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2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

Gas

Midsize Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

71 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 6

Complaints1 injured reported 119

Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 28 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize hatchback with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the GTI, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 119 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance.

Volkswagen Golf GTI — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Volkswagen Golf GTI · Photo: Charles01 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
GTI	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	24	34	28	$2,400
GTI	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	25	34	28	$2,400
Golf-R	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	23	30	26	$3,150
Golf-R	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	20	28	23	$3,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 44342, 44539, 44702, 44703.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
GTI, Golf-R	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

241 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Transmission	Manual/Standard
Transmission speeds	6

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Autobahn, SE w/Leather Seating Pkg., SE w/Leather and Black Wheel Pkg.). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	168.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	70.5 in
Height	57.5 in
Wheelbase	103.5 in
Track, front	60.2 in
Track, rear	59.4 in
Curb weight	3,417 lb

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door Hatch. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database

●moderate

Back Over Prevention

91SB

8,237 vehicles 78% reported repaired

Problem 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." Risk A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Chronology PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V103000 reported Feb 19, 2025 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

●moderate

Back Over Prevention

91US

84,432 vehicles 98% reported repaired

Problem 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." Risk 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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V480000 reported Jun 27, 2024 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

●moderate

Back Over Prevention

VW: 91EK, Audi: 91EL

2,607 vehicles 92% reported repaired

Problem 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." Risk An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V823000 reported Nov 2, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

19Q8

8,038 vehicles 97% reported repaired

Problem 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. Risk 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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V707000 reported Sep 21, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

●moderate

Visibility

60F6

2,238 vehicles 96% reported repaired

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Golf R A8 and Golf GTI vehicles. The touch switch for the sunroof may be too sensitive, allowing it to be inadvertently pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems." Risk A sunroof switch that is inadvertently pressed can result in unintended auto-closure of the sunroof, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will replace the roof module switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 23, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60F6.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V542000 reported Jul 27, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Engine

10H5

4,269 vehicles 99% reported repaired

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Golf GTI and Golf R vehicles. Certain driving situations, such as high acceleration driving maneuvers, may loosen the engine design cover. Risk A loose engine design cover may contact hot surfaces in the engine compartment and melt, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will remove the engine design cover, free of charge. Once parts become available, Volkswagen will provide a free updated engine design cover under a separate Service Action. Owner notification letters were mailed by March 29, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10H5.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V163000 reported Mar 16, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Golf / GTI

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2022 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Volkswagen publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Volkswagen’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

119complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

144 per 10,000 built · Volkswagen reported 8,285 Golf / GTI built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 59 · 2023: 21 · 2024: 24 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance 51

Engine 28

Power Train 25

Lane Departure 24

Electrical System 21

Unspecified 19

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Travel Assist is disabled which includes Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist. The warning lights flash on and off, sometimes multiple times a second, sounding a loud beeping each time. It is triggered at engine start and persists through all speeds. It is worse when temperatures are warm outside.

Electrical System Sep 24, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11616135

While driving, the vehicle developed uneven acceleration and an audible metallic rattling/buzzing sound. Shortly after, the engine locked up, stalled, and jerked the car to a stop while in traffic.

Engine Sep 1, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11761265

On July 16, 2026, a remote Over-the-Air (OTA) software update was initiated by Volkswagen. Prior to this update, the infotainment system functioned correctly (backup camera and other safety features are displayed on this screen.

Back Over Prevention Jul 18, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11751273

Travel assist, the VW system that controls Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning, is repeatedly and randomly failing on the 2022 VW GTI. This is a well-known defect readily documented on the internet, due to a faulty capacitive sensor mat inside the steering wheel.

Forward Collision Avoidance Jul 6, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11748626

Sos travel assist, Warning lights come on with such frequency the are very distracting. they even come on and the emergency braking system starts up This is a know problem that VW refuses to address. They have replace the entire system on future models.

Steering Jun 17, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11744831

1) Yes, the Travel Assist warning light comes on and says, "Trave Assist is currently not available." It then clears the warning and flashing again repetitively and loudly while driving blocking the instrument cluster and distracting the driver.

Lane Departure Oct 1, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11690796

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Volkswagen itself: 5 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 5 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 60 per 100,000 built. Every Golf / GTI model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Volkswagen warranty extension VWP-24-04These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the Class Action Settlement

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Volkswagen warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 701

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 617 service bulletins, 51 others, 25 service campaigns

Most often about: Engine, Electrical System, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Structure.

V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
2026-09-17 · Engine
Suggested fuel additive
TT 96 26 01 Other
2026-09-17 · Lane Departure — Assist
Heat Sensative Trouble Shooting Explanation.
SM 39-2026 Other
2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
V4622022067177_5 Service bulletin
2026-08-27 · Service Brakes
Repair or Replace Information
V4823012070207_15 Service bulletin
2026-08-19 · Unknown Or Other
Steering wheel sensor mat (hands on detection) and software deviation in the steering wheel detection control module -1158-.
V4418012043620_10 Service bulletin
2026-08-11 · Steering
Warranty Alignment Worksheet
V4015022033347_8 Service bulletin
2026-08-10 · Power Train
Replacement instruction
TT 00-13-04_7 Other
2026-08-06 · Unknown Or Other
Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0442 P0442 on Volkswagen →	A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Equipment · Gas cap →	28 bulletins
P0456 P0456 on Volkswagen →	A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Equipment · Gas cap →	27 bulletins
P2402 P2402 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	27 bulletins
P04F0 P04F0 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	4 bulletins
P0087 P0087 on Volkswagen →	Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.	Seat Belts · Fuel pump →	2 bulletins
P0148 P0148 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Seat Belts	2 bulletins
P0322 P0322 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Seat Belts	2 bulletins
P053F P053F on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Seat Belts	2 bulletins
P1020 P1020 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Seat Belts	2 bulletins
U0100 U0100 on Volkswagen →	A module has stopped hearing from the engine control module over the vehicle network.	Engine	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 2.6%

failed emissions

306 initial inspections of 304 vehicles.

Measure	The 2022 Golf / GTI	Every 2022 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	2.6%	1.7%	305
Failed the safety inspection	2.0%	1.4%	306
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0%	0.18%	306
Miles driven a year	9,065	10,455	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	38,943	44,815	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2022 vehicle” is every 2022 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Golf / GTI by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 0 0 28 mpg 2026 A 0 4 27 mpg 2025 A 1 0 27 mpg 2024 B 2 41 27 mpg 2023 C 5 23 28 mpg 2022 this page C 6 119 28 mpg 2021 A 2 11 33 mpg 2020 B 3 14 32 mpg 2019 D 7 284 Do not drive 2018 F 10 76 Do not drive 2017 D 7 301 125 mi 2016 F 14 237 83 mi

Common questions about the 2022 Golf / GTI

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI. The most serious on file is 22V707000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. 2 of them were filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it C (71/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, the best EPA combined figure is 28 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

Transport Canada measured it at 168.9 in long, 70.5 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.5 in tall, on a 103.5 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,417 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, most often about forward collision avoidance, engine, power train. Of those, 1 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

The EPA smog rating for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI is 5 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

The manufacturer has filed 701 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, most often covering engine, electrical system, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-09-17. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI failed the emissions check on 2.6% of first inspections — higher than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.0% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	4 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	6	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	119	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	none	NHTSA NCAP	NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins	701	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	11 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API

2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Engine Output

Fuel Economy

Seating

Transmission

Driver assistance

Dimensions & weight

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (6)

Back Over Prevention

Back Over Prevention

Back Over Prevention

Engine And Engine Cooling

Visibility

Engine

Whether any of this applies to one specific Golf / GTI

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

Golf / GTI by model year

Common questions about the 2022 Golf / GTI

Does the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI have any recalls?

How safe is the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

What are the dimensions of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

What do owners complain about on the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

How clean is the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

Are there service bulletins for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

How does the 2022 Volkswagen Golf / GTI do at state inspection?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method