2016 Volkswagen Golf problems and recalls

Owners have filed 85 complaints on the 2016 Volkswagen Golf, and NHTSA has issued 9 recalls. The most cited component is the Fuel/Propulsion System (29 complaints).

85
Complaints
9
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
43.8
Severity index

Severity index 43.8 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 43.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 112 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 21% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 29 complaints (34.1%)29 34%EngineEngine: 18 complaints (21.2%)18 21%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 14 complaints (16.5%)14 16%Air BagsAir Bags: 10 complaints (11.8%)10 12%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 8 complaints (9.4%)8 9%StructureStructure: 7 complaints (8.2%)7 8%Power TrainPower Train: 5 complaints (5.9%)5 6%Service BrakesService Brakes: 4 complaints (4.7%)4 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2934.1%
ENGINE1821.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1416.5%
AIR BAGS1011.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM89.4%
STRUCTURE78.2%
POWER TRAIN55.9%
SERVICE BRAKES44.7%

Complaints filed per year

09182015: 12016: 52017: 82018: 62019: 42020: 52021: 102022: 142023: 182024: 112025: 22026: 1 (partial year)15161718192021222318242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20151
20165
20178
20186
20194
20205
202110
202214
202318
202411
20252
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (31 against 29).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V46400011/07/2018STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICEVolkswagen 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 "
18V32900016/05/2018UNKNOWN OR OTHERVolkswagen 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
19V18800006/03/2019SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSVolkswagen 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.
19V61500022/08/2019ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULEVolkswagen 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 e
16V40300006/06/2016FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAILVolkswagen 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 manu
16V64700007/09/2016FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEVolkswagen 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 (EVA
15V70500026/10/2015ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINEVolkswagen 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
22V54300027/07/2022AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEVolkswagen 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
24V11000014/02/2024FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEVolkswagen 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 20

Other Volkswagen Golf model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 7 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.