2001 Volkswagen Golf Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 13%of 116 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 64,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2001 Volkswagen Golf, 13% of the 116 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 64,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While I have no incident to report, I would like to prevent future incidents. My car, like lots of older vehicles, suffers from uv clouding of the headlight lenses, which diminishes their effectiveness in illuminating the roadway at night. Surely this is a safety concern. Equally surely, the manufacturers are aware of it. So why is this deficiency of design or manufacture not the subject of recalls?”
NHTSA complaint #10459203, filed 2012-05, 64,000 miles“I have received a recall notice that requiresd me to bring the car to the dealer for repairs. I have not confidence that the dealers in my area will perform the repair without damaging the car in other non covered areas. Therefore, I will not bring the car to the dealer for repair. Safety recall n4 Volkswagen.”
NHTSA complaint #10193472, filed 2007-06, 170,000 miles“I own a 2001 vw GOLF. Since I purchased this car, the brake light switch has failed once per year. Thus, I have had to replace this faulty brake light switch four times in four years. The faulty switch has caused my epc light to come on while I am driving, and to stall the vehicle and prevent it from shifting gears. Vw issued a recall for faulty brake switches in the 1999-2002 jetta and 1998-2002 beetles, so I don't know why a comparable fix has not been made available to 2000-2002 GOLF owners. This problem is rampant. …”
NHTSA complaint #10161528, filed 2006-07, 51,232 miles“While driving the brake light switch failed. As a result, vehicle was left with no indication of stopping, and the cruise control was deactivated. Consumer was concerned that he would be rear ended due to the failure. The vehicle epc light illuminated. The dealer determined from the trouble codes that the brake light switch failed along with the fuel pump relay, oxygen sensor, ect and purge valve.”
NHTSA complaint #10087831, filed 2004-08, 50,800 miles“The hazard light flasher malfunctioned. The flasher began flashing rapidly, then wouldn't function at all. Dealership indicated that the flasher had to be replaced. Hazard switch recall 04v584000 was issued, but this vehicle wa snot included in the recall due to VIN.”
NHTSA complaint #10113655, filed 2005-03, 37,000 milesRelated recalls
- 07V063000Feb 20, 2007On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed…Covers: Volkswagen Golf 1999–2006, GTI 1999–2006, Beetle 2001–2007 +3 more
- 04V584000Dec 16, 2004On certain passenger vehicles, the hazard switch and flasher system function may degrade over time because of distortion and material transfer of the contacts…Covers: Volkswagen Golf 2000–2002, Jetta 2000–2002, GTI 2000–2002
Related service bulletins
- 10158533Feb 18, 2019Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses. TB updated to include model year 2019 applicability.
- 10121257Mar 27, 2015Technical Bulletin: Condensation and or water droplets becomming visible on inside of exterior light lenses issue is discussed in this document
- 10243015Nov 17, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10253215Jun 4, 2014Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239592Jun 4, 2014Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10120169Jun 4, 2014Technical Bulletin (Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation): This document informs of the Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses. The…
- 10243011May 19, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242349May 19, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10253214Mar 8, 2014Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
- 10239591Mar 6, 2014Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 9% |
| 2021 | 1 | 14% |
| 2020 | 1 | 17% |
| 2018 | 2 | 7% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 2% |
| 2012 | 3 | 6% |
| 2011 | 3 | 3% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2005 | 2 | 11% |
| 2004 | 1 | 4% |
| 2003 | 1 | 4% |
| 2002 | 11 | 15% |
| 2001 | 15 | 13% |
| 2000 | 3 | 3% |
| 1999 | 5 | 8% |
| 1998 | 2 | 11% |
| 1995 | 3 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2001 Volkswagen Golf
32 complaintsEngine cooling
23 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Volkswagen Golf
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology