Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.
Chart based on 63 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2011 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI
Engine not specified
26000 mi
The drivers seat back heating element failed. A new seat cover and element was ordered. drivers seat back heating element failed. Seat cover with element was ordered, installed and repair as successful.
A/C was not blowing cold. System was at about 1/2 spec. Recharged under warranty with $50 deductible
9300 mi
A/C line between compressor and condenser was leaking
6000 mi
iPod issue when sold, was going to bring it up at first service. Dealer said it was a hardware issue with the cable.
35000 mi
switch falsely indicating an open hood affecting windshield wiper operation.
31800 mi
Cruise control stops working sometimes, dealer replacing cruise control stalk.
6000 mi
Car infotainment unit malfunctioned. Key fob remote range very poor
7500 mi
Key fob wireless range very poor.
48000 mi
US $170
AC not as cold as when new. System was recharged.
3000 mi
Low Oil pressure light came on while sitting in traffic. Oil level was low. Light did not come on again. Dealer called VW Tech line and recommended replacing Instrument cluster. Parts ordered Instrument cluster replaced.
77000 mi
US $320
Battery light was coming on intermittently when less than 3000rpm. Battery then lost charge while driving and the car started shutting down systems (abs/tc and power steering). Diagnosed with multimeter, bought a remanufactured alternator and installed in about 2 hours including trips to the store and diagnosis.
21300 mi
Nav system went blank and started flashing. Replaced with new Nav/Audio system. Fixed after two attempts.
27000 mi
Bluetooth module failed and was replaced.
38000 mi
US $205
Car was found completely dead. Jump started car, brought to Dealer. Dead battery - replaced with OEM battery.
51200 mi
US $50
Passenger tail light socket corroded and failed.
53500 mi
US $150
The other tail light filled with water and shorted out. Had to replace the full tail light assembly including outer housing and socket.
2000 mi
Alarm intermittently going off when ignition key removed. Also rear wiper arm not flush with window. Module and arm replaced under warranty.
2300 mi
Car alarm intermittently goes off when ignition key removed.
When I picked the car up from a warranty maintenance service, there was an indicator light that a light was out, but no one there could find it. I returned the car a week later so they could work on it and they finally replaced a light
1500 mi
The engine intermittently sputtered and check engine light would appear, the disappear upon restart of engine. Many faults appears during code read including low voltage indicator. Battery cable found loose. Reset of codes.
10200 mi
One backlight LED on gauge cluster was intermittently failing. Car was diagnosed by dealership in Dec 2011, part was installed Feb 2012.
16000 mi
US $114
OEM Varta battery was killed off by harsh northeast winter. Replaced with AutoCraft GOLD from AAP.
33500 mi
left front main headlight fuse blown
136400 mi
C $150
window up/down buttons needed to be replaced on the driver's door
5000 mi
Light on radio went out and dealer replaced under warranty.
33500 mi
Blower fan was noisy. It was replaced. One key fob failed to function. Fob was replaced and second fob was reprogrammed.
46000 mi
Sensor housing cracked, causing coolant to leak. Replaced and system recharged
3100 mi
C $2000
Radio would intermittently cut out; replaced radio multiple times; ended up taking dash apart and fixing loose wiring
19420 mi
Light for gear shift was out; couldn't see what gear I was in during the night
Battery was too weak to start the car. Failure was in battery, not the charging system.
93000 mi
US $100
AC needed recharged
40900 mi
US $150
Battery died at 40,000 miles.
17220 mi
Factory block heater socket retention system failed. Socket pulled out of fog light housing and hung there by the cord. Fog light housing replaced. Two trips because they ordered the wrong part the first time.
Could not get any warm air from extermal air, recirculation only. The external air intake duct was covered with a plug instead of a grate, installed incorrectly during vehicle assembly. this was replaced with correct part.
5952 mi
Heater blower motor making high pitched squeal at -10C and below, it was replaced Had a very strong draft under steering column, at highway speeds and with recirculation going this was extremely cold. A firewall port was not installed during assembly. Heater blower motor making high pitched squeal at -10C and below, it was replaced
70000 mi
US $110
No AC. Compressor is malfunctioning and needs to be repaired.
70500 mi
US $900
AC compressor was not engaging. Required a replacement of the compressor along with condenser and receiver drier
58300 mi
Compressor was replaced.
24700 mi
Battery replaced to suspected "dead cell". When brought to dealership it failed their load test. Was replaced under warranty.
34000 mi
Leaking seal on one of the AC lines. Line was replaced and AC was recharged. Couldn't do a true test of the AC because the ambient outside temperatures were only in the high 60s.
They also installed a new pollen filter and disinfected the ventilation
34000 mi
A/C Condenser was replaced due to factory defect. Replaced under warranty.
55000 mi
US $1500
AFS system in drivers side light failed. Required replacement of HID light housing (complete) + AFS controller
44000 mi
AC taking very long time to cool. Dealer replaced compressor. Dealer worked with Vw to cover the cost.
35000 mi
Bluetooth module stopped working and the Battery died a week later. Dealership ordered a new BT module and installed a loaner battery. Bluetooth started working on its own after a week.
37300 mi
US $120
Dealer replaced Bluetooth module under warranty. Re-tested the original battery, but it wouldn't hold charge. Paid for a new battery as it was out of warranty (2y/24k).
48000 mi
US $100
Information Menu control button on steering wheel stopped operating correctly. Problem was physical (mechanical) with the button, not electronic. Defective button and module replaced under extended warranty. $100 deductible
5000 mi
Car dead. Installed new battery.
15300 mi
Air condition check due to chlorine smell
12000 mi
Reverse light replaced.
14400 mi
US $50
Tail light went out. I have now had to change two different bulbs in 2 years. Not a big deal, but on my other car haven't changed any in 7. Annoying time wise, about 45 minutes.
6000 mi
one touch up window fuction not working, window would go half way up then all the way down. Hold button to bring window back to closed position audio function not working properly after disconnecting bluetooth phone call. New problem developed shortly there after head unit interface not working with connected iPod/iPhone
Erroneous alerts reported to check tire pressure etc
2000 mi
Radio display stopped working for a few minutes.
3000 mi
Radio replaced as display would not show when hot outside.
18000 mi
Aux input not working. Needed new iPod cable.
46000 mi
US $250
Driver side pass. window switch fail
35000 mi
Window regulator in passenger side was replaced.
37000 mi
AC was not cold.
Condenser replaced. Window made a noise when going up/down
Window regulator replaced
20000 mi
Window switch on drivers side stopped working when trying to roll down passenger window.
20000 mi
Blower motor bearings were bad, resulting in sqeaking noises when cold. Replaced blower motor.
34000 mi
HVAC airflow direction control not responding to input. Replaced entire "heater box" and servo motors, which were on back order. Required removal and reinstall of entire dashboard.
3000 mi
TPMS error. Check pressure warning would not go away, even after adding more air. Reset by dealership.
22300 mi
Passenger side window was making a grinding/ screetching sound when being rolled up from the being rolled down.
26000 mi
HVAC Fan would only blow on high(setting 4), dealer replaced "fuse"
30000 mi
A/C would not blow cold air, needed recharge even though it is a closed system.
40000 mi
A/C was no longer blowing cold air, leak found in gasket on compressor.
See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how
frequently 2011 Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.
