2016 Volkswagen e-Golf Owner Complaints

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW E-GOLF, NOV 2015. DROVE IT 4 DAYS AND BROKE! IT'S BEEN 1 MONTH IN THE SHOP AND STILL NOT REPAIRED. VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA ANSWER (3RD WEEK) - WE WILL NEVER GIVE YOU A NEW CAR, THAT'S WHY IT HAS A WARRANTY. - WE WILL NOT GIVE YOUR MONEY BACK. - WE DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE YOU A LOANER NOR PAY FOR YOUR TRANSPORTATION WHILE YOUR CAR IS BEING REPAIRED. - YOU WILL NOT GET COMPENSATED FOR ANYTHING. - YOU OWE US THIS MONTH LEASE PAYMENT, BTW! VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA ANSWER (4TH WEEK): WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK YOU. GET AN ATTORNEY TO REACH OUT TO US. STILL CONSIDERING TO BUY AN E-GOLF?? GOOD LUCK!

12/9/2015

VW E-GOLF ELECTRICAL VEHICLE DIED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP (AS IF THE BREAKS HAD BEEN FULLY APPLIED) WHILE ENTERING SINGLE LANE HIGHWAY ON-RAMP DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. UNABLE TO ROLL THE CAR TO THE SIDE TO AVOID TRAFFIC. UNABLE TO EXIT THE CAR AS OTHER VEHICLES WERE SWERVING ON BOTH SIDES TO AVOID A COLLISION. TOOK OVER 20 MINUTES TO GET ASSISTANCE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (THANKS TO A COURAGEOUS GOOD SAMARITAN) UNTIL POLICE AND TOW TRUCK ARRIVED OVER 35 MINUTES AFTER THE INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DEAL WITH IT (HIGH VOLTAGE VEHICLE) UNTIL THEY RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM VW OF AMERICA. IT TOOK ABOUT 1 WEEK TO HAVE THE ISSUE RESOLVED. COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP: "1456 VEHICLE DOES NOT GO INTO READY MODE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ERROR DISPLAYED ON MFD. GFF. P060C INTERNAL CONTROL MODULE MAIN PROCESSOR PERFORMANCE ACTIVE/STATIC IN 8C MODULE. CONTACT TECHLINE 1548611. ADVISED TO ATTACH MVB FROM 8C AND 51. ATTACHED MVB. TECHLINE ADVISED TO CHARGE 12 VOLT BATTERY AND CLEAR FAULTS. CHARGE 12V BATTERY. TEST BATTERY AND OKAY. CLEAR FAULTS. VEHICLE NOW STARTS. ROAD TEST 30 MILES. THEN CHARGE HV BATTERY WITH LEVEL 2 CHARGER. RE SCAN AND NO FAULTS. CONTACT QTM AND ADVISED TO PERFORM ANOTHER ROAD TEST. ROAD TESTED VEHICLE ADDITIONAL 20 MILES. RE SCAN. NO FAULTS. QTM ADVISES TO RELEASE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME." SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT IT WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH AND IT "SHOULD" NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I'M CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IF THE ISSUE REOCCURS.

2/13/2016

VW E-GOLF ELECTRICAL VEHICLE DIED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP (AS IF THE BREAKS HAD BEEN FULLY APPLIED) WHILE ENTERING SINGLE LANE HIGHWAY ON-RAMP DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. UNABLE TO ROLL THE CAR TO THE SIDE TO AVOID TRAFFIC. UNABLE TO EXIT THE CAR AS OTHER VEHICLES WERE SWERVING ON BOTH SIDES TO AVOID A COLLISION. TOOK OVER 20 MINUTES TO GET ASSISTANCE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (THANKS TO A COURAGEOUS GOOD SAMARITAN) UNTIL POLICE AND TOW TRUCK ARRIVED OVER 35 MINUTES AFTER THE INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DEAL WITH IT (HIGH VOLTAGE VEHICLE) UNTIL THEY RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM VW OF AMERICA. IT TOOK ABOUT 1 WEEK TO HAVE THE ISSUE RESOLVED. COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP: "1456 VEHICLE DOES NOT GO INTO READY MODE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ERROR DISPLAYED ON MFD. GFF. P060C INTERNAL CONTROL MODULE MAIN PROCESSOR PERFORMANCE ACTIVE/STATIC IN 8C MODULE. CONTACT TECHLINE 1548611. ADVISED TO ATTACH MVB FROM 8C AND 51. ATTACHED MVB. TECHLINE ADVISED TO CHARGE 12 VOLT BATTERY AND CLEAR FAULTS. CHARGE 12V BATTERY. TEST BATTERY AND OKAY. CLEAR FAULTS. VEHICLE NOW STARTS. ROAD TEST 30 MILES. THEN CHARGE HV BATTERY WITH LEVEL 2 CHARGER. RE SCAN AND NO FAULTS. CONTACT QTM AND ADVISED TO PERFORM ANOTHER ROAD TEST. ROAD TESTED VEHICLE ADDITIONAL 20 MILES. RE SCAN. NO FAULTS. QTM ADVISES TO RELEASE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME." SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT IT WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH AND IT "SHOULD" NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I'M CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IF THE ISSUE REOCCURS.

