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Volkswagen Golf 1996

The 1996 Volkswagen Golf has a 1.9 L engine. 1 recall campaigns and 29 owner complaints are on record.

5 seats
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Volkswagen Golf
Representative photo of the Golf. It may show a different year or version. Photo: © M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Specs

Engine
1,870 cc
4
Cylinders4
Length54 mm (2.1 in)
Width31 mm
Curb weight1,051 kg (2,317 lb)
Seats5

Specs: average of the cars of this model first registered in 1996 in the Netherlands (RDW vehicle register).

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Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 1996 Volkswagen Golf 4-DR.
🇺🇸 Local data

Recalls

1 campaign🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH 98V160000 · 1998-07-16 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE HOOD COULD OCCUR OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD LATCH AND SECURING BOLTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.

On the road

Cars of this model first registered in 1996, from official registers. Each figure belongs to its country.

🇬🇧 Annual roadworthiness test (MOT), Great Britain

36% failed the test the first time

Worse than average All cars first registered in 1996: 35%

1,024 tests in 2023 · average 182,838 km · DVSA, OGL v3

Common problems

29 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY Fire 2010-07-07 · NHTSA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED WHEN SUDDENLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2006-07-20 · NHTSA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL # 98V160000, WHICH REFERS TO THE HOOD LATCH, APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2004-09-16 · NHTSA

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE'S HOOD FLEW UP WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE WINDSHIELD GLASS WAS SHATTERED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2003-04-25 · NHTSA

INSTRUMENT DISPLAY CLUSTER ON 96 PASSAT WAGON GLX TOTALLY FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER READINGS. PANEL WAS REPLACED FOR $500. WRITTEN LETTER TO VWOA WENT UNANSWERED. *JB

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2003-03-13 · NHTSA

ENTIRE DASH BOARD WENT DEAD AFTER A FEW DAYS OF EXTREME COLD WEATHER. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING WITH MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN'S AND FEEL THAT MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM PROPERLY. *JB

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2003-02-15 · NHTSA

ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL (FUEL, TEMP, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND ODOMETER DISPLAYS) FAILED DURING COLD WEATHER. MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND VIA A GOOGLE NEWSGROUP SEARCH.

SEAT BELTS 2002-11-12 · NHTSA

THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AND COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR JG *JB

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 injured 2002-06-07 · NHTSA

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THEN, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE SHUT OFF ENGINE AND OPENED HOOD. BATTERY HAD EXPLODED. BATTERY WAS FACTORY REPLACEMENT PART INSTALLED BY DEALER. *AK THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. CONSUMER WAS BURNED FROM THE BATTERY ACID. *YH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2001-06-01 · NHTSA

OIL IS LEAKING FROM CONNECTOR SENSOR AND THIS IS GETTING DOWN INTO ENGINE. *AK

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,EQUIPMENT 2001-05-03 · NHTSA

DOOR LOCK CYLINDER- SEPARATED FROM INNER ASSEMBLY , #2. WHILE IN HYWAY TRAFFIC, RADIO FAILED, FOLLOWED BY ,IN APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, ENGINE CUTTING OFF ( FUEL/WATER GUAGE FUNCTIONED), COASTED TO ROADSIDE. ATTEMPTED TO START ENGINE, ACTED AS IF BATTERY DEAD. AFTER 1 HOUR WAIT, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART ENGINE, STAR…

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2001-04-25 · NHTSA

AFTER CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN STARTED IT BACK ON CAR ALARM CAME ON AND STAYED ON.CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER HOOD TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEN, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOK, AND REALIZED THAT WIRING SYSTEM BURNED OUT NOTHING THAT WAS MOTORIZED WAS WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER WAS WILLING TO FIX …

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE Fire 2001-03-23 · NHTSA

DROVE INTO PARKING LOT. HEARD A NOISE & VEHICLE STOPPED. SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT FLAMES. GAVE INDICATION OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, CAUSING FIRE. PRIOR TO PROBLEM ,HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON/ DOOR LOCKS, AND …

All 29 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 1996 Volkswagen Golf have?
The 1996 Volkswagen Golf has a 1.9 L engine.
Does the 1996 Volkswagen Golf have recalls?
1 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Latches/Locks/Linkages (1998-07-16).
What are the common problems of the 1996 Volkswagen Golf?
29 owners have filed complaints, most often about Electrical System.

Other years

Other models by Volkswagen

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