine unexpectedly reved and accelerated causing vehicle to jump curb and strike fixed object (tree). Foot was not/not on the accelerator but rather on brake yet acceleration was so rapid vehicle could not be stopped prior to…
ODI #11545537 · Filed September 20, 2023
Design defect - impossible to disable active cruise control, and use regular/traditional cruise control. If adaptive cruise control sensor becomes dirty, it does not work, and there’s no option to use regular cruise control. This is a design flaw which VW rectified with new (2021+) models. VW should…
ODI #11533562 · Filed July 20, 2023
The issue was the key fob was not detected. I put my bag in the front seat of the car and shut the door, I then put my 19month old son in her car seat and shut the door. When I shut the rear car door the hazard lights flashed as if the car had locked. I went to the driver door and tried to open the…

Read all 6 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2019 Volkswagen Golf R in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Recall Query RQ23-007: Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
Closed July 1, 2024
- Recall 24V-110

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Tire Pressure Loss Not Detected/FMVSS 138

NHTSA #22V815000 · Tires — Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems · NHTSA notice

Reported October 31, 2022 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 296,044 vehicles

Repair completion: 86.37% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign AU:45J7,VW:45J6,45J8 · Owners notified November 18, 2022

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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 Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Modifications to Vehicles Made Them Noncompliant

NHTSA #21V321000 · Unknown or Other · NHTSA notice

Reported May 5, 2021 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 46 vehicles

Repair completion: 36.96% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign 01F1 · Owners notified May 20, 2021

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Safety consequence

Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2019 Volkswagen Golf R 4 DR AWD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

13% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning (Optional)

1 investigation

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Volkswagen Golf R.

Forward Collision Avoidance; Back Over Prevention

ODI #11745563

Crash

Incident: June 19, 2026 · Filed: June 22, 2026

While turning (right hand turn) slowly into parking space, vehicle engine unexpectedly reved and accelerated causing vehicle to jump curb and strike fixed object (tree). Foot was not/not on the accelerator but rather on brake yet acceleration was so rapid vehicle could not be stopped prior to striking curb and fixed object. Filing HHTSA report due to research indicating similar incidents of unanticipated rapid acceleration at slow speeds for VW Golf models.

Forward Collision Avoidance

ODI #11545537

Incident: September 2, 2023 · Filed: September 20, 2023

Design defect - impossible to disable active cruise control, and use regular/traditional cruise control. If adaptive cruise control sensor becomes dirty, it does not work, and there’s no option to use regular cruise control. This is a design flaw which VW rectified with new (2021+) models. VW should offer a software update to correct this defect, to allow a driver to toggle between ACC and traditional cruise control.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11533562

Incident: July 20, 2023 · Filed: July 20, 2023

The issue was the key fob was not detected. I put my bag in the front seat of the car and shut the door, I then put my 19month old son in her car seat and shut the door. When I shut the rear car door the hazard lights flashed as if the car had locked. I went to the driver door and tried to open the car door and it wouldn’t open. Despite the key being in the car (with batteries I never had any notices about a low battery) my son was now locked in the car. Luckily the fire department responded quickly, the key worked fine upon recovery but it took front start to end 30mins for my son to get out of the car. If we had been in a hot parking lot or somewhere else in the country this could’ve been potentially dangerous for any child.

Wheels

ODI #11473392

Incident: July 8, 2022 · Filed: July 11, 2022

During annual state inspection on 7/8/22, tech found that the right rear wheel (19" VW Pretoria Gloss Black Alloy Wheels) was bent on both the inside and outside. Unsafe to drive. Wheel had to be replaced. Do not recall hitting any pothole or road hazard that might have caused this damage to the wheel. Apparently, other owners of this model car have also experienced bent rims. This may be a manufacturing defect or a design flaw, in that the wheels cannot withstand the forces transmitted from stock low profile tires (235/35ZR-19).

Electrical System

ODI #11415660

Incident: May 7, 2021 · Filed: May 8, 2021

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE VEHICLE'S FUSE SYSTEM. THE GOLF R CAME WITH NO SPARE TIRE BUT AN AIR PUMP, WHICH NEEDS TO BE POWERED BY THE 12V DC POWER OF THE VEHICLE. BUT WHEN I USE THIS ORIGINAL AIR PUMP, THE FUSE OF THE 12V DC POWER BURNS OUT. THIS HAPPENED FOR SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I HAD THE CAR IN OCTOBER, 2019. THE DEALER CAN ONLY GIVE ME NEW FUSE TO REPLACE THE BROKEN ONE. MANY GOLF R'S OWNERS MET THIS SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I THINK THERE IS SOME ISSUES WITH THEIR FUSE SYSTEM DESIGN.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Service Brakes

ODI #11361705

Incident: September 25, 2020 · Filed: September 29, 2020

FOUR TIMES OVER THE LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH STRAIGHT DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, I EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT OF THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING, AND ONE OF THOSE FOUR TIMES, 4 DAYS AGO, I ADDITIONALLY EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT OF THE FRONT ASSIST EMERGENCY BRAKING WHICH CAUSED ME ALARM, AS THE SPEED DROPPED DRAMATICALLY FROM 35 MPH TO 20 MPH, AND I HAD TO BE SURE NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME TO CAUSE A REAR-END COLLISION. IN NONE OF THESE SITUATIONS WERE THERE ANY HAZARDS ON THE ROAD TO AVOID: CARS, PEDESTRIANS, OBJECTS. IN ALL OF THESE SITUATIONS, CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT 35 MPH. THE SENSOR IS NOT DIRTY. THE ERROR IS NOT CONSISTENT IN THE TIMING OF WHEN IT HAPPENS. WHEN THE FRONT ASSIST EMERGENCY BRAKING ENGAGED, THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING DID NOT APPEAR UNTIL ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER, WHEN THE ROAD WAS ALSO CLEAR AND MY SPEED WAS 35 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FROM AUGUST 2020 THAT DESCRIBES MY SITUATION ALMOST EXACTLY: HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2020/VW-FRONT-ASSIST-CLASS-ACTION-LAWSUIT-BRAKING.SHTML I HAVE NOT TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AS OF YET, BUT BASED UPON SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, I DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO DO MORE THAN PROFESSIONALLY SHRUG.

Other Volkswagen Golf R model years

Check your 2019 Volkswagen Golf R VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volkswagen Golf R at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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