Recall 20V372 covers 2 2018 Volkswagen Golf vehicles with an incorrect certification-label VIN. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
Volkswagen is recalling 2 2018 Golf vehicles because the VIN on the Federal Certification label can differ from the vehicle's stamped VIN. That mismatch can prevent an owner from confirming whether the car is included in an important safety recall, which leaves a crash, fire, or injury risk unresolved; Volkswagen dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The Federal Certification Label on the 2018 Volkswagen Golf is the factory label that identifies the vehicle for regulators, dealers, insurers, and registration offices. It includes the VIN, which is the unique identifier tied to that exact vehicle. The label is supposed to match the VIN stamped or displayed elsewhere on the car.
On the affected Golf GTI vehicles, Volkswagen says the assembly sequence between the public VIN label and the Federal Certification Label was not assured. That means the wrong certification label was installed, so the VIN printed on the label does not match the actual VIN on the vehicle. The remedy label shows the correct VIN.
There is no warning sign before failure. This is a labeling error, not a part that wears out or changes how the Golf drives. An owner sees the issue only by comparing the VIN on the certification label with the vehicle's actual VIN.
Who's affected?
| 2018 Volkswagen Golf | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 2 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2018 Volkswagen Golf is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific hatchback is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the stamped VIN and certification label VIN disagree, an owner can miss an important safety recall tied to crash, fire, or injury risk. Check the VIN shown on the vehicle and label before relying on recall results, then schedule the label correction. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Volkswagen Golf is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the free certification-label replacement that corrects the VIN label mismatch.
- Bring the recall notice if Volkswagen has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V372 and Volkswagen recall 01E7 when you call.
- Compare the stamped VIN with the Vehicle Certification Label, and tell the dealer if they do not match.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volkswagen technician installs the correct Federal Certification label so the label VIN matches the actual VIN on the vehicle. The recall repair is available now, and parts and labor are free under campaign 20V372. Volkswagen is not offering reimbursement for this campaign, so the dealer visit is the remedy path for affected 2018 Golf owners. Schedule it with a Volkswagen dealer.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| June 24, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 9, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 31, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| July 31, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 31, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V372?
Recall 20V372 covers 2 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI vehicles with an incorrect Federal Certification label. The VIN printed on the label does not match the vehicle's actual VIN, which can make it harder to identify open safety recalls. Volkswagen dealers will install the correct label for free.
What should I do if my 2018 Volkswagen Golf is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included in recall 20V372. If it is, contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer and ask for recall 01E7, the corrected Federal Certification label. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the recall at no cost, and Volkswagen's remedy says dealers will install the correct certification label free of charge. Volkswagen customer service is available at 1-800-893-5298.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is recall identification. If the stamped VIN does not match the VIN on the Vehicle Certification Label, an owner can miss an important safety recall tied to the vehicle, increasing crash, fire, or injury risk. The fix is the correct label from a Volkswagen dealer.
When did this Volkswagen recall begin?
Volkswagen began this recall on July 9, 2020. The remedy is available now, so an included owner can call a franchised Volkswagen dealer and ask for recall 01E7. The dealer will install the corrected certification label for free.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V372000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V372 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V372000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →