In short
At 9–10 years (mostly built 2015–2017) 2.5% of 23,329 inspected Volkswagen Golf VIIs had at least one A-problem at the APK, against 4.7% for all cars of the same age. Over all ages together an A-problem occurs 36% less often on this model than on average (rank 102 of 328 in the ranking). Most often it concerns brakes, springs and shock absorbers, seat belts and seats and airbags.
Cite these figures
CarXray.nl (2026). Volkswagen Golf VII — APK defects by age. Based on RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. https://carxray.nl/en/modellen/volkswagen/golf-vii/
A-problems
2.5%
n = 23,329 · 95% CI 2.3 – 2.8%
National, same age
4.7%
n = 877,805 · 95% CI 4.6 – 4.7%
Defects at the APK by age
- Volkswagen Golf VII
- National, same age
- 95% confidence interval
| Age | Built (approx.) | n | A-problems | 95% CI | All defects | National A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 – 4 years | 2021–2023 | 8 | insufficient | 1.3% | ||
| 5 – 6 years | 2019–2021 | 5,493 | 1.2% | 0.9 – 1.5% | 25.3% | 1.9% |
| 7 – 8 years | 2017–2019 | 17,500 | 1.4% | 1.2 – 1.6% | 27.3% | 3.1% |
| 9 – 10 years | 2015–2017 | 23,329 | 2.5% | 2.3 – 2.8% | 28.6% | 4.7% |
| 11 – 12 years | 2013–2015 | 25,608 | 5.6% | 5.3 – 5.9% | 32.4% | 7.2% |
| 13 – 15 years | 2010–2013 | 4,920 | 6.0% | 5.3 – 6.7% | 34.3% | 10.6% |
| 16+ years | 2010 or older | — | insufficient | 15.3% |
Weak spots
What to check extra on this generation.
| Point to check | Share · sample · 95% CI | Vs. same class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 1.0% · n = 23,329 · 0.9 – 1.2% | 0.6× | |
| Springs and shock absorbers | 0.5% · n = 23,329 · 0.4 – 0.6% | 0.6× | |
| Seat belts, seats and airbags | 0.4% · n = 23,329 · 0.4 – 0.5% | 0.8× | |
| Control arms / ball joints | 0.2% · n = 23,329 · 0.2 – 0.3% | 0.2× |
Open recalls
Check the status of this specific car.
About this generation
- Production years
- 2012 – 2021
- RDW type code(s)
- AU
- Trade name(s)
- GOLF
- Registered (type group)
- 87,230
- Generation boundary
- Draft, being checked
Similar models
Same type of car and era, at 9–10 years. Golf VII: 2.5% A-problems.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Volkswagen Golf reliable?
The APK tells you about defects, not breakdowns. At 9–10 years 2.5% of inspected Volkswagen Golf VIIs had at least one A-problem (structure, safety or costly mechanics), against 4.7% nationally at the same age. The maintenance of the specific car matters more than the model.
How does the Volkswagen Golf VII compare with other cars?
Over all ages together an A-problem occurs 36% less often on the Volkswagen Golf VII than on cars of the same age. That puts it at rank 102 of 328 models in the CarXray ranking.
Which model years do these figures cover?
The inspections run from 2025-10 to 2026-09. Cars aged 9–10 years were then mostly built in 2015–2017. The data table shows the build years per age class.
What are the most common problems?
The most common A-problems at the APK are brakes, springs and shock absorbers, seat belts, seats and airbags. See the weak spots above and take them into your checklist.
Take these insights to the viewing
Use our checklist and focus on the key points for this Volkswagen Golf VII.