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KLUNK
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2017 Volkswagen Golf r

The Verdict

55 Proceed with Caution

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf r has 195 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (84 complaints) and body (68 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 55/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Volkswagen Golf r, consider the 2013 model year which has 97% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2013 has 97% fewer complaints

View the 2013 Volkswagen Golf r dashboard →

55

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
201310300
201660141
201768628849
201803213
201941100
202260400
202312201
202423303

By Category

Engine
84
Body
68
Electrical
28
Transmission
9
Brakes
6

By Severity

1
106
2
79
3
8
4
2

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 2

Infotainment system is restarting itself repeatedly every 30 seconds to every few minutes.This has been going on for about 2 weeks. The component has not yet been inspected by a 3rd party.

7mo ago
Transmission 1

I am facing an issue with my car where it tends to roll back even when it's in park, regardless of whether the engine is on or off. The only time it remains stationary is when I apply the brakes and engage the emergency brake. This situation poses a safety concern for me and my family, and I would like to find a solution to ensure our vehicle stays securely in place when parked.

18mo ago
Engine 1

I've been experiencing a recurring issue with my vehicle where the EPC light frequently activates. When this happens, the car significantly reduces its speed, making it difficult to drive safely. I've noticed this situation over the past six to eight months, and it typically requires me to pull over. After turning off the vehicle multiple times, I'm usually able to reset it and drive normally again. I'm seeking advice on how to address this problem effectively.

18mo ago
Transmission 1

The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle and shifting to the park, the contact turned off the vehicle and the vehicle rolled backward. The driver depressed the brake pedal and activated the parking brake to stop the vehicle from rolling. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 170,000.

18mo ago
Engine 2

The component that failed, according to Volkswagen, is the rollover valve in the gas tank. This issue caused large amounts of gasoline to leak and pool from behind the rear passenger wheel well, creating a significant fire hazard and risk of harm. The vehicle was inspected by a Volkswagen service center as part of the repair process, whereupon the Volkswagen service center documented that the issue was caused by a faulty rollover valve in the gas tank. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure.

20mo ago
Engine 1

I had a suction jet pump recall due on the car. I took it to the dealer to fix. Mind you, I have never had an issue with this car ever. Now about a week later from the car being in the shop I get an engine malfunction light that comes on due to the evap system. Vw dealership of cool springs has not worked with me on this at all and it is frustrating to say the least.

22mo ago
Body 2

The water pump in these vehicles are known defects, with class actions resulting. My water pump has failed at less than 70k miles. This results in engine overheating and possible failure. Luckily I was able to get the car off the road.

22mo ago
Engine 2

Car has been leaking fuel for over a year. Had to pay out of pocket to get it fixed and VW refused to refund cost of repairs even though there is now a recall over a year later acknowledging the issue.

22mo ago
Electrical 2

Failure of wheel speed sensor in front right wheel. This is the THIRD time I have had a wheel speed sensor fail on this car, which has 35,000 miles on it. Failure caused loss of power steering, airbags, abs, etc.

23mo ago
Body 3

I have gear shift trim that has peeled and is extermely sharp in my vehicle. This had led to cutting my hands multiple times while accessing the center storage compartment. This is a known issue with GTIs and other Volkswagen trim manufacturing, yet Volkswagen refuses to replace the part in my VIN. The relevant Service Action Code is 34J7.

23mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the contact became aware that the fuel had been consumed extremely quickly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

23mo ago
Engine 2

Starting January 2023, I had issues putting fuel in my car (symptoms align with the recall issued this year). I took it to VW and paid their diagnostic fee for them to say there’s nothing wrong with the car (approx. $170) continued to drive the car and eventually due to the issue, my fuel pump went out and I had to replace it. (See attached image). This time, I took the car to a local mechanic who charged a $100 diagnostic fee. All of this was prior to the recall this year and I am hoping for reimbursement on everything I spent trying to resolve this issue.

23mo ago
Engine 1

July 30,2024 I own a Golf 2017. My suction jet pump has failed. I cannot drive my car because I can't put gas into it. I need my car for work. The recall does not have the part available and it seems there hasn't been a part to fix this for a very long time. I'm really at a loss. What are my next steps? Should I report this to the Better Business Bureau? So far I've been on Volkswagen Of America's phone wait for 40 minutes. I've already taken my car to a dealership to have this problem verified. There were no warning messages.  

