Updated: 7400 UK Volkswagen Golfs to get software update

Examples built until July 2020 are offered a fix for infotainment glitches, although “voluntary service measure” isn't mandatory

Volkswagen has issued a voluntary update of 56,000 examples of the Mk8 Golf to fix software problems that have plagued the new model. 

Autocar has received confirmation that of the cars affected worldwide, 7,400 UK customers will be notified of the “voluntary service measure”, which is different from a recall as it not mandatory and can be completed during a regular service. It's focused on examples built before July 2020, and fixes software issues affecting the infotainment system and reversing camera.

The launch of this Golf - which is more reliant on technology and digital interfaces than any previous variant - had to be delayed in 2019 while engineers worked to fix software development problems.

Deliveries were then halted in May 2020 due to issues with its emergency call system, which resulted in customer cars being stored for up to a month until a fix was found. Software problems also plagued the rollout of Volkswagen's new ID 3 electric hatchback.

Despite numerous issues and the latest software problems, customer demand for the Golf hasn’t waned. Some 312,000 examples were registered in Europe last year, making it 2020’s best-selling car there, and it was the number-one seller in its home market of Germany.

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