Complaints
74
Crashes
6
Fires
5
Injuries
4
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Volkswagen Golf Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#15 complaints
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
Avg mileage:130,500 mi
#24 complaints
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Crash-related:4
#34 complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Volkswagen Golf.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 5 | — | — | 130,500 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 4 | — | — | — | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 | — | — | — | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 3 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 2 | — | — | — | |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 2 | — | — | — | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 2 | — | — | — | |
| STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | 2 | — | — | — | |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 | — | — | — | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 | — | — | — | |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 | — | 1 | 110,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 | — | — | — | |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 | — | — | — |
Other Volkswagen Golf Years
Wider context: See the full Volkswagen Golf reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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