The Volkswagen brand has gone through a really rough patch in the past decade because it went from being the staple premium car brand that was actually affordable and desirable, to a rather questionable brand thanks to the Dieselgate scandal. However, VW made to effort to invest a huge sum of money into electric cars in order to regain its former title.
The VW e Golf is one of the very first VW electric cars which immediately raises a few questions about its reliability. Whenever a brand ventures into unfamiliar territory, it usually indicates issues just waiting to happen. However, an electric car is inherently simpler in its construction which means that the e Golf is a relatively dependable car.
Either way, there are some issues worth mentioning such as the issues with the charge port, the HVAC, various electrical issues, issues with power delivery and charging, and issues with the brakes. All of these issues are repairable, but they also do seem to be common on many e Golf models.
All in all, the e Golf is a really interesting car as it combines all of the benefits of a VW Golf with electric power which makes it the perfect Golf for the modern era.
VW e Golf – Charging port issues
One of the most, if not the most common issue the e Golf suffers from is the troubled charge port lock which is designed to dock the charger and lock it during charging. This system is designed so no one can simply walk to your car and unplug it. However, the locks sometimes tend to get stuck which means that you can’t detach the charger.
Moreover, the port is designed to immobilize the vehicle whenever someone tries to take it out which means that your car will not be able to drive, and you will not be able to tow it either. It is possible to use a sharp object to detach the locks by force, but it’s not a good idea to do so as you can make the issue even worse.
VW e Golf – HVAC issues
Many VW e Golf owners complain about various HVAC issues such as complete lack of airflow, lack of cold air, or lack of warm air. This means that the system is unable to cool down or heat up the cabin when necessary, which can be partially repaired with a software patch.
However, some sources state that these issues are down to a defective heater pump or broken valves which means that these will have to be replaced if you want to solve the issue permanently. Be sure to take your e Golf to the dealership in order to fix this.
VW e Golf – Electrical issues
The VW e Golf sometimes suffers from various electrical issues associated with the GPS, the rearview camera, the connectivity systems, and Bluetooth. The camera can disengage completely, bug out, or even flash which renders it completely useless. It seems that the only way to effectively solve this is to replace the camera entirely.
Car-Net features are also a known gripe with many VW models because they tend to stop functioning without an apparent reason. This issue is mostly associated with 2015 models which means that VW fixed the issue for 2016 models and up.
VW e Golf – Power delivery and charging issues
Some e Golf models suffer from faulty power control modules which can completely mess up the car’s charging system. So much so that you will have to replace the entire module to fix this. The good thing is that only a small amount of cars have had this issue diagnosed.
Another issue related to the module or the inverter causes the car to lose power while driving. The good thing is that these issues were mostly affecting early 2015 models while later models have had this issue fixed.
VW e Golf – Issues with the brakes
Many Volkswagen cars have suffered from brake-related issues, specifically automated front brakes issues. The e Golf seems to be part of this group of cars that either doesn’t engage the brakes when necessary or engage them when there is no need to do so.
The system struggles in adverse weather conditions, especially in heavy rain or snow because the system is connected with the parking sensors. 2 years ago a lawsuit was claimed against VW because of these issues, so it’s better to turn off the system completely in order to be safe at all times.
FAQ Section
Is the VW e Golf worth it?
The Volkswagen e Golf is one of the very first serious attempts by VW to make a competitive and mass-produced electric car. They decided to take a well-known Golf chassis and strap on a high-voltage electric system to make the electric. The e Golf is not a bad car, but the times have caught up with the e Golf which means that VW ID. cars are simply better.
As such, if you can find an e Golf at a tempting price, it is worth the money, but if you are able to stretch it to something like a VW ID.3 or even an ID.4, the e Golf is not worth it.
How many miles can the VW e Golf last?
In the real world, the e Golf can do up to 150 miles on a full charge which means that these estimates take into account A/C and all the other systems we tend to use in the car. You could be able to stretch that distance even further if you are trying to, but realistically, 150 miles tops.
This is where newer electric cars beat the VW e Golf because the e Golf was never intended to be an electric car from the factory.
How long does it take to charge the VW e Golf?
Slow charging takes up to 6-7 hours while fast charging replenishes the battery from 0% to 80% in around 45 minutes. This is decent considering when the e Golf came it and is why the e Golf still manages to be somewhat competitive with the newest EVs.
However, EVs that have been designed with an EV-specific chassis tend to be better in the real world.
