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2019 Volkswagen Golf

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2019 Golf.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf is a passenger car that requires 4.2 quarts of 0W-20 engine oil, and it has accumulated 81 total owner complaints—with the engine being the top complaint area—along with 6 recalls. Within the model’s complaint history from 1990 to 2023, the 2019 Golf’s 81 complaints place it well below the peak of 187 in 2017 but far above the low of 1 in 2008, indicating a moderate reliability record for this model year.

Model year2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 1994 1993 1992 1991

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 04E115561T. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP195/65R15, P205/55R16, P225/45R17OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.0, P205/55R16: 6.5, P225/45R17: 7.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	04E115561T
Engine air filter	5QM129620B
Spark plug	04E905602D
Battery	1S0915105A alt 5K0915105G
Front wiper blades	5G1998002
Serpentine belt	04E145933AL
Thermostat	04E121119D alt 04E121113N
Cabin air filter	5Q0819669

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	167.3 in
Overall width	70.9 in
Overall height	57.1 in
Wheelbase	103.5 in
Curb weight	3424 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 59.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	60/40

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Golf of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.1–7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.10 sec — 2019 R 5-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2019	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	5.10 sec	13.80 sec	288 hp	AWD
2019	S 5-door Hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	7.60 sec	15.90 sec	147 hp	FWD
2019	SE 5-door hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	7.60 sec	16.10 sec	147 hp	FWD
2019	SE 5-door hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	7.70 sec	16.00 sec	147 hp	FWD
2020	TSI 5-door Hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	7.70 sec	16.10 sec	147 hp	FWD
2022	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	3.90 sec	12.50 sec	315 hp	AWD
2022	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	4.10 sec	12.50 sec	315 hp	AWD
2022	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	4.20 sec	12.80 sec	315 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, Dot 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	Dot 4
Engine Oil	0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	6.6 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18.4 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	88 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

89 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-5-3-6-2-4
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Spark Plug Torque	16 ft-lbs

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	Front: 15; Rear: 15
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	Front: 15
ABS Sensor Torque	Front: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: .863; Rear: .315

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages

148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Lower vehicle and tighten an additional 180°

148 ft. lbs

Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages

148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Lower vehicle and tighten an additional 180°

148 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.

22 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

29.5 ft. lbs. Step 2: 90°. Step 3: 90°. Step 4: Repeat Step 3.

29.5 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.

44 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 80,000 mi.

Every 10,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 mi	Battery (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
At 40,000 mi	Sunroof Assembly (lubricate)
Every 40,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Instrument Cluster Warning Indicator (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Air Intake Hose Debris Screen (clean) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean)
Every 80,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2019 model year records 81 complaints, more than double the 37 logged in 2018 and well above the 6 recorded in 2020, while recalls held steady at 6 before dropping to 2 in the following year. Within this generation’s arc, complaint counts had peaked at 187 in 2017 and then declined sharply in 2018, but 2019 reversed that downward trajectory and marked a local high for investigations, rising from one in 2018 to three. Engine complaints lead the 2019 tally at 19, with Power Train and Electrical System also registering, though the data does not specify root causes; the year recorded zero fire complaints and three crash-related complaints. Technical service bulletins continued a steady decline from 1,142 in 2015 to 574 in 2019, meaning this model year arrives amid falling factory guidance yet a renewed uptick in owner-reported problems. Because 2019 sits at a rebound spike with more complaints and investigations than the years immediately surrounding it, buyers are better served choosing a 2018 or 2020 example, making 2019 a comparatively less attractive year to buy.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

574

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18’19’20 ’21 ’23

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 81 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine19

Unknown Or Other8

Power Train7

Electrical System6

Power Train,Engine6

Forward Collision Avoidance3

Service Brakes3

Unknown Or Other,Engine3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V188000Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil SpringsReported 06/03/2019

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. Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service…

19V615000Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control ModuleReported 22/08/2019

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… Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 574 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TT 10-18-02_2	2026-06-18	Engine	Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
TT 13-20-01_3	2026-06-18	Engine	Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
V6919012010479_17	2026-06-11	Air Bags	Inquiries
V1719012012855_81	2026-06-04	Engine	Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
V0026012081638_1	2026-05-19	Unknown Or Other	Difference between Component fluid leakage and seepage

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Golf. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.2 qt Engine oil filter 04E115561T Engine air filter 5QM129620B Spark plug 04E905602D Battery 1S0915105A

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2019 Golf take?

4.2 qt of 0W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 2019 Golf have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.