What is the reason why the rear seat light of the Golf cannot be turned off?
3 Answers
The reason why the rear seat light of the Golf cannot be turned off is: 1. There is an interlock relationship between the front and rear lights; 2. The dome light has a delayed shutdown and will only respond after a period of time. Taking the 2020 Golf as an example, its body length, width, and height are: 4259mm, 1799mm, 1476mm, the wheelbase is 2637mm, the fuel tank capacity is 50l, and the luggage compartment capacity is 380l. The 2020 Golf has a front suspension of MacPherson independent suspension and a rear suspension of torsion beam non-independent suspension. It is equipped with a 1.2L inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, with a maximum horsepower of 116ps, a maximum power of 85kw, a maximum torque of 200nm, and is matched with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
When I first drove my Golf, I also encountered this issue where the rear seat light wouldn't turn off, which was really annoying. From my experience, most of the time it's because the door switch didn't fully return to its position or the sensor is dirty and blocked, causing the system to think the door is still open and keeping the light on. Another possibility is that the light switch itself is stuck or worn out, making the button unpressable or unable to spring back. Loose wiring connections or short circuits can also cause this, such as a loose plug or poor contact due to wear. Don't take it lightly; this small light staying on can drain the car battery slowly, which could be troublesome if you get stranded in winter or on a long trip. I suggest you first try simply opening and closing the door a few times to see if there's any change. If that doesn't work, you should take it to a professional repair shop to check the switch and wiring—they can quickly diagnose and fix the issue with their tools.
Having driven a Golf for many years, I know that an unswitchable rear seat light is a potential hazard. The root cause often lies in the door sensor—if the door isn't fully closed or the sensor malfunctions, it tricks the system into keeping the light on. Issues with the light switch or wiring shorts are also common, possibly due to vibration causing poor contact. While it may seem minor, a glaring light at night can be distracting and compromise driving safety. Moreover, continuous power drain might leave the battery dead, making roadside repairs even riskier. I believe you should act immediately without delay. After parking, manually check the door and switch status. If there's no improvement, visit a 4S shop or a reliable technician to diagnose and replace the faulty component—this will quickly resolve the issue and ensure safe driving.
