10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,143 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Volkswagen Golf electrical problems

electrical problem

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2013 Volkswagen Golf Owner Comments

problem #7

Feb 102023

Golf

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

i was driving down the freeway on the way to work at 75 mph when all of a sudden my EPC went off in my 2013 volkswagon gti my entire car shut down (manual transmission) i lost all steering ability while on the freeway going 75 mph i couldn't get over to the shoulder due to loss of brakes due to entire car shutting down.i was almost smashed by a semi due to inability to steer my vehicle to total loss of power. i got the vehicle towed to a service shop they tell me that my timing chain had stretched and timing chain tensioner has failed, which caused significant damage to my engine. i bought the vehicle used and have taken meticulous car on it since i have owned it 3k oil changes, proper oil, proper, premium gas as notated milage based maintenance. the service center then notifies me that there was a class action lawsuit about failing timing chains and tensioners but when i called my local volkswagon dealership they told me it only covers up to125,000 miles but what i don't understand is that this issue almost cost me my life this is a known issue hence a class action lawsuit but to actually take care of the situation they refuse to do so i do enjoy the vehicle but i almost lost my life

- Warren, OH, USA

problem #6

Nov 192019

Golf

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that the front passenger-€™s side seat overheated and burned the occupant. The burn injuries were minor and there was no medical attention sought. The contact mentioned that the front passenger side fan was failing as well. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but no failure was determined. The vehicle was taken to another dealer and the contact was informed that the rear passenger-€™s side door had mildew and mold and that there was a leak that caused electrical damage inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 40,000.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

problem #5

Mar 072021

Golf

  • 91,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, he shifted into third gear and the vehicle sputtered and shut-off with the battery warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated a tow truck tried to boost the battery and it failed. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to his residence. The contact repaired the battery however, the failure persisted. The vehicle still failed to restart. The local dealer was contacted but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 91,000.

- Milwaukee, OR, USA

problem #4

Sep 012018

Golf

  • 53,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Key gets stuck in ignition and I cannot turn off the engine.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #3

Sep 212017

Golf

  • 50,000 miles
On two occasions, about two weeks apart, the power cut off while driving. The car became very difficult to steer. The alternator light came on. After turning the ignition off and on again once or twice, the car started again, and the light was no longer on. On the first of these occasions, the car was being driven on a city street. It was a minute or two after first starting the car that day. The second was also on a city street. This also occurred just after starting, while turning a corner. On a third occasion, about one week before the above-mentioned two incidents, the epc light came on and power was diminished, but the engine did not cut out totally. This occurred on an expressway, after the car had been driven for some time. After dropping in speed, the engine returned to normal before the car stopped. Both problems would appear to be electrical problems. VW customer service told me that as there was no light on the dashboard, they could not diagnose the problem. Needless to say, this is a very dangerous problem.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #2

Jul 072017

Golf

  • 78,000 miles
The epc started coming on, it loses power and sometimes cuts off while I am driving. My speed slows down to 3 miles an hour.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #1

Feb 102014

Golf

  • 11,000 miles
When I turned the key to start the car, the dash lights flickered and turned dim. It sounded like it does when the car battery was dead but smoke started to come out from under the hood. As I left to get to the phone, flames started to come out of the hood. I got to a phone as soon as I could and called 911. The car was parked down the street from our house because of a snow storm. The fire department came and put out the fire but the car was destroyed.

- Portland, OR, USA

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