VolkswagenGolf R2022Overview/volkswagen/golf-r/2022/base/

2022 Volkswagen Golf R

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2022 Golf R.

Transmission Automatic (AM7)

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R, built on the latest iteration of the Golf platform, pairs a turbocharged engine with an Automatic (AM7) transmission, delivering a fuel‑economy rating of 23/30/26 mpg as recorded by the EPA. It carries a modest 10 total owner complaints, with the forward‑collision‑avoidance system as the top complaint area, and has been subject to five recalls, while its complaint history spans from a low of one complaint in 2012 to a peak of 194 in 2017, indicating that the 2022 model sits near the lower end of the model’s reliability spectrum.

Model year202620252024202320222019201820172016

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque103.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/30/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 06L115562B. 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.

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire size235/35R19/XL 91YOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter06L115562B
Engine air filter5Q0129620D
Spark plug06Q905601E
Battery000915089BC
Front wiper blades5G1998002
Serpentine belt06Q903137A
Cabin air filter5Q0819669

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length168.9 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase103.5 in
Curb weight3417 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 59.4 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 30 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Torque lug nuts to 103.0 ft-lbs.

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts103.0 ft-lbs

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Inspection Procedure (Lower) — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Inspect Ball Joint by pulling down on lower control arm then forcing it upward. The joint should also be inspected by moving the lower portion of the tire and wheel in an in and out motion. During inspections allow for normal upper strut mount and wheel bearing wear but no ball joint play should be observed. Step 3: The ball joint should also be replaced if the boot is torn, stud is worn or joint shows any play.

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 40,000 mi; coolant every 20,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 20,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miBattery (inspect) · Body Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Instrument Cluster Warning Indicator (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miAir Intake Hose Debris Screen (clean) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 80,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)

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 2022 Volkswagen Golf R represents a significant improvement over the previous generation's problematic years, with only 10 complaints compared to the 194 and 123 filed in 2017 and 2015 respectively, while maintaining moderate federal oversight with 5 recalls and zero investigations. Positioned early in the current production arc following the high-volume complaint era of 2015-2017, the 2022 model shows stabilized defect reporting with complaint counts comparable to surrounding years like 2024 (11) and 2019 (6), yet carries fewer Technical Service Bulletins (321) than any prior year in the record. The complaint profile centers on Forward Collision Avoidance and steering-electrical systems, though the federal data does not specify root causes, and notably records zero crash or fire incidents. While the 5 recalls exceed the 2019 low of 2, they remain below the 12-recall peak of 2015, suggesting maturing production quality relative to earlier builds. Given the minimal complaint volume, absence of safety-critical incident reports, and a downward-trending TSB count, the 2022 model year presents as a sound purchase candidate within this generation, provided verified recall completion.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
321
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
10
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 10 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Forward Collision Avoidance2
Unknown Or Other,Back Over Prevention,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Steering,Electrical System1
Steering,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Electrical System1
Steering,Electrical System,Visibility/Wiper1
Structure1
Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

22V163000EngineReported 16/03/2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Golf GTI and Golf R vehicles. Certain driving situations, such as high acceleration driving maneuvers, may loosen the engine design cover. Remedy: Dealers will remove the engine design cover, free of charge. Once parts become available, Volkswagen will provide a free updated engine design cover under a separate Service…

22V542000Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof AssemblyReported 27/07/2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Golf R A8 and Golf GTI vehicles. The touch switch for the sunroof may be too sensitive, allowing it to be inadvertently pressed. As such, these… Remedy: Dealers will replace the roof module switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 23, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 321 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TT 10-18-02_22026-06-18EngineLubricating engine components before reassembly.
TT 13-20-01_32026-06-18EngineInstruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
Customer email_91UB2026-06-15Unknown Or OtherYour vehicle is currently eligible for the 91UB software update designed to:
Dealer 91UB2026-06-15Unknown Or OtherThis OTA update addresses a potential issue with special characters being broadcast over…
V6919012010479_172026-06-11Air BagsInquiries

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 R. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 2022 Golf R have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Golf R get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 30 highway / 26 combined mpg.