Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Volkswagen Golf owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle started jerking with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle at her residence and upon exiting the vehicle, she smelled an abnormally strong gasoline odor. The contact inspected the vehicle and saw a pool of gasoline underneath the passenger's side rear of the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer, who diagnosed that the breather valve inside the fuel tank had failed. The dealer determined that the fuel tank, fuel lines and charcoal canister needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the contact heard an abnormal clicking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed suction jet pump. The contact was informed that the suction jet pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
On 10/23/2021 in the process of refueling the vehicle in question the gas pump shut off after only pumping less than a gallon of gas. Repeated attempts yielded the same results. Additionally gas would back up and flow down the over flow tube onto the ground. I tried other pumps on subsequent dates with same result. I was able to get enough gas into the tank, less than a gallon at a time, to drive the vehicle from 10/23/2021 to 11/2/2021 when the vehicle began to buck or act like it would shut off. I was able to drive home and stopped driving the vehicle on 11/2/2021. I contacted the local VW dealer and made an appointment to have the vehicle looked at on 11/16/2021. This problem isn't unique to my vehicle. There have been a lot of VW/AUDI vehicles that experienced the same or similar problems. On 11/16/2021 the dealer verified the problem I described. …
I am resubmitting a previous complaint as I have learned and experienced more problems with the vehicle since my initial complaint. My 2017 VW GTI only has 57K miles and I have been taking it to the dealer for proper and timely maintenance. My fuel system is showing signs of failure. Based on research I have been doing online ( I could be wrong) it seems the Volkswagen golfs have a part inside the gas tank that fails and starts causing a safety hazard. My gas tank builds up pressure and literally expels gas out from somewhere. I started finding a small pool of fuel behind my car when I park at work or at home. I have since parked my vehicle and will be taking it into the dealer for inspection and repair. I read online that the 2015 models have had a recall for a part called a "suction pump" in the gas tank. I think it is safe to assume that my 2017 is having the same issue as the 2015s. …
One day after a fuel fill-up, during hot weather, upon returning home my wife noticed the smell of gasoline when exiting my vehicle. Then she saw a steady stream of fuel pouring onto the ground just behind the passenger-side rear tire. She immediately got back in the car and drove it back out of my garage, onto our gravel driveway. The fuel continued running out of the wheel well, from a location approximately below the fuel filler door, for several minutes. After I opened the fuel filler cap there was a hissing sound, then the fuel leak appeared to stop. I called my local VW repair shop, who advised us to get the car towed to them, and NOT to drive it. The next morning it was towed to that shop. It took them a couple of days to get to our car, and they diagnosed that fuel had filled the charcoal canister, and presented us with a repair estimate of approximately $5,000. …
While on a road trip we noticed that the car was missing slightly on steep hills, and we attributed it to needing new spark plugs. When we filled with gas later, we noticed it clicking off as full sooner than it should have. The next day we could not get more than a gallon in it, and gas pooled in the neck of the tank and started oozing out around the rear bumper and on to the ground. It was clearly unsafe to drive in that condition. We took it to a nearby mechanic where we were visiting and he diagnosed it as a failed EVAP that he couldn't replace because it's integrated into the tank, and he didn't do that kind of major work on VWs. Found another mechanic and he disassembled the fuel system to discover that the baffles in the gas tank had collapsed, the charcoal filter was destroyed, the fuel pump and simmy valve were broken. All will have to be replaced at a cost of about $4500. …
While driving the vehicle I noticed hesitation and lose of power on the interstate. No MIL or check engine light illuminated on the dash. I was able to get the vehicle back to the house, but noticed a strong fuel smell coming from the car. I walked around the vehicle looking for a visible sign of a fuel leak and saw a puddle by the rear passenger tire. After further investigation I discovered that the fuel was coming from the air filter on my charcoal/evap canister. I did some research and see that VW has an extended warranty out for this issue but it is not currently a recall, Fuel Tank Suction Jet Pump Limited Warranty Extension (VWP-22-2). …
On July 7, 2024, the fuel tank system on my car (2017 VW Golf) failed. I was unable to pump gas into the gas tank. Upon arrival back to my house, gas started leaking out of the backside of the car near the gas tank (I later found out from the VW service manager it was leaking out of the charcoal canister). I had the car towed ($173) to a local VW dealership the next morning, 7/8/24. It is now 7/30/24 and the car is still not fixed. I was without a car for two and a half weeks (7/7 to 7/24), then finally got a rental from the dealership that is costing me $40/day (totaling $240 as of today). According to the service manager at the VW dealership, VW engineers are saying the failure is not due to the fuel tank suction jet pump (which there is a current recall on but no fix available) but all the symptoms I experienced point to that part being the problem. …
Car will stutter and stall. Usually after multiple short trips (5 stops and starts) in a short period of time (2 hours). 1 min/1000 gauge is fluttering around 0.75 on gauge when stopped. When car stalls it can be when pulling out at a stop sign. It will stall when gas is applied and then I need to coast around a corner. Occasionally the car will stall out when driving between 20 and 30 miles per hour. When this happens it is extremely dangerous because I am driving in traffic and need to pull over to the side of the road. I had this problem fixed at the dealership once before in 2021 and it cost $559.08 then. I was told at the time that gas sometimes has sediment in it and I should not get gas at grocery store pumps where the price is lower. I should stick to better gas stations. …
Vehicle EPC light comes on dash. OBD code is "P00AF00 - Turbocharger Boost Control "A" Module". This error causes sudden loss of power and loss of driver assistance (forward collision assist, blind spot assist, cruise control, etc.). Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Upon checking turbo charger, the wastegate actuator arm is seized up, keeping the wastegate from functioning properly, failing to maintain boost pressure and entering limp mode causing sudden loss of power and acceleration. This has happened while on the roadway, attempting to merge into highway traffic, change lanes & pass other vehicles. This caused the vehicle behind me to close the distance very rapidly almost resulting in multiple rear end collisions. The vehicle has not been inspected by others, yet. The only warning that came on was when it first did it. …
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline
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.
NHTSA investigations
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
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.
Fuel System complaints in other Golf years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2017 Volkswagen Golf?
NHTSA has 56 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2017 Volkswagen Golf, 48% of the model year's 117 complaints. The component named most often is storage › tank assembly (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 Volkswagen Golf fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 24V-110 (fuel system, gasoline, Feb 14, 2024). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2017 Volkswagen Golf fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 36,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 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.