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2017 Volkswagen Golf

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2017 Golf.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf is a passenger car whose engine requires 5.8‑6.0 quarts of oil and is approved for viscosities of 0W‑40, 5W‑30 or 5W‑40. In its reliability record, the 2017 model year marks the highest point in the model’s complaint history from 1990 to 2023, with 187 owner complaints centered on the fuel and propulsion system and six recalls documented. Consequently, this model year sits at the upper edge of the Golf’s reliability spectrum, reflecting a period of relatively higher reported problems compared with earlier years.

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 capacity5.8-6.0OEM · verified

Engine oil type0W-40 / 5W-30 / 5W-40OEM · 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 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.

Tire size225/40R18OEM · verified

Wheel / rimNS inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	06L115562B
Engine air filter	5QM129620
Spark plug	06K905601D
Battery	000915089E alt 000915089C
Front wiper blades	5G1998002
Serpentine belt	06L903137A
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	3038 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 59.8 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.

6.6–8.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 2017 TSI Wolfsburg 5-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2017	TSI Wolfsburg 5-door Hatchback 1.8L Turbo I-4	6.60 sec	15.30 sec	170 hp	FWD
2017	SportWagen TSI S 4MOTION 1.8L Turbo I-4	7.00 sec	15.50 sec	170 hp	AWD
2017	TSI Wolfsburg 5-door Hatchback 1.8L Turbo I-4	7.30 sec	15.60 sec	170 hp	FWD
2017	Alltrack TSI SE 4MOTION Wagon 1.8L Turbo I-4	7.40 sec	15.80 sec	170 hp	AWD
2017	Alltrack TSI SEL 4MOTION Wagon 1.8L Turbo I-4	7.40 sec	15.70 sec	170 hp	AWD
2017	Alltrack TSI SEL 4MOTION Wagon 1.8L Turbo I-4	7.50 sec	15.90 sec	170 hp	AWD
2017	e-Golf SEL Premium 5-door Hatchback Elec 100-kW 35.8-kWh	8.50 sec	16.60 sec	134 hp	FWD
2016	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	5.10 sec	13.60 sec	292 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.8-6.0 of 0W-40 / 5W-30 / 5W-40 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	Use Audi/VW part number G055540A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	11.0
Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.4-9.0
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Engine Coolant	Use genuine VW G13 type coolant/antifreeze
Engine Coolant Capacity	8.5
Engine Oil	0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	6.6
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	89 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug	25.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	VW
Spark Plug Gap	0.028-0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque	22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	58
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum	101
Residual Pressure	43.5: MINIMUM PRESSURE AFTER 10 MINUTES. psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	Front: 26; Rear: 26
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	Front: 148; Rear: 66
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.118 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.039 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish	Stamped on rotor
Maximum Rotor Runout	0.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages

148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180.0

148 ft. lbs

Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages

148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180.0

148 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	33.0 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
2	90.0

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	111.0 ft. lbs.	111 ft. lbs
2	+ 90 degrees. Replace with new bolt.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

1	30.0 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	90 degrees	90 degrees
4	Bolts 11	3 ft. lbs
5	90

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	44.0 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
3	90.0

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	48.0 ft. lbs.	48 ft. lbs
2	90.0

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; coolant every 10,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 10,000 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 mi	Battery (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 20,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Suspension Shock or Strut (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 40,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Instrument Cluster Warning Indicator (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level)
Every 60,000 mi	Air Intake Hose Debris Screen (clean) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean)
Every 80,000 mi	Transmission 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 2017 Volkswagen Golf sits at the peak of the complaint trend for this generation, with 187 complaints versus 85 in 2016 and 37 in 2018, indicating a sharp rise in 2017 before a steep decline. Recall activity is modest, with only six recalls in 2017, similar to the 2016 level of nine and the 2018 figure of six, suggesting that the spike in complaints is not driven by major safety defects. The single investigation that year mirrors the single investigations of the surrounding years, implying no unusually severe issues were identified. Top complaint areas in 2017 focus on the Fuel/Propulsion System (44 complaints), followed by Unknown Or Other (21), Engine (14), and Structure (11), highlighting recurring mechanical concerns rather than catastrophic failures. Crash and fire complaints remain low, with only three crash complaints and none for fire. Given the high complaint count in 2017 and the lack of major recalls or investigations, this year is less attractive for a used‑car purchase compared to the surrounding years.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

695

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

187

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 187 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel/Propulsion System44

Unknown Or Other21

Engine14

Structure11

Suspension7

Visibility7

Power Train5

Fuel System, Gasoline5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V464000Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft DeviceReported 11/07/2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Sportwagen vehicles. The build of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed… Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen…

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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 695 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
VOS-26-21	2026-03-27	Engine	This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the…

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 5.8-6.0 Engine oil filter 06L115562B Engine air filter 5QM129620 Spark plug 06K905601D Battery 000915089E

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 2017 Golf take?

5.8-6.0 of 0W-40, 5W-30 OR 5W-40 Meeting VW specification 502.00, per the factory manual.

Does the 2017 Golf have open recalls?

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