What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2016 Volkswagen Golf

Typical pattern

8.7% of complaints about the 2016 Volkswagen Golf came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2016 vehicle — around the middle of the 199 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is fuel / propulsion (29 complaints), typically at 6.9 yr or about 28,000 miles.

Complaints
115
Median age at failure
6.8 yr
Median mileage
32,000 n=44
Crash / fire / tow
4.3% of reports
Safety recalls
9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Fuel / propulsion
29 reports · 28,000 mi
6.9 yr
3.4%
Engine
18 reports · 17,000 mi
6.8 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

24V110000 2024-02-14
Fuel system

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

22V543000 2022-07-27
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.

19V615000 2019-08-22
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."

Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

19V188000 2019-03-06
Suspension:rear:springs:coil springs

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.

If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

18V464000 2018-07-11
Steering:column locking:anti-theft device

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf and Golf Sportwagen vehicles. The build of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition while the vehicle shift lever is not in "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

18V329000 2018-05-16
Other

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

16V647000 2016-09-07
Fuel system

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf, Golf SportWagen, GTI, Audi A3 sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. Due to a problem with the suction pump inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system.

As fuel accumulates in the EVAP system, it may leak out through the charcoal canister filter element. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

16V403000 2016-06-06
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jetta vehicles manufactured October 31, 2015, to January 21, 2016, 2016 Passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8T engines manufactured November 13, 2015, to December 9, 2015, and 2016 Golf vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to November 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder head and result in a fuel leak.

A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.

15V705000 2015-10-26
Engine and engine cooling:engine

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Engine 800 mi 9 mo in service
SUDDEN VIOLENT SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. THEY REPLACED ALL FOUR FUEL INJECTORS, SECOND TIME HAPPENED A MONTH LATER. SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. THEY CANNOT FIX. MILES JUST UNDER 2000 ON SECOND OCCURRENCE.
Engine 2,658 mi 11 mo in service
ENGINE MISFIRED AND CAUSE THE CAR TO STUTTER WITH LOSS OF PERFORMANCE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING AT THE NORMAL SPEED DUE TO LOSS OF PERFORMANCE. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THE ENGINE HAS MISFIRED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT HAS LESS THAN 2,800 MILES ON IT.
Engine 37,000 mi 3.5 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Fuel / propulsion 800 mi 9 mo in service
SUDDEN VIOLENT SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. THEY REPLACED ALL FOUR FUEL INJECTORS, SECOND TIME HAPPENED A MONTH LATER. SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. THEY CANNOT FIX. MILES JUST UNDER 2000 ON SECOND OCCURRENCE.

Other Golf model years

2022201920172016201520112010200220012000

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