Hey, I have a 2022 Golf and I've noticed for a while now that the car sits lower than usual, especially on one side. When I go over bumps or potholes the suspension feels much softer than before, almost spongy. Could this be a shock absorber problem or is it normal after a few years?
If the car is sagging on one side and you feel that spongy movement, it means the shock absorbers are basically shot, unfortunately. On a 2022 Golf this shouldn't happen so soon, so I'd recommend checking whether there's any oil leaking around the wheels too - shock absorbers often lose fluid and collapse. Take it to a mechanic for a proper diagnosis, but I'm pretty sure that's the problem and you should replace both of them (front or rear depending on where the sagging is coming from), not just one!
When I notice a car starting to "bounce" like that on one side, the first step is to visually check the condition of the springs and suspension arms, because sometimes damage to the shock absorbers is either made worse or even caused by other worn components. In your specific case, the sagging on one side is pretty telling, but on a 2022 Golf I'd first check whether there's an oil leak from the shock absorber itself - if you notice it's wet around there, that's confirmation. The "spongy" ride you're describing, though, is really the telltale sign of shot shock absorbers, regardless of the model year; a Golf should keep you comfortable without this kind of give.
At that point the shock absorbers almost definitely need replacing, but before you spend money there's one detail the others haven't mentioned: also check the condition of the suspension bushings and silent blocks, because if they're worn out they give you exactly the symptoms you're describing (low ride height on one side, spongy movement) without the shocks being the real problem. A 2022 Golf should still be under warranty, at least partial: go to an official Volkswagen dealership and get a full diagnostic done before any work is done, because if it's a manufacturing defect they might cover the repair.
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