2016 Volkswagen Jetta
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 161 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 Jetta model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 18 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, fuel injection system, fuel railOct 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.
A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 20V648000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderSep 23, 2020
Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.
If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master cylinder (part number 072-9990), free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-800-625-9319.
Campaign 20E064000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignition, anti-theft, control moduleAug 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."
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.
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.
Campaign 19V615000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, fuel injection system, fuel railJun 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.
A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
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.
Campaign 16V403000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineOct 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 15V705000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
36 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Jun 24, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE SENSORS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED, AND THE INDICATORS FOR THE TURN SIGNALS, BRAKES, AND DOORS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE BACKUP CAMERA FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Electrical system, Jun 5, 2019
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I WAD AT AN INTERSECTION WITH MY JETTA WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PROMPTED ME TO SLAM ON MY HORN. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO USE MY HORN, NO SOUND EMINATED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON ARRIVING HOME, I BEGAN TESTING THE HORN TO NO AVAIL. DUE O THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE, I'VE BEEN FORCED TO DRIVE WITHOUT A HORN IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHICH IS ILLEGAL AND HAVE BEEN PUT AT EXTREME RISK WITH THE INABILITY TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS WITH MY VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Dec 3, 2018
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.
Electrical system, Sep 28, 2018
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.
Electrical system, Jun 27, 2018
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.
Electrical system, Mar 11, 2018
THE ORIGINAL VW BATTERY LEAKED AND CORRODED RTHE CABLES SHORTING OUT THE CAR REQUIRING A TOW. IT WOULD NOT TAKE A JUMP AND AFTER TAKING IT TO A VW DEALERSHIP, THE BATTERY, CABLES AND STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY PREVIOUS VW.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 10, 2017
AT ANY TIME, DAY OR NIGHT, ANY TIME OF THE YEAR, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THIS CAR WILL FAIL TO ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE DELAY CAN BE AS LONG AS 5 SECONDS AND SINCE I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN, I FEEL THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE. IT CAN FAIL TO ACCELERATE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC COMING AT YOU FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR WAY. I FEEL I TAKE MY LIFE IN MY HANDS EVERY TIME I STEP INTO THIS VEHICLE AND RECOMMEND THAT ON ONE EVER BUY ONE OF THESE DEATH TRAPS!!!!
Electrical system, Apr 17, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF AND THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE NYLON BUSHING HAD FRACTURED AND JAMMED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAKE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 21, 2016
2016 JETTA SE1.4 NEW FOR 18 YEAR OLD SON FOR COLLEGE. WITHIN A WEEK CAR WAS IN THE SHOP WITH ELECTRICAL ISSUES FOR LIGHTER AND USB SHORTING OUT PHONE + RADAR WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVING. NO ISSUE FOUND WE DROVE 1000+MILES TO SCHOOL, CENTER CONSOLE WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF DURING THE TRIP. NEW DEALER ALSO DID NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. CAR THEN STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING UNDER 5 MPH IN TRAFFIC IN NYC. WHEN COMING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE REAR VIEW CAMERA TURNED OFF, THE CAR TURNED OFF. VW WAS CALLED THEY HAD HIM TURN OFF THE POWER BY HOLDING THE PUSHBUTTON AND BREAK WHICH RESTARTED THE CAR. NEW DEALER STILL NO ISSUE FOUND. THE CAR CONTINUES TO LOOSE POWER ALL EXCEPT AUXILIARY SEVERAL INCIDENTS VERY UNSAFE. WAS GOING UP A HILL AND THE CAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND STARTED ROLLING BACK, APPLIED THE HANDBRAKE THE BACK WHEELS LOCKED AND THE CAR STOPPED THANKFULLY IT WAS AT NIGHT AND NO TRAFFIC. TWO DAYS LATER AT JFK IN THE ARRIVAL LINE THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE CREEPING FORWARD. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER NEW DEALER THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR ONE WEEK, NO ISSUE FOUND. ISSUES CONTINUED NOW INCLUDING SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR REVVING TO 8000RPM, HAVING TO PUSH FAR DOWN FOR THE BRAKE TO ENGAGE. ALL THE LIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING INTERMITTENTLY VERY UNSAFE. TOOK IT TO NEW DEALER THEY FOUND NO ISSUE I REFUSED TO PICK IT UP AND CALLED VW CORP THEY HAD THEM DRIVE THE CAR FOR 50 MILES FINALLY AN ERROR MESSAGE. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. IT IS STILL HAVING ISSUES.THE CAR OVERHEATED AND THE ELECTRICAL STOPPED WORKING. HE SMELLED THE COOLANT THREW THE VENTS HE WAS ABOUT TO PULL OVER WHEN THE CAR REVVED TO 8000 RPM AND DROPPED OUT OF GEAR SO HE PULLED OVER AND SLOWED DOWN THE LIGHTS AND RADIO TURNED OFF. WHEN HE LOOKED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS GLOWING RED. THE CAR TOOK AN HR TO COOL DOWN AND ELECTRICAL TO COME BACK. BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN NO ISSUES AGAIN CALLED VW CORP FOR COMPLAINT. *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Aug 29, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOT TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE BRAKES WERE ALSO SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN APPLIED, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AFTER CHECKING THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 17, 2016
THIS IS THE BASE MODEL S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 1.4 TSI. THIS VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A GAUGE FOR MEASURING THE TEMPERATURE. UNABLE TO MAKE A DECISION PROMPTLY IF THE CAR STARTS TO HEAT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CAR APPARENTLY HAS A MECHANISM TO LOWER THE RPMS IF THE CAR STARTS HEATING AND HAS A LIGHT INDICATING THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM BUT IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT IN 2016 YOU CAN'T SEE THE ENGINE TEMERATURE. I DIDN'T NOTICE THIS WHILE TESTING THE CAR BEFORE DOING THE PURCHASE AND THOUGHT IT WAS A MATTER OF CONFIGURATION BUT CONFIRMED THIS WITH THE MANUAL. THIS CAR HAS 85 MILES AND WHEN RUNNING THROUGH A SLOPE IN RURAL AREA IF IT DECIDES TO DOWN SHIFT THERES A BUMP OR A KNOCK IN THE TRANSMUTATION AS IF YOU WERE ABUSING THE CAR AND THE MOTOR OR TRANSMISSION MOUNTS CAN'T HOLD ITS FORCE. IT REALLY FEELS AWFUL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS SHOULD HAPPEN SMOOTHLY BUT IT DOESN'T. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL MAKE ITS OWN DECISION OF WHAT IS THE BEST GEAR IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ENOUGH TORQUE TO MANAGE THE SLOPE BUT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THIS COULD BE A SING OF FUTURE FAILURE AND OF COURSE AN ACCIDENT CAN OCCUR. WOULD LIKE THIS TWO POINTS TO BE INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA.