1991 Volkswagen Golf Problems, Recalls & Reliability
11 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1991 Volkswagen Golf, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 8/100 on the trouble index — too lightly reported for a fair score.
Few reports
Where 1991 sits among all Golf years
What owners report
Recalls (3)
CERTAIN HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES, P/N 171.611.107B, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR 1975-1985 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) RABBIT; 1985-1992 VW GOLF; AND 1980-1992 VW JETTA PASSENGER VEHICLES. POSSIBLE BRAKE HOSE RUPTURE COULD OCCUR WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE…
Fix: FOREIGN PARTS DISTRIBUTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE BRAKE HOSES WITH COMPLIANT BRAKE HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOREIGN PARTS DISTRIBUTORS AT…
AN ENGINE PREHEATING TUBE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SUPPORTED DUE TO A MISSING SUPPORT BRACKET, CAUSING THE PREHEATING TUBE TO CHAFE AGAINST THE RIGHT FRONT METAL BRAKE LINE. THIS CAN DAMAGE THE HYDRAULIC LINE, CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE AND DIMINISHED BRAKING IN…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PREHEATING TUBE SUPPORT BRACKET TO ENSURE PROPER POSITIONING RELATIVE TO THE RIGHT FRONT METAL BRAKE LINE.
THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL ON THE ENGINE MAY SHRINK BEYOND THE CLAMP FORCE OF THE FUEL HOSE CLAMPS, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.
Fix: REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
14 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on airbags and body & structure — are on file for the 1991 Volkswagen Golf. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1991 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
The 1991 Volkswagen Golf drew 11 complaints in federal safety records — too lightly reported for a fair score. Its trouble index is 8/100, scored against the model's worst year (2015).
What are the most common 1991 Volkswagen Golf problems?
The top reported problems for the 1991 Volkswagen Golf are visibility & wipers (4 complaints), electrical (3), and engine (1).
Does the 1991 Volkswagen Golf have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 1991 Volkswagen Golf. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.