The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 7 of 17 complaints (41%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 110 in 2022 to 17 in 2023.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 17
- Recall campaigns
- 5
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,200–$3,350
- Combined MPG
- 23–28
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | vs. 2023 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,900–2,400 | 2,200–3,350 | 2,200–3,350 | 2,300–3,350 | 2,300–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–33 | 23–28 | 23–28 | 23–27 | 25–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 23–29 / 30–39 | 20–25 / 28–34 | 20–24 / 28–34 | 20–24 / 28–34 | 22–24 / 31–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 267–343 | 312–382 | 319–382 | 323–382 | 326–349 | |
| Complaints filed | 11 | 110 | 17 | 29 | 0 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2023 Volkswagen Golf/GTI have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2023 Volkswagen Golf/GTI?
Electrical: 7 of 17 NHTSA complaints (41%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Volkswagen Golf/GTI get?
EPA rates it 23–28 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 Volkswagen Golf/GTI?
EPA estimates $2,200–$3,350 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $3,350 (high) | 382 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 24 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,200 (low) | 319 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 32 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 330 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 30 mpg | 26 mpg | $3,000 | 343 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Golf GTI vehicles. A software error may delay or deactivate the rearview camera image, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91SB.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Golf R, Golf GTI, 2024 Atlas, and 2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The rearview camera image may be delayed or deactivated after shifting into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- A rearview camera with a delayed or deactivated image reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2024, and July 16, 2024. Owners may contact VW customer service at 1-800-893-5298. VW's number for this recall is 91US.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Golf R A8 and Golf GTI vehicles. The strut mount may be deformed, loosening the bolted connections to the suspension strut mounting.
- Consequence
- Loose suspension connections can cause steering instability, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the right and/or left suspension strut mountings, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40T3.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Golf R A8, Audi S3, RS3 Sedan, Q4 E-Tron SUV, A3 Sedan, and 2022-2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI, and ID4 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be blank or unresponsive when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear or when the park function is manually activated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to Audi owners February 14, 2023. Volkswagen owners will receive an owner notification letter once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Volkswagen) 91EK and (Audi) 91EL.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Golf R A8 and Golf GTI vehicles. The radiator may not have been attached correctly to the intercooler, which can result in a damaged coolant hose.
- Consequence
- A damaged coolant hose can leak, causing the engine to overheat, and increasing the risk of fire. In addition, large amounts of coolant spilling onto the roadway can increase the risk of a crash to other vehicles.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the radiator and replace any damaged parts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19Q8.