2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen Problems & Complaints

Better than average67% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Golf Sportwagen at the same age

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 67% fewer than a typical Golf Sportwagen model year at the same age, making the 2019 one of the better Golf Sportwagen years. The most reported problem area is the suspension (4 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles). 5 recalls cover this model year.

11complaints
5recalls
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen problems

  • Suspension~78,000 miles
    436%
  • Engine & cooling~61,000 miles
    327%
  • Electrical system~61,000 miles
    327%
  • Other / not specified
    218%
  • Speed control & acceleration
    19%
  • Fuel & propulsion system
    19%

Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen complaints by model year

201520162017201820195951381211
Owner complaints per model year, Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Golf Sportwagen years: 2019, 2018, 2017. Compare all years →

2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen recalls (5)

Fuel system, gasoline

NHTSA recall 24V-110 · Feb 14, 2024 · 261,257 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024.

Electrical system › Ignition › Switch

NHTSA recall 23V-604 · Aug 30, 2023 · 62,538 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Tires › Pressure monitoring and regulating systems

NHTSA recall 22V-815 · Oct 31, 2022 · 296,044 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles.

Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi's customer service at…

Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module

NHTSA recall 19V-615 · Aug 22, 2019 · 679,027 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Coil springs

NHTSA recall 19V-188 · Mar 6, 2019 · 56,173 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen:

Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)

NHTSA investigation RQ23007 · opened Dec 12, 2023 · closed Jul 1, 2024 · led to recall 24V-110

On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle.

What 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen owners say

Suspension

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen. The contact stated while the vehicle was being inspected by a certified mechanic, the contact was informed that the coil springs were fractured. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

78,000 miles · May 2023

The right rear coil spring fractured at the lower control end of the coil. This model was subject to a recall (19V188000) for premature fracture of the coil spring. However, according to VW this recall did not affect the VIN of our vehicle. Suspect that the recall either should have included our VIN or that the replacement springs have a similar material defect.

Mar 2023

Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle restarted after 15 minutes but then stalled again. While driving 45 MPH on three other occasions, the vehicle stalled. The check starting system message was displayed. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the part to repair the vehicle was not available. The contact called another local dealer, Volkswagen Lee's Summit (2225 NE Independence Ave., Lee's Summit, MO 64064) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was contacted but the contact was awaiting a call back. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTS Campaign Number: 23V604000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

61,000 miles · Jan 2024

The vehicle suddenly shut off while going 60 mph on the highway, and a 'Check Starter System' message appeared before a message that indicated that I need to stop the vehicle appeared. Vehicle was able to restart and the same issue occurred again less than 1 mile down the road. My safety was at risk due to the loss of power, that on another road or a highway on ramp, could have caused a collision due to the loss of speed I experienced. There were no prior warnings until the loss of power. The manufacturer service center was unable to replicate the issue or make any corrective action.

Aug 2022

Electrical system

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle restarted after 15 minutes but then stalled again. While driving 45 MPH on three other occasions, the vehicle stalled. The check starting system message was displayed. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the part to repair the vehicle was not available. The contact called another local dealer, Volkswagen Lee's Summit (2225 NE Independence Ave., Lee's Summit, MO 64064) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was contacted but the contact was awaiting a call back. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTS Campaign Number: 23V604000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

61,000 miles · Jan 2024

The vehicle suddenly shut off while going 60 mph on the highway, and a 'Check Starter System' message appeared before a message that indicated that I need to stop the vehicle appeared. Vehicle was able to restart and the same issue occurred again less than 1 mile down the road. My safety was at risk due to the loss of power, that on another road or a highway on ramp, could have caused a collision due to the loss of speed I experienced. There were no prior warnings until the loss of power. The manufacturer service center was unable to replicate the issue or make any corrective action.

Aug 2022

2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
1.4L 4-cyl turbo6-speed manualFWD29 / 37 / 32
1.4L 4-cyl turbo8-speed automaticFWD27 / 36 / 31

EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen a good car?

Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Golf Sportwagen rates better than average: 67% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Golf Sportwagen at the same age. It is one of the best Golf Sportwagen years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen?

The suspension — 4 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and electrical system (3).

How many recalls does the 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen have?

There are 5 recalls for the 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen, the most recent from February 14, 2024 (fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2018 and 2017. See the full Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen years comparison.

At what mileage do 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.