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2016 Volkswagen Jetta

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Jetta years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta are substantially higher than the model-year median of 68.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

93 reports with mileage · 68 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

161 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE IGNITION WHEN AUTOMOBILE IS IN PARK YOU CAN'T TURN OFF ENGINE . THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK

NHTSA ODI #11172194

3,000 miles · Jan 9, 2019
Service Brakes

THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE THAT AFFECTS THE BRAKE BOOSTER. SINCE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IT STARTED TO TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #11166111

69,000 miles · Dec 3, 2018
Electrical System

ON MY HOME STOP BY WALMART AND THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. DIDN'T GO IN THE STORE AGAIN JUST WENT HOME AND IT STILL WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. SINCE MY NEIGHBOR HAS 2 VW CARS I WENT TO HIS HOUSE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2016 PASSET. HE CHECKED ON MY CAR AND TRIED TO GET TH…

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ON MY HOME STOP BY WALMART AND THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. DIDN'T GO IN THE STORE AGAIN JUST WENT HOME AND IT STILL WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. SINCE MY NEIGHBOR HAS 2 VW CARS I WENT TO HIS HOUSE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2016 PASSET. HE CHECKED ON MY CAR AND TRIED TO GET THE KEY OUT AFTER WE CALLED STOKES VW ON ASHLEY PHOSPHATE RD. THE SERVICE PERSON SUGGESTED BRINGING IT IN AN LEAVE IT BUT DIDNT HAVE A LOANER CAR FOR ME TO GET TO WORK..HE SUGGESTED JIGGLING THE KEY WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL BECAUSE THATS WHAT THET DO. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IN A STORE PARKING LOT. ALSO THE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASE THE CAR. I THOUGHT MAYBE BECAUSE IT WAS AFTER 5 IN THE MORNING. IT HAPPEN AGAIN AND THEN IT HAPPEN AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT GO UP IT WAS OVER 8 HOURS BEFORE IT DID AND I NEEDED TO GO BACK TO WORK AND LEAVE MY CAR WINDOW DOWN. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN VW.

NHTSA ODI #11155812

55,000 miles · Nov 23, 2018
Steering

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS STILL ON, IT CAN'T BE TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN PARKED POSITION.

NHTSA ODI #11153431

60,500 miles · Nov 14, 2018
Service BrakesCrash

TODAY (NOV14, 2018) WHEN I BRAKED TO AVOID RUNNING INTO A BRAKING CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THE CAR DIDN'T SEEM TO REDUCE SPEED AT ALL. IT RESULTED IN A CRASH THAT DEPLOYED 5 AIR BAGS OF MY CAR. THE SAME CAR HAD A SIMILAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH BRAKE DIDN'T WORK ON MARCH 7, 2018.

NHTSA ODI #11151631

24,398 miles · Nov 14, 2018
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A LARGE PARKING LOT, AS SOON AS I STARTED THE TURN, MY CAR ACCELERATED DRAMATICALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP THE CURB AND HIT THE CONCRETE BASE OF A LIGHT POLE HEAD ON. AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED. INSURANCE DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. I DID CONTACT VW CUSTOMER CARE WHO HAS TOLD ME MY IS…

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WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A LARGE PARKING LOT, AS SOON AS I STARTED THE TURN, MY CAR ACCELERATED DRAMATICALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP THE CURB AND HIT THE CONCRETE BASE OF A LIGHT POLE HEAD ON. AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED. INSURANCE DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. I DID CONTACT VW CUSTOMER CARE WHO HAS TOLD ME MY ISSUE HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED, HOWEVER, NEITHER VW OR MY INSURANCE COMPANY LOOKED ANY FURTHER AT THE VEHICLE FOR ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11151506

38,000 miles · Oct 16, 2018
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD A LOUD BOOM SOUND. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS. THE DRIVER WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD A LOUD BOOM SOUND. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS. THE DRIVER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED ALONG WITH THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE, BUT NEITHER MOTORIST RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS KEPT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY FROM JULY TO OCTOBER 2018 BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE VEHICLE IN THE SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST UNTIL THEY HEARD FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI #11140601

32,000 miles · Oct 8, 2018
Power Train

AT 32,000 MILES THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING. EVEN THOUGH COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I WAS TOLD MY MY LOCAL VW DEALER AND BY VW OF AMERICA THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE CAR APART TO DETERMINE IF IT IS COVERED. IF THEY DETERMINE IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IT WON'T BE COVERED AND I'M OUT $1100 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. MEANWHILE THE VW…

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AT 32,000 MILES THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING. EVEN THOUGH COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I WAS TOLD MY MY LOCAL VW DEALER AND BY VW OF AMERICA THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE CAR APART TO DETERMINE IF IT IS COVERED. IF THEY DETERMINE IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IT WON'T BE COVERED AND I'M OUT $1100 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. MEANWHILE THE VW FORUMS I'VE BEEN ON PINPOINT A WEAK CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE (DESIGN FLAW) AS THE SOURCE OF THE SLIPPING. THAT MAKES SENSE SINCE I'VE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH SLIP IN MY PREVIOUS 6 MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND TWO OF THOSE VEHICLES MADE IT TO OVER 200,000 MILES. THERE IS NO WAY A CLUTCH SHOULD GIVE UP AT 32,000 MILES. THE SLIPPING OCCURS WHILE ACCELERATING IN A HIGH GEAR WITH 4 PEOPLE IN THE CAR. IT JUST STARTED THIS WEEK, BUT IS ALREADY GETTING WORSE. NEITHER THE DEALER OR VWOA COULD TELL ME THE CRITERIA THEY USE TO DETERMINE IF A CLUTCH IS COVERED, BUT THE NICE VWOA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT SHORT OF THE CLUTCH FAILING IN THE FIRST YEAR THEY RARELY COVER THE FAILURE. SO I'M LEFT WITH A WARRANTY THAT ISN'T WORTH THE PAPER IT'S PRINTED ON.

NHTSA ODI #11139079

90,000 miles · Sep 28, 2018
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STONE MOUNTAIN VOLKSWAGEN (3500 STONE MOUNTAIN HWY, SNELLVILLE, GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STONE MOUNTAIN VOLKSWAGEN (3500 STONE MOUNTAIN HWY, SNELLVILLE, GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #11132092

31,300 miles · Aug 15, 2018
Service Brakes

WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED PREPARING TO PARK CAR WITH FOOT ON BREAK. WHEN SUDDENLY CAR ACCELERATED WELL MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK AND HOPED THE CURB. CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND HAD TO USE THE E BRAKE.

NHTSA ODI #11120217

Official recalls

4

20V648000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

Oct 21, 2020

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail bolts and, as necessary, the fuel rail. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24Gi.

19V615000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

Aug 22, 2019

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

Additional source detail variants (2)

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."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

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."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

16V403000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

Jun 6, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cylinder heads, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 15F7.

15V705000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Oct 26, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

Additional source detail variants (2)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.