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Volkswagen Golf RModel year report

2018 Volkswagen Golf R Problems

Complaints
9filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
8,500miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl AWD · 22 city / 29 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R. The part named most often is brakes, with 3 complaints (33% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (3) and electrical system (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 80% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 8,500 miles. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 470 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 24 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 26 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Brakes: “Front collision warning sounds when leaving parking lots with small dip where the road meets the exit. 25% of the time my emergency brakes activate stopping the car when I want to exit. The car thinks the road is an obstacle because of the dip. This happen often and in different parking lots. Very dangerous since you're entering a road way and could cause an accident.”

NHTSA complaint #11210352, filed 2019-05, 8,500 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Around 5 times now over the last year or two, most recently yesterday, the (DSG automatic) transmission has dropped out of gear into neutral when pulling away from a stop. Note that the shifter was not moved and did not move - but the transmission pops out of gear. Every time this has been when pulling pretty gently away from a stop sign or intersection.. It has happened both when the car was cold, and also after driving 15 miles. …”

NHTSA complaint #11437081, filed 2021-10

Electrical system: “Backup camera may not display upon shifting to reverse - I had an android phone projecting an android auto session. With the engine running, stationary at a parking lot, I depressed the clutch and shifted to reverse. The infotainment system did not show the backup camera nor a warning popup of an error - it just displayed the media screen. I tried 3 times more - the 2nd time the infotainment display showed parkpilot is currently not available . Picture is attached. Video is available if needed.”

NHTSA complaint #11208209, filed 2019-05, 4,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

80% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 4,000 and 20,000 miles.

60%0–1020%10–250%25–5020%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 8,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

20182019420212024
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Golf R · sedan AWD★★★★★5 / 4554 · 13.4% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating; 2019: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2018 Volkswagen Golf R version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Golf R AWD2.0L 4-cyl7-speed automatic222925$3,300
Golf R AWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual212924$3,400

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 470 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 470 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volkswagen Golf R

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202659000—25—Too new
202412—1—25—Too new
20236203—26—Too new
202210—5—26—Not enough data
201968,9502526—Not enough data
201898,5004525—Not enough data
20171520,5000525—Falling
20161218,0004525—Not enough data

All Volkswagen Golf R model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R have?

NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 3 complaints (33% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 3.

Has the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R (Golf R, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 8,500 miles and the middle half falls between 4,000 and 20,000 miles; 80% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.