2/13/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V138000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER STATE TO GET THE RECALL PERFORMED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

4/4/2016

ENGINE TURNS OFF AND CAR BRAKES TO AN ABRUPT STOP WHILE DRIVING IF "START ENGINE START" BUTTON IS PRESSED BY USER ERROR INSTEAD OF THE ADJACENT "MODE" BUTTON USED TO SELECT EITHER "NORMAL", "ECO", OR "ECO+" ENERGY LEVELS. 1. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED BOTH TIMES I HAVE TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION ONCE PRIOR TO MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THEN THE SECOND TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHICH WERE BOTH DANGEROUS SITUATIONS BUT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. 2. THE CAR ALWAYS STARTS IN NORMAL MODE SO IF ONE IS LOW ON RANGE AS I WAS BOTH TIMES, WHENEVER THE CAR IS RESTARTED ONE MUST MANUALLY SWITCH BACK TO ECO OR ECO+. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY JUST STARTED DRIVING YOU MIGHT REALIZE THE NEED TO CHANGE MODES TO ECO FROM NORMAL FOR EXAMPLE WHILE IN MOTION. FOR SAFETY, I KEEP MY EYES ON THE ROAD SO REACHED DOWN TO WHERE I THOUGHT THE MODE BUTTON WAS AND INSTEAD PRESSED START ENGINE STOP BUTTON WHICH DRAMATICALLY TURNS OFF THE CAR. IT DOES NOT COAST, BUT COMES TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. 3. THE VEHICLE MANUAL HAS A WARNING ON PAGE 210 TO NOT TURN OFF THE CAR IN MOTION WHICH IS STATING THE OBVIOUS BUT MANUALS DO NOT PREVENT HUMAN ERROR AND I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO DO THIS SINCE HAVE FOUND AN ENTIRE THREAD ABOUT THIS ON THE MYVWEGOLF.COM FORUM. 4. THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE A STRAIGHTFORWARD VEHICLE SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT WILL LOCKOUT THE START ENGINE STOP BUTTON COMPLETELY WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, IN "DRIVE", "B", OR "R" GEAR SELECTOR POSITIONS. 5. IN THE MEANTIME TO A RESOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE, I WILL BE PLACING A RIGID ROUND PLASTIC BUTTON OVER THE START ENGINE STOP BUTTON ATTACHED WITH VELCRO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN BY MISTAKE. 6. I HAVE REPORTED THIS SAFETY COMPLAINT TO VW CARE VIA CHAT AND THE TRANSCRIPT IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. 7. A PHOTO OF THE ADJACENT BUTTONS IS SUBMITTED.

9/28/2016

WE WERE LIED TO BY THE DEALER ABOUT THE CARS HISTORY. WITH THIS CURRENT RECALL ON THE CAR, THE MAJOR REPAIR WE JUST HAD, THE FACT THAT VW DOESN'T HAVE TECHS IN THE AREA LIMITING OUR REPAIR ABILITY, AND THE FACT THAT ANY REPAIRS REQUIRE VW TO SEND IN TECHS TO THE AREA, PROLONGING THE TIME WITHOUT THE CAR, I ASKED VW TO DO A BUY BACK AS THERE IS NO FIX FOR THE RECALL. VW REFUSED TO BUY THE CAR BACK.

8/2/2018

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW E-GOLF, NOV 2015. DROVE IT 4 DAYS AND BROKE! IT'S BEEN 1 MONTH IN THE SHOP AND STILL NOT REPAIRED. VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA ANSWER (3RD WEEK) - WE WILL NEVER GIVE YOU A NEW CAR, THAT'S WHY IT HAS A WARRANTY. - WE WILL NOT GIVE YOUR MONEY BACK. - WE DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE YOU A LOANER NOR PAY FOR YOUR TRANSPORTATION WHILE YOUR CAR IS BEING REPAIRED. - YOU WILL NOT GET COMPENSATED FOR ANYTHING. - YOU OWE US THIS MONTH LEASE PAYMENT, BTW! VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA ANSWER (4TH WEEK): WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK YOU. GET AN ATTORNEY TO REACH OUT TO US. STILL CONSIDERING TO BUY AN E-GOLF?? GOOD LUCK!

