2016 Volkswagen Golf Problems

85 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Fuel/Propulsion System · verdict CAUTION 51/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Fuel/Propulsion System29
Engine18
Unknown Or Other14
Air Bags10
Electrical System8
Structure7

In the owners’ words

“The EPC light has luminated 3 times in the last several months. The vehicle stutters and will not accelerate past 25 MPH. Shutting off the engine and restarting it clears the light and vehicle drives normally. The check engine light does not illuminate and no OBDII codes are stored. Manual states to take vehicle to authorized dealership for diagnosis if light stays illuminated.”NHTSA complaint, 2016 Volkswagen Golf owner
“Car began spraying fuel upon turning the key in the ignition. Recall work pertaining to the suction jet pump was recently performed and is the only likely cause of this issue. Car did not leak when fuel pump was disengaged. Very lucky that issue occurred in a parking lot while not moving and did not lead to a fire or crash.”NHTSA complaint, 2016 Volkswagen Golf owner
“The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Golf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank suction jet pump had failed, cau”NHTSA complaint, 2016 Volkswagen Golf owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
11/07/2018Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device SAFETYVolkswagen 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
16/05/2018Unknown 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.
06/03/2019Suspension: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.
22/08/2019Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module SAFETYVolkswagen 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 wi
06/06/2016Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail SAFETYVolkswagen 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 Novembe
07/09/2016Fuel System, Gasoline SAFETYVolkswagen 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
26/10/2015Engine 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 dri
27/07/2022Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module SAFETYVolkswagen 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 vehic
14/02/2024Fuel System, Gasoline SAFETYVolkswagen 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 Sportwag

Questions owners ask

Is the 2016 Volkswagen Golf reliable?

On the federal record it scores 51/100: 85 owner complaints (8.5 per year on the road) and 9 recall campaigns, 6 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Volkswagen Golf?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Fuel/Propulsion System, with 29 of 86 categorised reports.

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The 2016 Volkswagen Golf scored 51/100 on the federal record.

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