23mo ago
Engine 1

On July 7, 2024, the fuel tank system on my car (2017 VW Golf) failed. I was unable to pump gas into the gas tank. Upon arrival back to my house, gas started leaking out of the backside of the car near the gas tank (I later found out from the VW service manager it was leaking out of the charcoal canister). I had the car towed ($173) to a local VW dealership the next morning, 7/8/24. It is now 7/30/24 and the car is still not fixed. I was without a car for two and a half weeks (7/7 to 7/24), then finally got a rental from the dealership that is costing me $40/day (totaling $240 as of today). According to the service manager at the VW dealership, VW engineers are saying the failure is not due to the fuel tank suction jet pump (which there is a current recall on but no fix available) but all the symptoms I experienced point to that part being the problem. The service manager said that VW will cover the cost of the repair under a PZEV warranty, not the fuel tank suction jet pump extended warranty/recall. The replacement parts are taking weeks for the dealership to receive and there was confusion/miscommunication about which parts were included or needed. My complaints are: 1) the length of time it's taking for the car to be fixed, 2) the amount of money it's costing me for towing, rental car and any other potential expenses related to this issue, and 3) if it's not the fuel tank suction jet pump that is the problem, then there's potentially a larger problem at play with the fuel tank system not included in the original recall.

23mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the contact heard an abnormal clicking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed suction jet pump. The contact was informed that the suction jet pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

24mo ago
Engine 2

A recall was published on 02/14/2024 and remains unresolved. Since the safety risk of "leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire" it seems like this should be a priority. (Manufacturer Recall Number20UF, NHTSA Recall Number24V110)

24mo ago
Engine 1

***DATE OF OCCURRENCE: 07/03/2023*** SOLUTION REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY: I have been without a working vehicle for nearly 1 full year without recourse. ONE YEAR! Initially the recall for the exact suction jet pump issue did not include 2017 GTI models. I was furious. Repair estimates I received ranged rom $2,000-4,000 to replace the entire fuel system. Being unable to afford this, I was forced to leave it parked and completely unusable. I even had to change my car insurance to "garaged" status to avoid paying premium on a vehicle I couldn't even drive. I am extremely disappointed in the timeline for this recall. I'm glad that the recall for suction jet pump issue now includes my vehicle's year, but a repair solution is needed immediately. INCIDENT DESCRIPTION: Vehicle began losing engine power a day or so before the incident. I was driving home and noticed the intermittent engine power issue. Thankfully, I was not far from home. As I approached my neighborhood gate, I rolled down the window to enter the code. That's when I smelled a strong fuel odor. There were NO indicator lights or warning lamps displayed on my dashboard panel that suggested an issue with my vehicle. I looked around nearby for lawn maintenance trucks, suspecting they were refueling or had potentially spilled fuel from their equipment. As I pulled into my parking space and exited the vehicle, I immediately noticed fuel streaming down from the inside of the wheel well and pooling on the ground below the gas tank door. Honestly, it was a really scary experience. I was afraid for my safety. It looked like my car could explode at any moment. The only good news is that my gas tank was relatively low on fuel so the spill didn't last long. I have not started my vehicle since the incident, nearly 1 year ago. It's a gut punch every day to see it parked, unusable AND have to continue paying for it. Please issue a repair solution for this recall immediately. Thank you.

25mo ago
Body 2

driving down the highway at 70mph and what sounded like a gunshot inside the car. glass started falling on us driving down the road. the sunroof glass exploded. got pulled over and looked and the glass is literally blown outward not inward like something falling on it. the hole it bulged up and the glass from the hole was missing.

25mo ago
Engine 2

Related to recall 20UF. VWoA refused to authorize repair under recall in March. My 2017 GTI is diagnosed with all symptoms of the 20UF recall. Random power loss, inability to add fuel, large fuel leak from rear fender (charcoal canister). I have been unable to drive the car since March, but VWoA refuses to pay for the repair. The recall was issued 3 months ago and there is still no repair, or offer from VWoA to give a loaner car or anything.

26mo ago
Body 2

The Clock Spring Assembly on my vehicle failed. In May 2023 Volkswagen of America issued an extended warranty coverage notice for the part. After doing some research and determining the part failure, I called my local VW dealer to report the problem. They told me they would be happy to schedule an appointment to look at my vehicle but they could not schedule my vehicle for service for at least a month. Considering this issue to be an extreme safely issue and realizing I did not want to drive around in my vehicle for over a month without air bag protection, I had my vehicle repaired at an independent service facility. I have had several communications with VW of America (attached) and they refuse to reimburse me for this repair.

27mo ago

195 total

1/ 10
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