12/9/2015

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR HALTED ALL OF A SUDDEN. AN ERROR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SAID ELECTRIC FAILURE. STOP. LUCKILY NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP FOR 30-40 MINUTES.

11/17/2020

I PULLED OUT OF MY OFFICE PARKING LOT AND AS I WAS TRYING TO CROSS INTO TRAFFIC GOING LEFT, MY CAR DIED, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE, WITH A CAR HEADING MY WAY. BY LUCK I KNOCKED IT INTO NEUTRAL AND HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. BARELY ESCAPING AN ACCIDENT. AT ANY MOMENT IN THE FUTURE, I COULD SEE THIS ERROR AGAIN: "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE: STOP!", WHICH KILLS THE MOTOR, AND MEANS NO BRAKE OR STEERING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM (POWER STEERING), AIRBAG, SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER, AND OTHER VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES.

2/26/2016

Two miles into my morning commute, I accelerated to 65 mph when the following message appeared on the instrument display "Error: electrical system. Stop!" At the same time, the vehicle lost all electrical motor drive and began to coast and decelerate. As I coasted there was a clicking noise in the drivetrain and remained audible while I changed lanes to the shoulder and made a safe full stop. I powered the vehicle OFF then ON three time or until the error disappeared. The vehicle was driven to a service location and scanned which revealed 14 error codes (ref. attachment) related to electric drivetrain. This error is a safety related fault and needs to be investigated by a NHTSA and a VW safety engineer.

10/14/2022

I PULLED OUT OF MY OFFICE PARKING LOT AND AS I WAS TRYING TO CROSS INTO TRAFFIC GOING LEFT, MY CAR DIED, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE, WITH A CAR HEADING MY WAY. BY LUCK I KNOCKED IT INTO NEUTRAL AND HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. BARELY ESCAPING AN ACCIDENT. AT ANY MOMENT IN THE FUTURE, I COULD SEE THIS ERROR AGAIN: "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE: STOP!", WHICH KILLS THE MOTOR, AND MEANS NO BRAKE OR STEERING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM (POWER STEERING), AIRBAG, SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER, AND OTHER VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES.

2/26/2016

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR HALTED ALL OF A SUDDEN. AN ERROR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SAID ELECTRIC FAILURE. STOP. LUCKILY NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP FOR 30-40 MINUTES.

11/17/2020

WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.

3/21/2017

WHILE CHARGING THE CAR, AN ELECTRIC COMPONENT FAILED AND THE CARD GOT DISABLED AND WOULD NOT START ANYMORE. IT ALSO STOPPED CHARGING. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED AWAY FROM CHARGING STATION TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP.

1/10/2019

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW E-GOLF, NOV 2015. DROVE IT 4 DAYS AND BROKE! IT'S BEEN 1 MONTH IN THE SHOP AND STILL NOT REPAIRED. VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA ANSWER (3RD WEEK) - WE WILL NEVER GIVE YOU A NEW CAR, THAT'S WHY IT HAS A WARRANTY. - WE WILL NOT GIVE YOUR MONEY BACK. - WE DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE YOU A LOANER NOR PAY FOR YOUR TRANSPORTATION WHILE YOUR CAR IS BEING REPAIRED. - YOU WILL NOT GET COMPENSATED FOR ANYTHING. - YOU OWE US THIS MONTH LEASE PAYMENT, BTW! VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA ANSWER (4TH WEEK): WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK YOU. GET AN ATTORNEY TO REACH OUT TO US. STILL CONSIDERING TO BUY AN E-GOLF?? GOOD LUCK!

12/9/2015

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen E-Golf. The contact stated that while charging the vehicle with the level 3 charger, the female connector on the vehicle became loosened due to a failure with the 4 tabs holding the connector in place on the vehicle. The level 3 charger loosened and exposed the plug with live current going to the part. The contact stated that he smelled a burnt electrical odor and the charger was now inoperable. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer however, there were no trained technicians available to fix the vehicle. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

6/9/2022

The regenerative braking system on my car shut off for about half a second before re engaging automatically. I was slowing down at a red light and had a car in front of me. As I applied the brakes, I hit a bump in the road and the brakes completely stopped working, causing me to almost hit the car in front of me. I do not believe that this issue is known among these vehicles, and I don't know if it has been confirmed by a dealer or testing lab. There were no warning signs for this event, the brakes just shut off for half a second.

10/23/2023