⌘K
Find a vehicle
RecallsCompareNewsPricing
Your vehicle
VIN decoderWindow stickerProblems by systemTitle brands
Federal filings
Service bulletinsOwner complaintsInvestigationsEarly Warning reportsWarranty extensionsDriver-assist crashesTrouble codes
Browse the record
GuidesRankingsAll makesQuarterly reportsWhat is in the data
Paperwork
Repair Claim KitCar CheckFor attorneysFor expert witnessesFor repair shopsRecall disclosure formRecall fix sheets
Tools and data
Recall WatchFleet VIN checkCost calculatorsCar crosswordAPI & data
Sign inGarage
Your vehicleHome›Volkswagen›Golf / GTI› 2023
Volkswagen · Midsize Hatchback

2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

Gas
Compact Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
74 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 5
Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 23
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 28 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2023 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 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 23 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

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
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
GTIGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243428$2,400
GTIGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233227$2,500
Golf-RGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233026$3,150
Golf-RGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202823$3,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45415, 45416, 45429, 45414.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
GTI, Golf-R5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
GTI, Golf-R5 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70All 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 styleHatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower241 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

TransmissionManual/Standard

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, 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: 20th Anniversary Edition, 40th Anniversary Edition, S, SE). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length168.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)70.5 in
Height57.5 in
Wheelbase103.5 in
Track, front60.2 in
Track, rear59.4 in
Curb weight3,417 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.

Also on file Beside the 2023 Golf / GTI
Head to head vs the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime Other years The 2027 Golf / GTI Recalls Volkswagen recalls
Advertisement

Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (5)

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 PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDFChronology 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 PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V480000 reported Jun 27, 2024 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Suspension

40T3
59 vehicles 97% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk Loose suspension connections can cause steering instability, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V437000 reported Jun 21, 2023 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 PDFRemedy 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 PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V707000 reported Sep 21, 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 2023 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 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Golf / GTI →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
23complaints filed

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

24 per 10,000 built · Volkswagen reported 9,575 Golf / GTI built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 5

Most-cited components

Electrical System 9
Back Over Prevention 6
Forward Collision Avoidance 5
Service Brakes 3
Unspecified 3
Power Train 3

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.

The vehicle has a feature called "hill hold" that can not be disabled where it holds the brakes when stopped on a hill untill 3 seconds after removing your foot from the brake pedal.
Service Brakes Oct 29, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11696249
I have a 2023 VW GTI with a manual transmission. It has a feature called "Hill Hold Assist", where it enables the parking brake when you are uphill and at a stop, at a red traffic light, for example. The issue is the feature does not disengage the parking brake for about 3 seconds after you engage the gas to begin moving the car.
Electrical System Nov 9, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11624393
Acquired this vehicle at 6,800 miles. At about 10k miles the clutch went out and had to be replaced. This should have been the stock clutch system. I was able to examine the old clutch kit.
Power Train Jul 8, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11672049
VW has implemented a so-called and unwanted safety feature called "Hill Assist" which locks the brakes on manual transmisson models when at a standstill which has many times nearly caused an accident.
Engine Dec 24, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11632262
Backup camera, parking sensors, traffic sensors, A/C frequently are disabled. “Component protection mode” is activated and it says it must be taken to the dealer for these items to work. I must manually reset the system in order to get these to work, resetting the system only sometimes fixes the issue.
Forward Collision Avoidance Oct 29, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11622570
The VW Golf current generation starting has “haptic” controls on the steering wheel and dash under the radio. As it stands right now you cannot make changes to radio, or cruise control without taking your eyes off th me road and look down at the steering wheel to find the button you are looking for.
Steering Jan 10, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11564624

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: 2 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 2 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 21 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

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 561
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 493 service bulletins, 51 others, 9 service campaigns

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

  • V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
    2026-09-17 · Engine
  • Suggested fuel additive
  • 2026-09-17 · Lane Departure — Assist
  • Heat Sensative Trouble Shooting Explanation.
  • 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
  • V4619022015173_35 Service bulletin
    2026-08-27 · Service Brakes
  • Brake rotor resurfacing
  • 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

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.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P2004Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
P2006Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
P2014Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
P2015
P2015 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
U0100
U0100 on Volkswagen →		A module has stopped hearing from the engine control module over the vehicle network.Engine2 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.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — higher than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%).

New York inspections 2.5%

failed emissions

406 initial inspections of 399 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2023 Golf / GTIEvery 2023 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.5%1.6%406
Failed the safety inspection1.2%1.1%406
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0%0.16%406
Miles driven a year8,20110,038odometer at inspection
Average odometer27,04632,673odometer 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 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 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).

Compare the 2023 Golf / GTI with

Any vehicle, your weights →
Head-to-headVerdict
2023 Toyota Prius Prime · Midsize Sedan · grade CPrius Prime +16.8

Golf / GTI by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 28 mpg2026 A 0 4 27 mpg2025 A 1 0 27 mpg2024 B 2 41 27 mpg2023 this page C 5 23 28 mpg2022 C 6 119 28 mpg2021 A 2 11 33 mpg2020 B 3 14 32 mpg2019 D 7 284 Do not drive2018 F 10 76 Do not drive2017 D 7 301 125 mi2016 F 14 237 83 mi

Common questions about the 2023 Golf / GTI

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI. The most serious on file is 23V437000, covering Suspension. 1 of them was 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 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it C (74/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 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 2023 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 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, most often about electrical system, back over prevention, forward collision avoidance. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 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 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

The manufacturer has filed 561 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, most often covering engine, unknown or other, electrical system. 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 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — higher than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). 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.

Is the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI better than the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?

The Toyota Prius Prime wins clearly, 84.6 to 67.8, on fuel & range, safety. The Volkswagen Golf / GTI is ahead on performance. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI against the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations4 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates4 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints23NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratingsnoneNHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins561NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No 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 NHTSA8 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe 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.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Head to head 2023 Volkswagen Golf / GTI vs 2023 Toyota Prius Prime Scored on price, fuel, safety, space, performance and warranty — the weights are yours.Other years The 2027 Golf / GTI The Golf / GTI model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Volkswagen recall on file All campaigns filed against Volkswagen vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Golf / GTI by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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