BRAND NEW CAR DRIVES SOMEWHAT ERRATIC. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT CHECK. WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT CAR IS DELIVERED WITH SUSPENSION ADJUSTED OUTSIDE OF MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS. NO REASON GIVEN WHY. I CONSIDER CAR UNSAFE AS IT DOESN'T DRIVE AS EXPECTED. CHECKING SOME OWNER WEBSITES, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *TR
2013 Volkswagen Golf steering problems
moderate 5 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
ON TWO OCCASIONS, ABOUT TWO WEEKS APART, THE POWER CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND ON AGAIN ONCE OR TWICE, THE CAR STARTED AGAIN, AND THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. ON THE FIRST OF THESE OCCASIONS, THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A CITY STREET. IT WAS A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER FIRST STARTING THE CAR THAT DAY. …
DRIVING IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC AT AROUND 35-40 MPH. PRIOR,TO THIS INCIDENT, CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND TROUBLE FREE. ENGINE DIED, SUBSEQUENTLY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND I NEEDED TO STEER VEHICLE TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND WAS ABLE TO ADJUST TO SITUATION, CONCERNED THAT A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE SAME SITUATION.…
AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY, I WAS DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE LANES DUE TO LACK OF POWER AND POWER STEERING, SO I TRIED TO RE-START THE ENGINE WHILE COASTING IN THE FAST LANE. THE HUD INDICATED THAT I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SO I STOPPED THE CAR IN THE FAST LANE IN ORDER TO DO SO. THE ENGINE STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. …
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2013 Volkswagen Golf?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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