Known APK problem

Volkswagen Golf VI: springs and shock absorbers

On the Volkswagen Golf VI the APK inspector finds springs and shock absorbers problems 2.9× as often as on cars of the same age: at 13–15 years 4.1%, against about 1.4% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Broken springs or leaking shock absorbers.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Push each corner down firmly: the car should rebound once. Look for oil on the dampers and whether the car sits level.

Ask the seller: Have the shock absorbers or springs ever been replaced?

By age

Share of inspected Volkswagen Golf VIs with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	Golf VI	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
11 – 12 years	A	1.3%	0.8 – 2.3%	1.3%	1.0×	892
11 – 12 years	C	0.8%	0.4 – 1.6%	1.1%	0.7×	892
13 – 15 years	A	3.3%	3.1 – 3.5%	2.2%	1.5×	23,124
13 – 15 years	B	0.7%	0.6 – 0.8%	1.0%	0.7×	23,124
13 – 15 years	C	4.1%	3.8 – 4.4%	1.4%	2.9×	23,124
16+ years	A	5.0%	4.6 – 5.4%	2.6%	1.9×	11,851
16+ years	B	0.8%	0.6 – 1.0%	1.1%	0.7×	11,851
16+ years	C	3.5%	3.2 – 3.9%	1.6%	2.2×	11,851

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 13–15 years

Model	Springs and shock absorbers	Vs. national
Volkswagen Golf VI	4.1%	2.9×
BMW 1-serie F20	2.7%	1.2×
Toyota Auris I Hybrid	5.6%	2.5×
Toyota Auris II	1.0%	0.5×
SEAT Leon III	2.6%	1.2×
MINI Mini R56/R55	0.5%	0.6×

Looking at a Volkswagen Golf VI? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Volkswagen Golf VIs of the same age.

All weak spots of the Volkswagen Golf VI · Springs and shock absorbers: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Volkswagen Golf VI often have springs and shock absorbers problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 13–15 years the inspector found a springs and shock absorbers defect on 4.1% of inspected Volkswagen Golf VIs, against about 1.4% of all cars of the same age (2.9×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the springs and shock absorbers on a used Volkswagen Golf VI?

Push each corner down firmly: the car should rebound once. Look for oil on the dampers and whether the car sits level.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know