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
161 reports, newest first.
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.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Apr 12, 2017
I AM A VW FAN AND I AM HAVING SERIOUS ISSUES WITH REGARDS TO MY VW JETTA 2016 1.4. EVER SINCE MY 1ST SERVICE I ADVISED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT MY BREAKS ARE MAKING A NOISE AND EVERY TIME THEY SAY IT WAS FINE. THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE WHEN IT IS SWITCHED ON AND STAYS ON AND GETS WORSE AS YOU DRIVE. WHEN I PURCHASE THE CAR THAT SOUND WAS NOT PRESENT. AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, IT IS THAT WAY WAS MEAN TO SOUND THAT WAY AND THAT WAS NORMAL. I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH AND SPOKE TO VARIOUS PEOPLE THAT HAVE KNOWLEDGE ON VW AS WELL AS A PREVIOUS SERVICE MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO NO FACE IT. I WAS NOT PLEASE TO THEIR RESPOND THE CAR HAS 2,780 MILES ON IT AND 6 MONTHS SINCE I DROVE IT OUT OF THE LOT I ASK THAT SOMEONE DO REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WILL BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM VW CORPORATION THAT WILL BE COMING AND THAT HE WOULD BE THE ONE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THIS SAY IN OCTOBER 2016 TODAY IS APRIL 2 2017. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED I AM SURE I WILL TOLD NOW IS CLOSE TO YEAR OH YOUR WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THAT I WILL SIT WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FIXING IT MYSELF. I SEE THAT HAPPENING I WANT MY CAR FIXED PROPERLY AS I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH VW BEFORE BUT I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED AND WORRY ABOUT MY SAFETY. I COMPLAIN AND COMPLAIN AND NOBODY GIVE A DAME OR NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Apr 3, 2017, crash
I DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT 27MARCH 2017 AND PROCEEDED TO PARK MY JETTA IN A PARKING SPOT HOWEVER, AS I WAS DOING SO THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD AND LEAPED THE CURB. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT HIT 2 VEHICLES WITH MY FOOT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND AS THE CAR IMPACTED THE OTHER CARS.
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
Service brakes, Sep 14, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES TO INSPECT THE BRAKES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD RESPOND BACK TO THE CONTACT WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7.
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.
Vehicle speed control, Apr 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT VIOLENTLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE RENTAL AGENCY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,170.
Service brakes, Engine, Mar 18, 2016
I JUST PURCHASED A 2016 VW JETTA S 1.4 GASOLINE TURBO ENGINE ON 3/5/16. IT HAS UNDER 400 MILES ON IT WITH LIGHT DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASE AND WAS TAKEN TO VW DEALER SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD ISSUE WAS "DEFECTIVE BRAKE VACUUM AND RELAY". THERE IS CURRENTLY AN NHTSA OPEN RECALL (23R1) THAT APPLIES TO THE 1.8 AND 2.0 TURBO GASOLINE ENGINE, BUT IT SHOULD CLEARLY INCLUDE THE 1.4 TURBO GAS ENGINE. THIS IS A MAJOR, SAFETY CRITICAL ISSUE TO SELL A CAR WITH. BRAKE FAILURE COULD LIKELY LEAD TO FATALITIES DRIVING IN EITHER HIGHWAY OR CITY CONDITIONS THE JETTA 1.4 TURBO GAS ENGINE MODEL SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH RECALL 23R1, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR TO EXPERIENCE BRAKE FAILURE, COLLISION OR DEATH. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE IN A NEW CAR AND HAS CAUSED ME TO LOSE FAITH IN THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 2, 2016
JETTA ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WITH NO NOTICE IN BUSY HIGHWAY. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THREE WEEKS. THEY CITED LACK OF FUEL SYSTEM MANAGEMENT COMPUTER MODULE. IT WOULD TAKE 5-7 BUSINESS DAYS TO GET. FUEL COMPUTER MODULE AND FUEL PUMP WERE REPLACED. HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN CAR SAFETY. VW WILL NOT REPLACE PER MY REQUEST. MY WIFE IS FEARFUL OF DRIVING CAR SINCE SHE WAS TRAUMATIZED.
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.
Steering, Service brakes, Dec 22, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND EMITTED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND VERIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.