Volkswagen Golf Neutral Safety Switch Replacement at your home or office.

Our mobile mechanics offer services 7 days a week. Upfront and transparent pricing.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(262)

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Customer Ratings

(262)

Neutral Safety Switch Replacement Service

How much does a Neutral Safety Switch Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Volkswagen Golf Neutral Safety Switch Replacement is $136 with $41 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2013 Volkswagen GolfL4-2.0L TurboService typeNeutral Safety Switch ReplacementEstimate$1559.85Shop/Dealer Price$1923.56 - $2983.21
1994 Volkswagen GolfL4-1.9L Turbo DieselService typeNeutral Safety Switch ReplacementEstimate$1363.92Shop/Dealer Price$1682.94 - $2603.92
2003 Volkswagen GolfL4-1.9L Turbo DieselService typeNeutral Safety Switch ReplacementEstimate$1104.95Shop/Dealer Price$1367.46 - $2132.44
2002 Volkswagen GolfL4-2.0LService typeNeutral Safety Switch ReplacementEstimate$176.37Shop/Dealer Price$206.71 - $275.24
2002 Volkswagen GolfV6-2.8LService typeNeutral Safety Switch ReplacementEstimate$233.36Shop/Dealer Price$269.76 - $342.84
2000 Volkswagen GolfV6-2.8LService typeNeutral Safety Switch ReplacementEstimate$449.54Shop/Dealer Price$539.96 - $775.15
1998 Volkswagen GolfL4-2.0LService typeNeutral Safety Switch ReplacementEstimate$457.54Shop/Dealer Price$547.74 - $782.77
1995 Volkswagen GolfV6-2.8LService typeNeutral Safety Switch ReplacementEstimate$547.44Shop/Dealer Price$660.72 - $963.62
Show example Volkswagen Golf Neutral Safety Switch Replacement prices

What is the Neutral Safety Switch all about?

The neutral safety switch keeps the vehicle from starting when in any gear position other than Park or Neutral. In some vehicles, the switch also monitors gear selection and reverse light feedback data for the vehicle’s computer. Most often mounted to the left-hand side of the transmission, the switch is equipped in vehicles with a transaxle or automatic transmission. Some vehicle neutral safety switches are attached to the shifter mechanism.

Keep in mind:

  • Connected to the starter solenoid, the neutral safety switch completes the starter circuit, allowing the power from the battery to reach the starter only while the gearshift remains in Park or Neutral.
  • The mechanic will check the other systems in your vehicle’s ignition system, such as the starter, battery, and alternator, to make sure those parts are not causing the problem.
  • As a vehicle ages, the neutral safety switch deteriorates.

How it's done:

  • The vehicle is raised and supported on jack stands. The transmission shift lever and cable are removed. The electrical connector is removed from the switch.

  • The neutral safety switch is removed from the transmission. The transmission shaft seal is checked for leaks and replaced as needed.

  • The new neutral safety switch is installed on to the selector shaft and secured while aligning for proper installation alignment.

  • The shift lever and shift cable are reinstalled. The vehicle is checked for proper neutral safety switch operation before the vehicle is lowered off the jack stands.

  • The vehicle is scanned for codes and proper switch indication of gear ranges and road tested for proper operation.

Our recommendation:

Replace a faulty neutral safety switch as soon as possible; otherwise, the vehicle will stop working or suffer engine damage. When the switch does not work properly, the vehicle might jump into gear upon startup. This not only causes damage to the engine itself, but poses a great physical threat to surrounding objects and people. Our expert mechanics will diagnose the neutral safety switch to see if it needs adjustment.

Transmissions that exhibit excessive vibrations cause the switch to go out of alignment over time, which makes vehicle ignition more difficult. When inspecting the neutral safety switch, our expert mechanics check for dirt and grease build-up, moisture, and corrosion. They will also use a test light to confirm a connection through the switch to the starter solenoid.

What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Neutral Safety Switch?

  • Engine turns over in any gear, indicating that the neutral safety switch does not work properly and needs replacement
  • Vehicle doesn’t turn over when in Park or Neutral
  • Check Engine Light turns on after ignition

How important is this service?

Replace a faulty neutral safety switch promptly, as driving without a functional switch presents a danger to other drivers, passengers, and those around the vehicle. A faulty neutral safety switch damages the engine, as the vehicle jerks into gear upon startup. The reverse lights could stop working on some vehicles, which creates a safety hazard especially during inclement weather or nighttime.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Volkswagen mechanics

Real customer reviews from Volkswagen owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(262)

Rating Summary
247
7
3
0
5
247
7
3
0
5

Abli

10 years of experience
12 reviews
Abli
10 years of experience
Volkswagen Golf L5-2.5L - Oil Change - Cambridge, Massachusetts
He was very friendly and professional. Quick, communicative, and did a great job.

Khoa

20 years of experience
402 reviews
Khoa
20 years of experience
Volkswagen Golf L4-1.8L Turbo - Oil Change - San Jose, California
Thanks! Nice and knowledgable guy! He'll probably be my go to mechanic for my VWs.

Jeremy

20 years of experience
642 reviews
Jeremy
20 years of experience
Volkswagen Golf L4-2.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - West Palm Beach, Florida
Really knowledgeable on Volkswagen and friendly. He helped me on making sure the used Golf R I was considering was in perfect running condition. Thanks to him, I bought in confidence. And the car's great!

Kevin

33 years of experience
234 reviews
Kevin
33 years of experience
Volkswagen Golf L4-2.0L - Tune-up - Los Angeles, California

Excellent Rating

(262)

Rating Summary
247
7
3
0
5
247
7
3
0
5
Number of Volkswagen Golf services completed
2882+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Volkswagen MECHANICS
1000+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

How to Modify Your Car Payments Without Refinancing
A person’s financial situation can change while they are paying off a car loan (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-quickly-pay-off-a-car-loan-by-patrick-haas), and if it changes for the worse, then it will be difficult to make the payments on time each month. This happens to many car...
P2603 OBD-II Trouble Code: Coolant Pump Control Circuit High
P2603 means a problem in the auxiliary coolant pump control circuit exists due to a faulty CAN harness or bus or, an overheating engine.
How to Replace the Downshift Solenoid in Your Car
Downshift solenoids in your transmission give you a seamless experience when braking, and are important to make sure brakes always work properly.

Fuel pressure drops

The fuel pressure is held up to the injectors by the fuel pump itself. The pump has a one way check ball built into it. The pump will hold the pressure up to the fuel pressure regulator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pressure-regulator-replacement) and the...

2015 BMW 750 Lacks Power

There are many potential causes for your concern. If the check engine light is on, (I'm guessing it is) the first thing you'll want to do is retrieve the diagnostic trouble codes. These codes serve as as starting point for...

My car was working perfectly the today I was stopped at a light when it turned gree I pressed the gas and it did not. I turned off

The clues to what that was all about are within the trouble code(s) that were stored when the check engine light illuminated. Those codes, which can be downloaded, are not themselves a diagnostic or pinpoint identification of the failed or...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com