The 2018 Volkswagen Golf is a wagon that came with a choice of 1.8L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl and Electric engines. Even at 8 years old, a damaged or broken-down one still has real value for its parts. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.
| Body style | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons |
|---|---|
| Engines | 1.8L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, Electric (turbocharged versions available) |
| Transmissions | Manual 6-spd, Automatic (AM-S7), Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (S6), Manual 5-spd, Automatic (A1) |
| Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline, Regular Gasoline, Electricity |
| Fuel economy | 21–126 city / 29–111 highway / 24–119 combined MPG |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $650–$3,400 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles) |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 309–366 grams per mile |
| EPA fuel economy score | 5–10 out of 10 |
| EPA greenhouse gas score | 5–10 out of 10 |
| Curb weight (NHTSA test vehicle) | 3,113 lb |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,101–4,167 lb |
| Versions tested by EPA | 13 configurations: Golf R, Golf Alltrack, GTI, Golf, Golf SportWagen, Golf SportWagen 4motion and more |
| Age | 8 years |
Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data; weights from NHTSA crash-test records. Your car's exact equipment may differ.
NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls covering the 2018 Volkswagen Golf. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a…
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling two 2018 Golf GTI vehicles. The VIN printed on the Federal Certification label may not match the actual VIN on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk: If the stamped vehicle identification number (VIN) does not match the VIN on the Vehicle Certification Label, owners may be unable to tell if their vehicle is under an important safety recall, possibly exposing them to an increased risk of
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro…
Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Risk: If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Sportwagen vehicles. The build of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle shift lever is not in "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…
Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Owners have filed 46 complaints about the 2018 Volkswagen Golf with NHTSA. 2 reports involved a crash. Owners reported 4 injuries.
Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Volkswagen Golf.
| Version | Overall | Frontal crash | Side crash | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Dr, FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 13.4% |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP). Ratings from different model years or rating systems aren't directly comparable.
Manufacturers have filed 622 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2018 Volkswagen Golf. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.
4 of them are warranty extensions. Warranty extensions mean the manufacturer agreed to cover a specific repair beyond the normal warranty. They rarely still apply to a car this age, but they point to known weak spots.
Suggested fuel additive
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Repair or Replace Information
Replacement instruction
Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).
NHTSA opened 1 defect investigation covering the 2018 Volkswagen Golf.
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fue
It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. Its parts make up much of its value. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.
Yes. We buy 2018 Golfs that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.
Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2018 Volkswagen Golf; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.
Data retrieved October 2026.
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