2019 Volkswagen Golf R recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Unknown Or Other
What's wrong, in plain English: A vehicle part that may fail. 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.
What could happen: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
The fix: 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.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2019 GOLF R.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 21V321000 (manufacturer code 01F1).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Summary: 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.
Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
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.
2. Wheels / tires
What's wrong, in plain English: A wheel or tire can fail while driving. 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."
What could happen: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2019 GOLF R.
- Book a repair at any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 22V815000 (manufacturer code (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Summary: 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."
Consequence: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- Digital tire pressure gauge
- 2019 Volkswagen Golf R owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Forward Collision Avoidance (2), Backup camera (1), Unknown Or Other (1), Wheels / tires (1), Electrical system (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (6)
06/22/2026 · Forward Collision Avoidance · crash
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 rese…
09/20/2023 · Forward Collision Avoidance
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 a…
07/20/2023 · Unknown Or Other
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…
07/11/2022 · Wheels / tires
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 al…
05/08/2021 · Electrical system
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 T…
09/29/2020 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)
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…